Tag: News Story

STORY

Russia has launched a series of drone attacks on Ukraine in one of their largest assaults on the country on the eve of the third anniversary of their invasion. Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, rejected Donald Trump’s suggestion that Ukraine shouldn’t be involved with talks, stating:

“After everything that they have suffered, after everything that they have fought for, there could be no discussion about Ukraine without Ukraine, and the people of Ukraine must have a long-term secure future.”

Olena Zelenska, the Ukrainian First Lady, said in a statement:

“It was another night of explosions, burning houses and cars, and destroyed infrastructure. Another night when people prayed for their loved ones to survive”.

STORY

Keir Starmer has spoken today to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, and reiterated the UK’s support for the country in its fight against Russia. The Prime Minister rejected the attacks made on Ukraine by Donald Trump, the President of the United States, and said that he hoped that peace could be reached through strength.

A spokesperson for Starmer said in a statement:

“The Prime Minister spoke with President Zelenskyy this morning. The Prime Minister began by reiterating the UK’s ironclad support for Ukraine and commitment to securing a just and enduring peace to bring an end to Russia’s illegal war. The leaders reflected on recent developments in the conflict, as the third anniversary of the full-scale invasion approaches, and agreed on the need to continue working together with allies to achieve peace through strength. They agreed that this was a significant moment for the future of Ukraine and European security at large.

The Prime Minister repeated that Ukraine must be at the heart of any negotiations to end the war and that safeguarding Ukraine’s sovereignty was essential to deter future aggression from Russia. The Prime Minister said he would be progressing these important discussions in the coming days and weeks, including with US President Trump whilst visiting Washington D.C. next week.”

STORY

Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform, has joined the leaders of all the major political parties in the UK in rejecting the comments made by Donald Trump, the US President, that called Ukrainian President Zelensky a dictator.  The US President gave false information that the Ukrainian President had just 4% support in Ukraine, with current polling suggesting that he actually has similar levels of support to Trump in the United States. Media outlets across the United States are also reporting on a Daily Star front page headline suggesting that Trump has become Putin’s poodle. Speaking on GB News, Farage said:

“Let’s be clear, Zelenskyy is not a dictator. But it’s only right and proper that Ukrainians have a timeline for elections”

STORY

John Swinney, the leader of the SNP, has rejected the comments made by Donald Trump, the US President, where he lied about the level of support for President Zelensky. Reposting Trump’s comments, Swinney said on Twitter:

“This is completely and utterly wrong. Scotland stands with Ukraine. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇺🇦”

STORY

Ed Davey, the Leader of the Liberal Democrats, has attacked lies told by Donald Trump on Ukraine and on the level of support for President Zelensky. Davey posted on Twitter:

“When the PM visits the White House next week, he must challenge Trump on his Ukraine lies in the strongest possible terms. It’s alarming to see the leader of the free world parroting Putin’s propaganda. Trump spoke in Mar-a-Lago but his words could have been written in Moscow.”

STORY

Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, rejected comments made by Donald Trump, the US President, regarding the situation in Ukraine. Trump lied about the level of support for Zelensky in Ukraine and the White House refused to justify or explain the President’s remarkable comments. Starmer did though say that the UK would continue to back US led efforts to find peace in the region, with a spokesperson for the Prime Minister saying:

“The Prime Minister spoke to President Zelenskyy this evening and stressed the need for everyone to work together.

The Prime Minister expressed his support for President Zelenskyy as Ukraine’s democratically elected leader and said that it was perfectly reasonable to suspend elections during war time as the UK did during World War II.

The Prime Minister reiterated his support for the US-led efforts to get a lasting peace in Ukraine that deterred Russia from any future aggression.”

STORY

Bernie Sanders, an independent US senator, has condemned the recent alignment between Russian and American leaders. Writing on X, he stated:

“Trump and his American oligarchs are now openly aligning themselves with Putin and his Russian oligarchs. This Putin-Trump alliance means abandoning our allies, supporting authoritarianism and undermining our democratic traditions.”

STORY

Kemi Badenoch, the Leader of the Conservative Party, has rejected comments made by Donald Trump, the US President, that Ukraine were responsible for the war in their country. Writing on Twitter, Badenoch said:

“President Zelenskyy is not a dictator. He is the democratically elected leader of Ukraine who bravely stood up to Putin’s illegal invasion. Under my leadership, and under successive Conservative Prime Ministers, we have and always will stand with Ukraine. President Trump is right that Europe needs to pull its weight – and that includes the UK. We need to get serious. The PM will have my support to increase defence spending – there is a fully funded plan to get to 2.5% sitting on his desk. That should be the bare minimum. Starmer should get on with it, get on a plane to Washington and show some leadership. We cannot afford to get this wrong.”

STORY

Joe Haines, the former Press Secretary to Prime Minister Harold Wilson, has died at the age of 97 his family have confirmed. Born in Rotherhithe in January 1928, Haines got a job on the Glasgow Bulletin and built a career in journalism and politics, becoming the press secretary to Harold Wilson in 1969. A spokesperson for the Labour Party said in a statement:

“He was pre-deceased by his wife, Rene, and they had no children. Though Joe had been struggling with physical illness for some time, requiring three trips to hospital for dialysis every week, and had also lost his sight, he remained mentally alert to the end. He spent Christmas and new year on a cruise of the Iberian peninsula and recently held a 97th birthday party – he was born 29 January 1928 – and insisted on dying at home, where he was looked after by carers.”

Joe Haines wrote the Politics of Power about his time in Downing Street.

STORY

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the leader of Ukraine, has said that he fears that Donald Trump, the US President, is living in a “disinformation space” where he believes false Russian propaganda. Trump falsely alleged that Zelenskyy had just 4% support, despite former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson stating that the Ukrainian leader was popular and had similar levels of support to Trump. The Ukrainian leader is polling at around 58% support in the opinion polls, with the White House unable to give a source for the President’s false figures.