This week sees the third anniversary of the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine.
While Europe and the UK will commemorate the date by reaffirming their support for Kyiv’s war efforts, the US is now under diplomatic pressure to reverse its somewhat belligerent stance towards the Ukrainian leadership.
Three years on
Today (24 February) marks the third-year anniversary of Russia’s illegal invasion. Three years on from the start of the invasion, which Russia expected to last a matter of weeks if not days, the war continues. Russia is advancing at a snail’s pace, while Ukraine is under pressure from an erstwhile ally to end the war on largely unfavourable terms.
The EU has formally announced its 16th sanctions package – the details were reported by the Daily Update last week – while UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer announced a ban on sanctioned Russian politicians and oligarchs entering the UK.
Starmer is also expected to announce a new package of sanctions on Russia later on this week, continuing his Conservative predecessors’ tactics.
Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, will also host a summit today in Belgium, having said that he would step down from office in exchange for security guarantees and NATO membership.
French president Emmanual Macron will meet his US counterpart Donald Trump, with Starmer also meeting the latter in Washington on Wednesday (26 February).
Diplomatic pressure
It’s also a week when Europe will ramp up pressure on the US to continue its support for Ukraine. While Trump continues his stance of appeasing Russia, European leaders are doubling down in supporting Kyiv’s war efforts.
Trump, for his part, has insisted that Ukraine signs a deal on critical minerals with the US to ensure continued support. Although Zelensky has said that the US has dropped part of this plan, White House officials have continued to negotiate with Russian counterparts, without much reference to either European allies or Ukraine itself.
UK politics
With only a couple of months to go until the local elections, UK politicians are setting out their stalls ahead of formal campaign launches.
Starmer spoke at the Scottish Labour conference over the weekend, while Reform leader Nigel Farage is set to unveil his party’s mayoral candidate for Hull and East Riding. Several new mayoralties are up for grabs at the local elections, held 1 May.
Runcorn and Helsby MP, Mike Amesbury, is being sentenced for assault, having pled guilty. If he receives a custodial sentence, it could trigger a process that would lead to a by-election in the nominally safe Labour seat. With Reform performing well in the polls, the party could take the opportunity to make an electoral statement.
Other dates for the diary
· Monday: London fashion week ends
· Tuesday: Ofgem announces changes to energy cap
· Wednesday: Climate Change Committee publishes its seventh Carbon Budget report
· Thursday: 125 years since the UK Labour Party was founded
· Friday: Rio Carnival starts in Brazil
· Saturday: Start of Spring in meteorological calendar
· Sunday: The Oscars, known formally as the Academy Awards, held in LA
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