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20.02.2025

20.02.2025 โ€” Trump Silences Zelensky's Answer

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This page is an archive of main headlines from the UK for 20.02.2025.

It displays 150 headlines from many sources chronologically, as they appeared throughout the day, accompanied by AI overviews that were written in real time.

20.02.2025 โ‡ข Trump Silences Zelensky's Answer
โŒจThe morning began with the return of four Israeli hostage bodies by Hamas, including the Bibas family, in what observers noted as a propaganda display. This development was overshadowed by escalating US-Ukraine tensions.

By midday, Russia expressed agreement with Trump's "dictator" characterization of Zelensky, while the Kremlin rejected Starmer's proposed European peacekeeping force as "unacceptable." The afternoon saw US officials instructing Zelensky to "tone down" criticism and accept a $500bn minerals deal, culminating in the cancellation of a planned press conference between Zelensky and US envoys.

Evening developments centered on Trump's "frustration" with Zelensky's reluctance to accept US-brokered peace terms, while the Senate confirmed Trump's FBI nominee Kash Patel. Israel reported narrowly avoiding mass casualties when bus bombs accidentally detonated at night instead of during morning rush hour.
20.02.2025

00:11โ‡ขTrump Labels Zelensky The Enemy

โŒจThe newspapers report on Trump's intensified attacks on Zelensky, now explicitly calling him a "dictator" amid US-Russia peace talks (BBC, Guardian, Independent, Sky, Mirror). This marks a deepening rift between the leaders, with multiple UK outlets covering Trump's accusations about Ukraine "tricking" the US. Separately, celebrity couple Michelle Keegan and Mark Wright faced a home invasion at their Essex mansion, with the pregnant actress and her husband locking themselves in their bedroom during the incident (Daily Mail, Metro, Sun).
00:25
06:43
Ahead of a historic German election, the AfD is courting the global right โ€“ and threatening to upend European politics.
06:43
06:52
07:25
BBC

Hamas returning first bodies of hostages held in Gaza

The bodies of four hostages are to be handed over, which Hamas says includes a mother and two children from the Bibas family.
07:25
07:51
The Guardian

Hamas returning bodies of four Israeli hostages, including two children

07:51

07:54โ‡ขBibas Family Bodies Return

โŒจThe newspapers report on Hamas returning bodies of four Israeli hostages, including members of the Bibas family (BBC, Guardian, Sky, Jewish Chronicle). In parallel, Trump's "dictator" comments about Zelensky continue to reverberate, with Starmer explicitly backing the Ukrainian leader (Independent, Times). German politics gains attention with coverage of AfD's rise and its potential impact on European politics (New Statesman, Spiked).
08:00
The Guardian

Hamas hands bodies of four Israeli hostages, including two children, to Red Cross in Gaza

08:00
08:16
BBC

Hamas transfers bodies of four Israeli hostages to Red Cross in Gaza

A mother and two children from the Bibas family are among the dead, Hamas says.
08:16
08:33
08:41
The Guardian

Hamas releases bodies of four Israeli hostages, including mother and two children

08:41
08:49
09:07
BBC

Israel receives bodies of four hostages held by Hamas in Gaza

The Red Cross transferred the bodies from Hamas, which says a mother and two children from the Bibas family are among the dead.
09:07

09:18โ‡ขBibas Family Bodies Return From Gaza

โŒจThe newspapers report on Hamas releasing bodies of four Israeli hostages, including Shiri Bibas and her two children, Ariel and baby Kfir (BBC, Daily Mail, Guardian, Sky News, Times, Jewish Chronicle). In parallel, Starmer continues to defend Zelensky against Trump's accusations, preparing to present a Ukraine peacekeeping plan (Independent, Evening Standard). The German far-right's rise receives continued coverage (New Statesman, Spiked).
09:50
The Guardian

Remains of four hostages, including mother and two children, returned to Israel

09:50
10:48
11:12
12:03
BBC

Our hearts are in tatters, Israel's president says as Hamas returns first dead hostages

Hamas says the four bodies are those of a mother and her two young children, as well as an 84-year-old man.
12:03
12:18
12:46

12:47โ‡ขNATO Troops Plan Meets Russian Wall

โŒจThe newspapers report on two major developments: Hamas's return of four Israeli hostage bodies, including the Bibas family (BBC, Guardian, Times, Spiked), and escalating tensions over Ukraine. Trump's comments calling Zelensky a "dictator" receive extensive coverage (Mirror, Sky, Spectator), with Russia "absolutely agreeing" with Trump's position (Daily Mail). A new proposal for NATO peacekeepers in Ukraine faces immediate Russian rejection as "unacceptable" (Breitbart London, Sky).
12:55
13:03
13:11
13:33
13:54
The Guardian

