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25.02.2025

25.02.2025 โ€” The Day Aid Paid For Arms

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This page is an archive of main headlines from the UK for 25.02.2025.

It displays 155 headlines from many sources chronologically, as they appeared throughout the day, accompanied by AI overviews that were written in real time.

25.02.2025 โ‡ข The Day Aid Paid For Arms
โŒจMorning brought Trump's claims about Putin accepting European peacekeepers in Ukraine, promptly denied by the Kremlin. US alignment with Russia in UN votes sparked criticism of a "new axis of evil." NATO scrambled jets as Russian nuclear-capable bombers struck Ukraine while US B-52s patrolled Russian borders.

PM Starmer announced Britain's largest defense spending increase since the Cold War, raising it to 2.5% GDP by 2027, funded through foreign aid cuts. The move preceded his scheduled meeting with Trump, prompting accusations of following US pressure.

By evening, reports emerged of Ukraine agreeing to share mineral resources with the US, marking a significant shift from Zelensky's previous rejection of similar proposals. This development followed three days of mounting pressure from Washington and reflected growing Ukrainian isolation as European influence in peace negotiations diminished.
25.02.2025
00:16
01:18
The Guardian

Trump says Putin will accept European peacekeepers in Ukraine

01:18
04:16
04:16
The Guardian

Macron warns against โ€˜surrenderโ€™ in Ukraine as Trump claims Putin will accept peacekeeper deal

04:16
05:05
The Guardian

More than 160 Gazan medics held in Israeli prisons amid reports of torture

05:05

05:07โ‡ขUS Joins Moscow's Ukraine Resolution

โŒจThe newspapers report extensively on a significant shift in US position: joining Russia in passing a UN Security Council resolution on Ukraine that avoided criticism of Moscow (BBC, Independent). This follows Trump-Macron meetings marked by awkward exchanges (Daily Mail, Mirror) where Macron insisted ceasefire must not mean surrender (Sky News, Times). Separately, reports emerge of 160+ Gazan medics held in Israeli prisons amid torture allegations (Guardian).
06:01
07:00
The Guardian

Macron warns against โ€˜surrenderโ€™ in Ukraine as Trump claims Putin will accept peacekeeper deal

07:00
07:08
07:31
BBC

Macron suggests Ukraine-Russia truce could be weeks away after talks with Trump

It comes after Zelensky tells European leaders his country needs security guarantees to prevent Russia invading again in years to come.
07:31
07:55
08:35
08:44
The Guardian

All of Ukraine under air raid alert as Russian attacks continue; Macron says ceasefire could come in โ€˜weeksโ€™

08:44

08:46โ‡ขMacron's Peace Promise Meets American Rejection

โŒจThe newspapers report extensively on Macron's claim of potential Ukraine-Russia ceasefire within weeks following talks with Trump (BBC, Guardian, Independent). This comes as US joins Russia and North Korea in rejecting UN peace plan (Metro, HuffPost), prompting criticism from British commentators (New Statesman). Domestically, UK papers focus on new crime legislation package (Mirror) and rising energy costs (Sky News).
09:01
09:59
The Guardian

Putin offers to sell rare earth minerals to US, including from Russian-occupied Ukraine

09:59
10:15
BBC

Macron says Ukraine truce could be weeks away as Russia offers US access to minerals

The Kremlin says it sees potential for co-operation with the US on developing Russia's reserves of rare earth minerals, including from Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine.
10:15
10:33
10:41
BBC

Macron says Ukraine truce could be weeks away as Russia offers US access to minerals

The Kremlin says it sees potential for co-operation with the US on developing Russia's reserves of rare earth minerals, including from Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine.
10:41
10:41

10:43โ‡ขPutin's Mineral Olive Branch

โŒจThe newspapers report on Russia's apparent mineral diplomacy: Putin offers US access to rare earth minerals, including from occupied Ukrainian territories (BBC, Guardian, Times), while military tensions escalate with NATO scrambling warplanes in response to Russian nuclear-capable bomber activity near Poland (Daily Mail, Metro). Macron suggests a Ukraine ceasefire possibility within weeks, though The Independent notes US alignment with Russia in UN votes, and Zelensky warns of Putin's further territorial ambitions (Mirror).
10:50
10:58
BBC

Russia offers US access to minerals as Macron says Ukraine truce could be weeks away

The Kremlin says it sees potential for co-operation with the US on developing Russia's reserves of rare earth minerals, including from Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine.
10:58
11:40
The Guardian

