Ukraine-Russia war latest: US ‘intensifies demands for minerals’ as UK military delegation to visit Kyiv
It comes as Emmanuel Macron hosts a 'coalition of the willing' leaders at the summit in Paris
Donald Trump has intensified his demands for US control over Ukraine’s rare minerals and energy assets, according to a fresh proposal seen by multiple media outlets.
The new deal would see the US receive all royalties from such assets until Ukraine has paid off at least $100bn of war debt to the US, and hand Kyiv just 50 per cent thereafter, while giving the US a veto over the sale of any such assets to other nations, according to reports.
One analyst labelled the fresh proposal an “expropriation document” incompatible with Ukraine joining the EU, telling The Telegraph: “I’ve never seen anything like it before ... I have to wonder whether the real intention might not be to force Zelensky to reject it.” One Kyiv official described the proposal as “robbery” to the Financial Times.
It came as Emmanuel Macron announced that a British-French military delegation will be sent to Ukraine to scout Kyiv’s needs and what can be done to support its army – and that troops would be deployed as a “reassurance force” to uphold any potential peace deal agreed with Russia.
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Putin says Russia will strengthen its military capability in the Arctic
Vladimir Putin has claimed that Russia is worried about Nato’s activities in the Arctic and will respond by strengthening its military capability in the polar region.
“We are certainly concerned about Nato members describing the Far North as the region of possible conflicts,” the Russian president said, noting that Russia’s neighbors Finland and Sweden have joined the alliance. “Russia has never threatened anyone in the Arctic, but we will closely follow the developments and mount an appropriate response by increasing our military capability and modernising military infrastructure.”
Russia has sought to assert its influence over wide areas of the Arctic in competition with the United States, Canada, Denmark and Norway as shrinking polar ice from the warming planet offers new opportunities for resources and shipping routes. China also has shown an increasing interest in the region, believed to hold up to one-fourth of the Earth’s undiscovered oil and gas.
“We won't allow any infringement on our country's sovereignty, reliably safeguard our national interests while supporting peace and stability in the polar region,” Mr Putin said.
But Mr Putin added: “The stronger our positions will be, the more significant the results will be and the broader opportunities we will have to launch international projects in the Arctic involving the countries that are friendly to us, and, possibly, Western countries if they show interest in joint work. I’m sure the time will come to launch such projects.”
Putin says US push for Greenland rooted in history
Vladimir Putin has said that Donald Trump’s push for control over Greenland is not surprising given longtime US interest in the mineral-rich territory.
Speaking at a policy forum in the Artic port of Murmansk, Mr Putin noted that the United States first considered plans to win control over Greenland in the 19th century, and then offered to buy it from Denmark after World War II.
“It can look surprising only at first glance and it would be wrong to believe that this is some sort of extravagant talk by the current US administration," Putin said. “It's obvious that the United States will continue to systematically advance its geostrategic, military-political and economic interests in the Arctic.”
Ukraine's European allies not unanimous on reassurance force, says Macron
Ukraine’s European allies do not all agree on the proposed deployment of an armed force in the country to back up an eventual peace deal and only some want to take part, French president Emmanuel Macron has said.
“It is not unanimous,” he said, after wrapping up the summit – attended by the leaders of nearly 30 countries, as well as EU and Nato chiefs – aimed at strengthening Kyiv’s hand and its military as it pushes for a ceasefire with Moscow.
“We do not need unanimity to achieve it,” Mr Macron added, vowing that France and the UK – who are driving the initiative – will forge ahead with the “reassurance force” with several other countries.
Russian war correspondent killed near Ukraine border
A Russian war correspondent has been killed and her cameraman seriously injured in a landmine explosion near the border with Ukraine.
Russian state TV journalist Anna Prokofieva and cameraman Dmitry Volkov had been in Russia’s Belgorod region when they ran over a landmine planted by the Ukrainian military, state-run Channel One said in a statement.
The 35-year-old reporter “died while performing her professional duty,” the news outlet said.
Two Russian journalists and their driver were among six people killed in an artillery strike earlier this week in the Russian-controlled parts of Ukraine’s Luhansk region, according to Russian authorities and media.
Starmer and Macron to send military chiefs to Ukraine to plan for future ceasefire
Starmer and Macron to send military chiefs to Ukraine to plan for future ceasefire
European leaders agree on a stronger Ukraine, differ on future 'reassurance force'
European leaders reaffirmed their long-term support for Ukraine during a summit in Paris on Thursday but appeared to make little progress on what role they might play in providing security guarantees if a peace deal is struck with Moscow.
It was the third summit of what France and Britain have called the "coalition of the willing", reflecting concern among Europeans that the US no longer represents a firm bulwark of support for Ukraine in its three-year-old fight against Russia.
US President Donald Trump, in office since 20 January, has said he wants to broker a swift end to the war.
But a series of bilateral talks between the US and the warring sides has yet to yield a significant diminution of hostilities.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said leaders had agreed on the need for more support for Ukraine to ensure it was in the strongest possible position for any peace process, without elaborating.
He also said he would like to see a peace deal developing "in days and weeks, not months".
Putin says geopolitical rivalries are rising in Arctic, but cooperation is possible
Geopolitical rivalries are intensifying in the Arctic, but cooperation in the region is possible, including between Moscow and Western states, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
Putin, who is keen to ramp up commerce via the Northern Sea Route through Arctic waters as Russia shifts trade towards Asia and away from Europe because of Western sanctions, said Russia had never threatened anyone in the Arctic, but was prepared to defend its interests.
Zelensky urges US to respond to Putin's strikes on energy plant
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday Russian artillery had damaged Ukraine's energy infrastructure in the front-line city of Kherson, two days after the US announced that each side had agreed to a truce on energy strikes.
“Two days ago, there was a night when there were no strikes on the energy sector, today energy infrastructure in the city of Kherson was damaged by Russian artillery,” Zelensky said in Paris.
“I believe that the US should respond with actions.”
The United States announced separate agreements with Kyiv and Moscow on Tuesday to pause attacks in the Black Sea and against each other's energy installations, the first such deal since Donald Trump returned to the White House in January.
"Our side, as long as no one understands who is monitoring what ..., all this (evidence) will be prepared and transferred to the US, and after that we are waiting for America's reaction, since they told us that they will respond to violations," Zelensky said after a summit of Ukraine's allies in the French capital.
UN role in ceasefire support was discussed, Italy says
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s office said the world leaders discussed the possibility of the United Nations playing a role in an eventual ceasefire deal between Ukraine and Russia.
Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron said the “reassurance force” would not replace a peacekeeping mission.
In a statement, Ms Meloni’s office said: "During the meeting, the leaders also discussed the importance of effective implementation and monitoring of the ceasefire, on which a possible UN role is emerging, in line with the Italian government's position.”
Italy also said Mr Macron was interested in shaping security guarantees for Ukraine based on Nato Article 5.
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