Trump aide tells Zelenskyy to โ€˜tone it downโ€™ ahead of press conference with US envoy

13:54
14:48
The Guardian

Trump aide tells Zelenskyy to โ€˜tone it downโ€™ as US envoy cancels press conference with Ukraine president

14:48
14:48
BBC

Trump aide tells Ukraine to 'tone down' US criticism as Russia warns against Nato troops

White House national security adviser Mike Waltz also urges Ukraine to sign a minerals deal pushed by President Trump.
14:48
14:48
The Guardian

Trump aide tells Zelenskyy to โ€˜tone it downโ€™ as US envoy cancels Kyiv press conference

14:48

14:50โ‡ขWhite House Orders Ukraine's Silence

โŒจThe newspapers report on Trump aide Mike Waltz telling Ukraine to "tone down" criticism of the US and sign a minerals deal (BBC, Daily Mail, Guardian, Independent). Russia warns against NATO troops in Ukraine, specifically rejecting UK peacekeepers as "unacceptable" (Times, Sky News, Breitbart). Trump states Putin "holds the cards" in negotiations, marking a significant shift in US-Ukraine relations.
16:18
The Guardian

We are on cusp of peace in Europe thanks to Trump, claims JD Vance

16:18
16:38
17:09
17:48

17:49โ‡ขAmerica Silences Zelensky

โŒจThe newspapers report on escalating tensions between Ukraine and the US, with multiple sources covering a cancelled press conference after Ukraine was told to "tone down" criticism of Trump (Daily Mail, Independent, Mirror, Sky News, Sun). Starmer publicly supports Zelensky's decision to cancel elections (Breitbart), while JD Vance claims Trump is bringing peace to Europe (Guardian). German far-right politics gains attention with AfD's growing influence (Channel 4, New Statesman).
17:56
BBC

Kyiv news conference with Zelensky and Trump's Ukraine envoy cancelled at last minute

White House national security adviser Mike Waltz also tells Ukraine to 'tone down' US criticism as Russia warns against Nato troops in Ukraine
17:56
17:56
18:12
18:37
19:16
The Guardian

Trump โ€˜very frustratedโ€™ with Zelenskyy for failing to โ€˜take opportunityโ€™ of US-brokered peace

19:16
19:24
BBC

Trump is 'very frustrated' with Zelensky, White House says

National Security Adviser Mike Waltz said "insults" at the US president coming from Kyiv were unacceptable.
19:24
19:32
The Guardian

Trump โ€˜very frustratedโ€™ with Zelenskyy for allegedly failing to โ€˜take opportunityโ€™ of US-brokered peace

19:32
19:33
BBC

Trump's pick Kash Patel confirmed as leader of the FBI

Patel has been confirmed by the US Senate as the director of the FBI in a vote of 51-49.
19:33
19:57
BBC

US Senate confirms Kash Patel as leader of the FBI

The lawyer, a controversial pick by Donald Trump, was previously a fierce critic of the FBI.
19:57

19:58โ‡ขPatel Takes FBI While Ukraine Deal Falters

โŒจThe newspapers report on Trump's FBI nominee Kash Patel being confirmed by the Senate (BBC), while coverage continues of US-Ukraine tensions. Trump expresses frustration with Zelenskyy for not accepting a peace deal (Guardian, Independent, HuffPost). Reform UK becomes the last major party to defend Zelenskyy against Trump's criticism (HuffPost). In domestic news, UK banks report record ยฃ45.9bn profits amid cost of living concerns (Morning Star).
20:05
20:13
BBC

US Senate confirms Kash Patel as leader of the FBI

The lawyer, a controversial pick by Donald Trump, was previously a fierce critic of the FBI.
20:13
20:29
21:01
The Guardian

US official tells Kyiv to stop criticizing Trump and sign $500bn mineral deal

21:01
21:10
The Guardian

Stop criticising Trump and sign $500bn mineral deal, US official advises Kyiv

21:10
21:32
BBC

Trump and Tiger Woods speak at Black History Month event at White House

The US president announces a plan to build a garden at the White House for "American Heroes".
21:32

21:36โ‡ขTrump's Tiger and Zelensky's Minerals

โŒจThe newspapers report on new US-Ukraine tensions, with Trump criticizing Zelenskyy during a Black History Month event (BBC), while US officials pressure Ukraine to accept a $500bn mineral deal (Guardian, Independent). A potential terror attack is averted in Israel as three empty buses explode, with timers reportedly set incorrectly (Daily Mail, Sky News). UK opposition leader Starmer addresses housing concerns (Metro), while EastEnders character Martin Fowler is killed off (Mirror).
21:42
22:23
23:56
The Guardian

Israeli military says body of Shiri Bibas is not among returned hostages

23:56