Tusk hints at London summit on Sunday to discuss defence and security

11:40
11:40
12:12
BBC

Starmer to make defence statement ahead of talks with Trump on Ukraine

The UK prime minister will address Parliament before travelling to Washington DC to meet Donald Trump on Thursday.
12:12
12:28
BBC

Starmer about to make defence statement ahead of talks with Trump on Ukraine

The UK prime minister will address Parliament before travelling to Washington DC to meet Donald Trump on Thursday.
12:28
12:36
BBC

Starmer making defence statement ahead of talks with Trump on Ukraine

The UK prime minister is addressing Parliament before travelling to Washington DC to meet Donald Trump on Thursday.
12:36
12:36
The Guardian

UK PM planning big cuts to aid budget to boost defence spending, say sources

12:36
12:45
BBC

Starmer commits to raising UK defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027

The prime minister says "tyrants like Putin only respond to strength" and the UK must stand by Ukraine.
12:45

12:46โ‡ขStarmer's Defence Billions Before Trump Summit

โŒจThe newspapers report heavily on PM Starmer's announcement to raise UK defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 (BBC, Guardian, Independent, Mirror), reportedly funded through aid budget cuts (Guardian). This comes ahead of crucial talks with Trump (Sky News, Independent). Meanwhile, NATO scrambles warplanes as Russian nuclear-capable bombers strike Ukraine while US B-52s patrol Russian borders (The Sun, Daily Mail, Metro).
12:53
The Guardian

UK to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, Keir Starmer announces

12:53
13:01
BBC

UK defence spending to rise to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, funded by cut in international aid

The PM says the budget for overseas aid will be cut from 0.5% of gross national income to 0.3% by 2027 to fund increased defence spending.
13:01
13:01
The Guardian

UK defence spending to rise to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 with aid budget slashed to help fund move

13:01
13:09
13:17
13:25

14:16โ‡ขStarmer's Defence Billions at Aid's Expense

โŒจThe newspapers extensively report on Labour's significant defence policy announcement: PM Starmer plans to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 (BBC, Guardian, Independent, Mirror, Sun), funded by cutting international aid from 0.5% to 0.3% of GNI (BBC, Daily Mail). This comes ahead of Starmer's meeting with Trump (Daily Mail, Mirror), with defence boost framed as response to Russian threats (Independent, Mirror).
14:22
15:05
15:30
15:30
15:46
15:55
The Guardian

Kremlin disputes Trump claim Russia would accept peacekeeping troops in Ukraine

15:55

16:05โ‡ขNuclear Chess After Trump's Paris Play

โŒจThe newspapers report on conflicting narratives following Trump-Macron meeting: France proposes forward-deploying European nuclear weapons to Germany (Breitbart), while Kremlin denies Trump's claims about accepting peacekeepers in Ukraine (Guardian, Times). Domestically, Starmer faces criticism for funding increased defence spending through foreign aid cuts (HuffPost, BBC), as he positions UK for larger defence role (Sky News).
16:10
The Guardian

Kremlin casts doubt on Trump claim Russia would accept European troops in Ukraine

16:10
16:19
BBC

Starmer increases UK defence spending ahead of White House visit

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is scheduled to meet Donald Trump on Thursday.
16:19
16:52
17:16
17:53

18:43โ‡ขAid Bleeds For Defence Feed

โŒจThe newspapers heavily report on PM Starmer's defence spending increase to 2.5% GDP (BBC, Sky, Mirror, Breitbart), funded by foreign aid cuts (HuffPost, Jewish Chronicle), ahead of his Trump meeting. Two new major developments emerge: alarming reports of 50,000 babies referred annually to social services due to domestic abuse (Channel 4, Metro), and warnings of rising energy bills (Morning Star, Spiked).
20:08
20:23
20:23
21:18
BBC

Ukrainian official says terms of minerals deal reached with US

The US is seeking access to Ukraine's rare earth minerals - and in exchange Kyiv wants security guarantees.
21:18
21:18
The Guardian

Trump defends Musk as backlash to federal workers ultimatum grows

21:18

22:13โ‡ขZelensky's Mineral Surrender

โŒจThe newspapers report extensively on Ukraine's agreement to a US minerals deal: Zelensky accepts American access to rare earth minerals in exchange for security guarantees (BBC, Daily Mail, Independent, Sky News). In parallel, PM Starmer increases defence spending ahead of Trump meeting by cutting foreign aid (Channel 4, Breitbart, HuffPost). NATO responds to Russian nuclear-capable bomber activity near borders (Metro).