Sir Keir Starmer’s announcement that the UK and France would lead a “coalition of the willing” to help end fighting in Ukraine leads most of Monday’s front pages. Speaking after a defence summit in London, the prime minister said a lasting ceasefire plan would have to be “delivered together” with the US in order to deter Russia, the Guardian says.
Sir Keir also revealed a number of countries had indicated they want to be part of the plans, but he declined to name them, the Financial Times reports.
The PM’s remarks also make the front page of the Daily Express. The paper says the he told Europe’s leaders they must “step up” to ensure conflict does not spread across the continent.
The Daily Telegraph reports the prime minister’s announcement of a £1.6bn deal to supply advanced air defence missiles to Ukraine. Meanwhile, it adds Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, said she would present a “comprehensive plan” to urgently “re-arm Europe”.
When asked about the peace deal plans, Zelensky smiled and said: “I am aware of everything”, the Times reports. The paper says he also insisted Ukraine’s turbulent relations with Donald Trump’s administration “will pass”, and that he would like the US president to “hear things from me personally”.
An image of Zelensky meeting King Charles features on the front page of the i and several other papers. The i says the King flexed “soft power” in his hour-long meeting with the Ukranian leader, after he invited Donald Trump for a state visit.
“King-size welcome,” is how the Sun describes the meeting between the King and Zelensky at Sandringham.
The King’s invitation for Zelensky to visit Sandringham was a “pointed show of support”, the Daily Mail says, coming just two days after the Ukrainian president’s heated exchange with Donald Trump at the White House.
It marked their third meeting since Ukraine was invaded in 2022, the Metro notes, adding that locals waved Ukrainian flags as Zelensky arrived by helicopter.
The meeting between the King and Zelensky does merit a mention on the front page of the Daily Star. But its lead story is some “flipping great news” for its readers, revealing that the “crepe weather” is over, with Spring arriving just in time for Pancake Day.
