- Zelensky denies ceasefire with Russia under discussion on trip
- Florida battered by hurricane, floods but spared 'worst-case scenario'
- After long fight for glory, Nadal leaves with a legacy of memories
- Home hopes Zheng and Wang through to last-eight in Wuhan Open
- UN peacekeepers say Israel fired on Lebanon HQ, injuring 2
- UK's William and Kate in first joint public engagement since cancer treatment
- Alcaraz out as top players pay tribute to Nadal at Shanghai Masters
- Racing's Farrell 'not thinking' about British and Irish Lions
- Alcaraz, Sinner pay tribute to 'unbelievable' Nadal at Shanghai Masters
- Over 200 women in legal talks with Harrods over Fayed abuse claims
- After K-pop, K-novels? South Korean Nobel win sparks joy, hope at home
- After Nadal exit, Djokovic left to rage against dying of the light
- A very stiff breeze: BBC says sorry for 20,000 kph wind forecast
- Triple centurion Brook happy to break Dad's club record
- Zelensky touts 'victory plan' against Russia in Macron talks
- Musk finally unveiling his long-promised robotaxi
- UN peacekeepers accuses Israel of firing on Lebanon HQ
- London's Frieze art fair goes potty for ceramics
- Southgate taking year out from coaching
- US, Europe stocks fall on US inflation data
- Zelensky meets Macron in Paris as part of European tour
- Hurricane Milton shreds Florida stadium roof
- UN probe accuses Israel of seeking to 'destroy' Gaza healthcare
- US consumer inflation eases to 2.4% in September
- England in sight of victory after Brook's triple hundred
- Juventus readmitted to ECA after failed Super League revolt
- World number 2 Alcaraz knocked out of Shanghai Masters by Machac
- Leaders of Egypt, Eritrea, Somalia meet amid regional tensions
- Klopp's Red Bull decision 'ruined life's work' say Dortmund fans
- Han Kang wins South Korea's first literature Nobel
- S. Korea's Nobel winner Han Kang a modest, thought-provoking writer
- Hurricane Milton tornadoes kill four in Florida amid rescue efforts
- The almost impossible job: Beating Rafael Nadal at the French Open
- New French government faces key test with budget plan
- Rescuers say Israeli strike on Gaza school kills 28
- Italy's ex-world champion gymnast Ferrari announces retirement
- Zelensky talks 'victory plan' in meeting with Starmer, Rutte
- South Korea's Han Kang wins literature Nobel
- Federer lauds retiring Nadal's 'incredible achievements'
- Ikea posts fall in annual sales after lowering prices
- Australia beat China 3-1 to resurrect World Cup campaign
- Stock markets diverge, oil gains after China rebounds
- Nadal defied injury woes in record-breaking career
- Nadal v Djokovic, French Open, 2006: Chapter One in epic rivalry
- World can't 'waste time' trading climate change blame: COP29 hosts
- Pakistan at 23-1 after Brook triple hundred takes England to 823-7
- Zelensky meets Starmer, Rutte on whirlwind tour of Europe
- South Korean same-sex couples make push for marriage equality
- Rafael Nadal calls time on epic tennis career
- Mumbai declares day of mourning for Indian industrialist Ratan Tata
RBGPF | 4.03% | 63.35 | $ | |
CMSC | 0.16% | 24.56 | $ | |
SCS | -2.92% | 12.66 | $ | |
NGG | 0.5% | 65.96 | $ | |
GSK | -1.96% | 39.465 | $ | |
BTI | -0.5% | 35.305 | $ | |
AZN | -0.72% | 76.95 | $ | |
BP | 0.98% | 32.295 | $ | |
RELX | -0.55% | 46.455 | $ | |
RYCEF | 0% | 6.9 | $ | |
RIO | 0.47% | 66.66 | $ | |
BCE | -1.03% | 32.97 | $ | |
CMSD | 0.26% | 24.745 | $ | |
VOD | -0.26% | 9.705 | $ | |
BCC | -1.15% | 140.77 | $ | |
JRI | -0.08% | 13.21 | $ |
Zelensky talks 'victory plan' in meeting with Starmer, Rutte
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday said he laid out his plan to defeat Russian forces as he met UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and NATO chief Mark Rutte at the start of a whistlestop European tour to secure military aid.
Zelensky is seeking a military and financial boost during a 48-hour trip to London, Paris, Rome and Berlin, amid fears of dwindling support if Donald Trump become US president next month.
Ukraine is facing its toughest winter since the full-scale invasion started in February 2022, as Russia launches strikes on the country's power grid and advances across the eastern frontline.
After his Downing Street meeting, Zelensky said he "outlined the details of our victory plan... (which) aims to create the right conditions for a just end to the war".
"We have agreed to work on it together with our allies," he added.
Zelensky has now made two visits to London since Labour leader Starmer became prime minister in July. Starmer said it was important to demonstrate "our continued commitment" to Ukraine.
The meeting, he said, was a chance to "go through the plan, to talk in more detail".
A planned meeting of Ukraine's allies in Germany on Saturday was postponed after US President Joe Biden called off his visit to focus on the threat from Hurricane Milton.
- Missiles -
Zelensky maintains that Ukraine desperately needs more aid to fight back after Russia captured dozens of small towns and villages in the disputed east.
He is also pushing for clearance to use long-range weapons supplied by allies, including British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles, to strike military targets deep inside Russia.
Washington and London have stalled on giving approval over fears it could draw NATO allies into direct conflict with Russia.
Zelensky said he raised the subject in the meeting. Rutte told reporters "legally, that is possible because legally, Ukraine is allowed to use its weapons, if they can hit targets in Russia, if these targets present a threat to Ukraine".
But he added: "Whether individual allies do, that's in the end, (is) always up to individual allies."
Rutte and Britain cautioned against placing too much focus on long-range missiles.
"No war has ever been won by a single weapon," Starmer's spokesman said, adding that talks were instead about "the range of support" for Ukraine as winter approaches.
- Funding -
On the ground, questions are growing about the long-term strategy of an offensive into Russia's Kursk region, given the push in the east of Ukraine.
On Thursday, the Kremlin said its missiles had struck two launchers of a US-made Patriot air defence system, which Ukraine uses against Russian missiles.
"If this is a short-term operation, it will strengthen us," Bogdan, one serviceman sitting at a cafe in Druzhkivka, near Kramatorsk, told AFP.
"If it's a long-term operation and we plan to stay in Kursk, it will deplete our main resources."
Ukraine relies on billions of dollars worth of US financial and military aid to fight Russia's invasion, and the US presidential election in November could prove pivotal.
The German-based Kiel Institute warned Thursday that Western military and financial aid to Kyiv could halve to about 29 billion euros ($31 billion) in 2025 if Republican candidate Trump wins the November 5 election.
"Starting next year, Ukraine could face a significant aid deficit," it said.
Trump has promised to end the war "in 24 hours" if he is elected -- a prospect Kyiv fears means being forced to make massive compromises to achieve peace.
Vice President and Democratic rival Kamala Harris has said she would not meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin for peace talks if Ukraine was not also represented.
Zelensky has rejected any peace plan that involves ceding territory to Russia, arguing Moscow must first withdraw all troops from Ukrainian territory.
F.Pavlenko--BTB