Ukraine leads the majority of the papers on Thursday, ahead of peace talks between US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday. “There will be no surrender” declares the Metro, reporting on comments from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after he said he would not cede any territory to Russia.
“Protect Ukraine from ‘bluffing’ Putin, Zelensky urges Trump” says the i Paper, after the Ukrainian president and other European leaders, who are not attending the meeting in Alaska, held a joint call with Trump on Wednesday to reiterate their position.
The Financial Times writes that Trump promised “severe consequences” for Putin if he refused to end the war in Ukraine. The paper reported that European leaders have been worried that Trump “might be prepared to strike a deal on territory” without the input of Zelensky, and that the Wednesday meeting went some way to “calm their fears”.
After meeting with European leaders, the Guardian reports that Trump said he would push for a second meeting with Putin “almost immediately” if his Friday summit in Alaska goes well. According to the paper, the second call would include Zelensky. The front page also features a story on foreign aid, with the paper reporting that ministers are considering “scrapping” a commitment to spend 80% of foreign aid on projects that support gender equality.
The Telegraph says that the meeting in Alaska will see Trump offer Putin access to “rare earth minerals” as an “incentive” to end the war in Ukraine, and that the US president is also prepared to lift sanctions on the Russia’s aviation industry. The paper splashes with a photograph of incoming Match of the Day presenter Kelly Cates ahead of her debut as a host later this week.
The Times has similarly headlined with Trump’s “warning to Putin on eve of talks”, and allege the US and Russia have already discussed a “model” for ending the war that would “mirror Israel’s occupation of the West Bank”. The White House has denied that any such discussions have taken place.
A man who plotted the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing has been charged with attempting to murder three prison officers, according to the Mirror’s headline. The paper alleges Hashem Abedi used hot oil and knives in the attack.
“Fight house” reads the Daily Star’s front page, as the paper reports Trump is planning to “host UFC fight bouts on the lawns of the White House” in 2026 to celebrate 250 years of America.
The BBC has apologised after a contributor to the Radio 4 Today programme’s Thought for the Day slot accused shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick of “xenophobia”. The Mail leads with “‘xenophobe’ slur on top Tory”, and writes that guest Dr Krish Kandiah “prompted fury” with his comments.
The Express says policing minister Dame Diana Johnson “provoked ridicule” after her comments on BBC Radio 4 when she condemned shoplifters but said “stores need to play their part in making sure that items that are high value are not at the front”. Model and disability advocate Ellie Goldstein beams on the paper’s front page, after she was announced as a contestant on the forthcoming season of Strictly Come Dancing.
The Sun reports that police are investigating the links between a shooting and an alleged blackmail plot, and the £64m signing of footballer Viktor Gyokeres to Arsenal.
Friday’s summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin features on many front pages. The Guardian, the i Paper and the Financial Times all focus on the US president threatening Russia with “severe consequences” if the Russian president rejects a ceasefire with Ukraine. The Times says it has learned that Russia and the US have considered a model for ending the conflict which mirrors Israel’s occupation of the West Bank – with Moscow taking control of occupied Ukraine via a governing body. The White House tells the paper that no such discussion has taken place.
Reuters
The Daily Telegraph claims that Trump will arrive at the summit armed with a series of money-making proposals for Putin, as incentives to end the war. These are said to include offering Russia access to rare earth minerals in the Ukrainian territories it occupies – and opening up Alaska’s natural resources to Moscow. US officials are quoted as saying they do not comment on conversations that may or may not be happening.
The Daily Mail reports that BBC bosses have apologised in what the paper calls an “embarrassing climbdown” after the shadow justice secretary, Robert Jenrick, was called xenophobic by a Thought for The Day contributor on the Radio 4 Today programme. It says Dr Krish Kandiah “prompted fury” with his comments, leaving Jenrick to describe the incident as “extremely disappointing”.
Comments by the policing minister Dame Diana Johnson advising shops not to keep expensive items near entrances to deter thieves are highlighted by the Daily Express, which says they’ve been branded a “disgrace” and “staggering” by the Conservatives. The paper notes that the boss of Iceland, Richard Walker, had warned that levels of shoplifting were getting worse, and says Dame Diana responded by agreeing that he had a point, and emphasised the government’s investment in neighbourhood policing.
Ministers are considering scrapping a commitment to spend 80% of foreign aid on projects that support gender equality, according to the Guardian. It says critics have warned the move could worsen the impact of Donald Trump’s rollback of funding for diversity. The Foreign Office says it will continue to champion the rights of women and girls globally.
Reuters
