Several of Saturday’s papers lead with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s “agonising choice”, as the Daily Mail writes, over whether to accept a US-backed peace deal with Russia. “Trump turns the screw” is the Mail’s headline, which reports that Ukraine has been told it has until Thursday to accept the “humiliating peace deal”.
Zelensky warns his country is facing a choice between “losing US support or forfeiting its dignity” over the peace deal, according to the Financial Times. European allies are caught “off-guard” by the plan, which was drafted by aides of the US and Russian presidents, and say it amounts to “capitulation” to Moscow’s demands. Zelensky says he will not reject the initiative “out of hand”, but will “offer alternatives” in dialogue with Washington.
In an address to the country, the Ukrainian president says his country faces its “most difficult moment in history”, the Independent leads. Elsewhere, the paper reports on a “remarkable” 19-wicket first day of the Ashes in Perth, in which captain Ben Stokes led a “ferocious fightback against Australia”.
Trump confirms the Thursday deadline for Ukraine to respond to the peace plan, but the White House denies reports that the US could “cut off” intelligence sharing if Zelensky rejects it, the Times reports. European leaders, alongside the UK, are working to “strengthen” the deal, “amid concern that Ukraine would be at risk of further attacks if it weakened its armed forces”.
The Daily Mirror leads on the jailing for 10-and-a half years of an “ally” of Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, for accepting pro-Russia bribes. Former Reform UK in Wales leader Nathan Gill, whom the paper describes as a “former party bigwig”, took up to £40,000 from tycoon Oleg Voloshyn for “making pro-Russian speeches”.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is urging Farage to “root out links between Reform UK and Russia” following the conviction of Gill, the Guardian reports. The paper says the government believes Reform UK is “vulnerable” to criticism that Farage and his allies have been “too pro-Russia”. Police have said there was no link to Farage in their investigation into Gill.
The Conservative Party would retain just 14 seats if an election was called now, according to internal party polling leaked to the Telegraph. An insider tells the paper that the party faces an “existential threat” from Reform UK, which the poll forecasts would win a 46-seat majority. Another source says the Tories are at risk of being “consigned to the history books”.
Challenges facing the Labour Party are the focus for the i Weekend, which reports that the PM is “losing control” of his party’s MPs ahead of the Budget. Some Labour MPs have become “a bit feral” over uncertainty about Sir Keir’s leadership, according to ex-advisers to Downing Street. Backbenchers and ministers are urging more help for “hard-up people” amid the “cost of living crunch”.
Sarah Ferguson is “considering offers” for a “tell-all TV interview”, the first since her ex-husband Andrew Mountbatten Windsor relinquished his titles over links with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the Sun reports. Some US networks are “willing to pay six-figure sums to secure the chat” with the former Duchess of York.
MPs are considering whether to establish an “injury-in-service medal” for police officers who are forced to quit after sustaining injuries during active duty, the Daily Express reports.
Finally, the Daily Star leads on a boss who has mandated his staff to take time off to see their children’s Christmas events – including pantos. “Oh, yes he did,” the paper writes.
