Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.
The US is destroying the rules-based world order by cozying up to the Putin regime in Russia, Ukraine’s ambassador to the UK says.
“It’s not just the axis of evil and Russia” disrupting the global system but “the US is finally destroying this order”, Valerii Zaluzhnyi told a conference hosted by the Chatham House think tank.
Talks between Washington and Moscow show that the White House is making “steps towards the Kremlin, trying to meet them halfway”, Mr Zaluzhnyi said.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky joined EU leaders for an emergency summit in Brussels on Thursday.
Mr Zelensky thanked them for ensuring Ukraine was “not alone” in what EU chief Ursula von der Leyen described as a “watershed moment”.
“During all this period, and last week, you stayed with us. We are very thankful that we are not alone. And these are not just words — we feel it,” Mr Zelensky said.
Meanwhile, UK officials have convened talks with around 20 countries who expressed interest in joining Sir Keir Starmer’s “coalition of the willing” initiative to put peacekeeping troops in Ukraine.
Hegseth says suspension of US military aid is a ‘pause’
Speaking to reporters, John Healey said he came to America to “strengthen” the defence “bond” between the US and UK.
His US counterpart Pete Hegseth says the media is interested in “narratives” around Ukraine and Russia but Donald Trump is interested in peace.
Asked about Donald Trump’s decision to halt military aid to Kyiv, Pete Hegseth says: “As the president has pointed out, it is a pause. Exactly what he said from the beginning. Pause – pending a true commitment to a path to peace.”
He adds Trump is “paying a very keen eye” to what Kyiv is “saying and doing about committing to that peace process”.
“And we’re very encouraged by the signs we’re seeing,” he adds.
Holly Evans6 March 2025 19:07
UK ‘would welcome any country in peacekeeping force’
The UK would would welcome engagement from any country that wishes to be part of the coalition of the willing, Downing Street has said.
Asked about reports that the Middle East could be involved in the efforts, a No 10 spokesman said: “We welcome engagement from any country that wishes to be part of the coalition of the willing.”
Turkey has reportedly indicated it could play a part in peacekeeping efforts.
Jane Dalton6 March 2025 18:45
In pictures: John Healey meets with Pete Hegseth
Holly Evans6 March 2025 18:44
John Healey meets with US defence minister Pete Hegseth
Defence secretary John Healey is currently meeting with his US counterpart Pete Hegseth in Washington, after arriving in the US to continue discussions on the blockage of military aid and intelligence to Ukraine.
The pair will hold a bilateral meeting on a possible peace plan while efforts continue to bridge a transatlantic rift over the country’s future security.
Mr Healey’s trip was agreed after Sir Keir Starmer announced a rise in the UK’s defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP.
Holly Evans6 March 2025 18:36
Watch live: Defence secretary holds talks in Washington
Holly Evans6 March 2025 18:27
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the US has kept its sanctions on Russia in place
Holly Evans6 March 2025 18:23
US official says Ukraine given ‘fair warning’ before suspension of military aid
Ukraine was given “fair warning” by the White House before President Donald Trump this week ordered a pause on US military assistance and intelligence sharing with Kyiv, a senior administration official has said.
The Republican administration announced the pauses this week after Mr Trump and President Volodymyr Zelensky’s Oval Office meeting devolved into a shouting match, with the US president and vice president JD Vance criticising the Ukrainian leader for being insufficiently grateful.
Retired Lt Gen Keith Kellogg, Mr Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine and Russia, said the pause is already having an impact on Kyiv, adding that the Ukrainians “brought it on themselves”.
“The best way I can describe it is sort of like hitting a mule with a two-by-four across the nose,” Mr Kellogg said at an event on Thursday at the Council on Foreign Relations. “You got their attention.”
Mr Kellogg said it was made clear to the Ukrainians before last week’s Oval Office meeting that the talks would focus on signing a critical minerals deal.
Holly Evans6 March 2025 18:16
Starmer must offer a ‘warm welcome’ to any Ukrainian refugees forced to leave US, Greens urge
The Green Party has called on the prime minister to offer a “warm welcome” to any Ukrainian refugees forced to leave the US after Donald Trump threatened to revoke their legal status.
Carla Denyer, the party’s co-leader, said the development “will leave hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians in the US terrified that they will be forced to return to a war zone or be left with nowhere to go”.
“Keir Starmer must make abundantly clear that any Ukrainians kicked out of Trump’s America would find a warm welcome here in the UK”, she said.
Holly Evans6 March 2025 18:03
Intelligence block on Ukraine may impact British Storm Shadow missiles
Describing the intelligence block upon Ukraine as an “extraordinary move”, Bloomberg’s political editor stressed they were another blow to transatlantic relations, with information sharing usually seen as above politics.
The block may limit the capabilities of British Storm Shadow missiles which use US data, with the UK reportedly trying to get the measure overturned as quickly as possible.
“Trump wants a quick cease-fire without time for security guarantees to be put in place first, sources said, warning there is a risk the US then seeks for the truce to becomes permanent and walks away, imposing a bad deal on Kyiv,” Alex Wickham said.
Holly Evans6 March 2025 17:52
Trump linking minerals deal to concrete plan for ceasefire, sources say
Sources have told Bloomberg that President Trump is linking the minerals deal with Ukraine to a concrete plan for a ceasefire to end the fighting with Russia.
Political editor Alex Wickham wrote on X: “In recent days, Trump has indicated he is ready to sign the resources deal. But in private the White House has added extra conditions, primarily that Ukraine agrees to a tangible plan to stop the fighting and negotiate with Russia.”
These new conditions are reportedly the reason why the deal has not yet been signed, with Ukrainian and US officials set to continue discussions next week in Saudi Arabia.
Holly Evans6 March 2025 17:42