James Rice

In this dangerous age, Britain needs to exert soft power as well as the hard stuff | Andrew Rawnsley Defence spending has to go up, but siphoning money from international aid is a self-defeating folly

'Defence spending has to go up, but siphoning money from international aid is a self-defeating folly'

#InternationalAid #InternationalAidCut #UK #Starmer #KierStarmer #Defence

Ukraine war: Which countries could Putin go for next? Is Europe vulnerable to a nuclear-armed bully? Your questions answered Our security and defence analyst Michael Clarke answered your questions on the war in Ukraine.

'The Western world as a construct is dead'

Hard power is the world's real currency once again - talking tough on defence won't be enough In a world where hard power is once again the only real currency, a new approach is needed, says Sky's Deborah Haynes.

'Remarkable – and relatively speaking a blessing – that the wake-up call for Britain to take defence seriously again did not come in the form of a military attack on UK soil, but instead was triggered by the verbal assault of Ukraine's wartime leader by a sitting US president.'

🤝 European leaders are arriving at Lancaster House in central London, where UK PM Starmer is hosting an international security summit.

Among them are French President Macron, Italian PM Meloni, NATO Secretary General Rutte, Polish PM Tusk, and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy.

... and doesn't seem to keep up with events, saying only that things 'will' happen not happening.

I'm not accusing them per se of bias as they covered the #Trump incident and the #EU response but its almost as if it didn't happen on google despite all the rest of the national and local news.

Is it me or is #GoogleNews and #BBCnews coverage of #Zelensky's visit to the #UK really poor. I know the #Google service is a collator of other outlets but its headlines give no news to me that don't require searching. The #BBC made their report into a single updating page which has no pictures...

Norway fuel giant 'refuses to fill US submarines' after Trump-Zelensky clash Norwegian petroleum giant Haltbakk Bunkers has declared it will no longer help the US Navy.

Link to new outlet:

Norway fuel giant 'refuses to fill US submarines' after Trump-Zelensky clash Norwegian petroleum giant Haltbakk Bunkers has declared it will no longer help the US Navy.

#Ukraine solidarity

A concrete hydro pole with a black paper pasted to it that says ‘never again is now’ in white

Took this photo on Perth Avenue this morning. They aren’t wrong.

HAYES: “The United States siding with Putin against democratic allies will have massive consequences for global politics for decades to come.”

🇬🇧🇺🇦 "Did you hear people cheering you on the street? You can see the support. And we will support as long as it takes. We want long-term peace," — Starmer to Zelensky

📸 No one follows more etiquette rules than the Royal Family—but notice how King Charles didn’t make any smart-ass or demeaning comments about Zelensky’s attire today.

Why? Because respect isn’t about clothes—it’s about character. And that’s something money can’t buy.

Milan, Italy, demonstration against Trump: support for Ukraine under US consulate 🔊 Ascolta articolo - Ukrainian, Italian and European flags fly in Milan in protest against Trump’s “absurd show” during his meeting with Zelensky at the White House Milan – March 1, 2025 – A spontaneo...

Milan, Italy, demonstration against Trump: support for Ukraine under US consulate

As most of the British press has it out for the BBC anyway I'm not sure I even trust this information. If Hamas hadn't tried to manipulate reporters I probably would be more surprised. Perhaps Hamas manipulated the BBC but given all that happened they couldn't make it any worse than the truth :S

Starmer tells Zelensky he has 'full backing' of UK at No 10 meeting - latest The meeting comes a day after Zelensky's meeting with Donald Trump was cut short following a heated exchange in the Oval Office.

Ironic given #Trump was meant to meet the #King in the coming days. He will no doubt be furious:

'Zelensky to meet King Charles, BBC understands

King Charles III will meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky tomorrow, the BBC understands.

The meeting comes at the request of the UK government.'

Starmer tells Zelensky he has 'full backing' of UK at No 10 meeting - latest The meeting comes a day after Zelensky's meeting with Donald Trump was cut short following a heated exchange in the Oval Office.

'UK to loan Ukraine £2.26bn to bolster defence'

#Friend?

Baltic states 'very unhappy' after UK fails to invite leaders to Ukraine summit Sir Keir Starmer, fresh back from a friendly meeting with Donald Trump in Washington, is due to host the leaders of more than a dozen European countries for a summit in the UK on Sunday to discuss Rus...

#FriendOrFoe?

Democratic Leaders Stand Real Still In Hopes No One Notices Them WASHINGTON—With the elected officials trying their hardest not to move a muscle, reports confirmed Monday that top Democratic leaders in Congress were standing real still in hopes that the American people wouldn’t notice them. “Don’t make any sudden movements, or they’ll spot us,” Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said out of the corner of his mouth, […]

Democratic Leaders Stand Real Still In Hopes No One Notices Them
theonion.com/democra...

No second state visit for Trump Unbelievable. Keir Starmer has handed Donald Trump a letter from King Charles, inviting him for a second state visit to the UK. It’s totally unprecedented, and should not go ahead.  This is the...

#DonaldTrump has a pending state visit to the UK. After how he treated #Zelensky and left #Ukraine in the lurch in a time of #War. We should treating such a person with such honours.
Sign the petition, let us keep our dignity in the #UK.

Friend or foe? Keir Starmer now walks a tightrope between Europe and US No sooner had the PM charmed the president in the Oval Office than consensus over Ukraine – and the future of Nato – was starting to fall apart

The fact that this is a question is shocking enough.

I think there is only one way forward to make a permanent stable and peaceful #Europe and this sums it up.
Take away #Trump's importance and then he might realize he has to do the right thing.

The problem is WE give #Trump too much power, not he HAS too much power.

The Prime Minister should show British leadership on Ukraine by inviting President Zelenskyy to address Parliament on Monday.

I'm proud that the UK has been Ukraine's staunchest ally from the start. We mustn't falter in the face of Trump's bullying now.

It's an interesting thought. I wonder if #Trump could actually say he is on #Ukraine's side without also saying he's on #Russia's side to :S

All equally tying with one of them is an... interesting result :S

They can only count to four.

Given that #KierStarmer response to the need for defense spending was to cut #ForeignAid and has leant more to the right as time has gone on, what he says to #Trump will map the future for the #UK.

Lord Darroch, #UK former ambassador to #Washington said "this is what life is going to be like under Trump 2.0,"
"24/7 bar-room brawl"

That was in response to #Trump calling Peter Mandelson a "Moron"

Though out of context it seems tragically foresighted given this headline: