Splits emerged on Thursday in efforts to create an allied coalition of peacekeepers in Ukraine, with Britain and France deciding to despatch a "reassurance force" to the country to prepare for the end of the war with Russia.
What is at stake in Ukraine is the security of Europeans in a few years
Emmanuel Macron
Thirty European allies, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, were brought together by French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for the latest in a series of summits on the deployment, which would involve Europe stepping in to back Kyiv, if US talks with Russia over a ceasefire come to fruition.
Not all participants were willing to move at the pace of the UK and France. "There will be a reassurance force with several European countries who will deploy," Mr Macron said.
"It does not have unanimity today, but we do not need unanimity to do this," he added, saying a Franco-British delegation would travel to Ukraine in the coming days to discuss the move and the future of the country's army. "These reassurance forces are a British-French proposition that is desired by Ukraine," he said.
Mr Starmer put it slightly differently, saying Ukraine should be in the strongest possible position as negotiations on its future take place. "We discussed further the plans for reassuring the peace, the 'coalition of the willing' and the military and operational plans, whether they're on the land, the air or the sea, but there was very strong support," he added. "We will be ready to operationalise a peace deal, whatever its precise shape turns out to be."
Mr Macron emphasised that members of a "reassurance" force were not destined to be peacekeepers, deployed on the front line or acting as any kind of substitute for the Ukrainian army. Not all of Ukraine's European allies would be represented in the force, with some states lacking "the capacity" to do so and others reluctant to join because of the "political context".
Yet despite the reluctance of some to start moving into Ukraine, the French President said the "Europeans are much more united than they were a few weeks ago".
After the Paris summit, a Franco-British delegation would begin talks over where such a force could be sent. It would have the "character of deterrence against any potential Russian aggression", Mr Macron said.
In addition, new training programmes for the Ukrainian army were approved in Paris by several European countries, as well as the acceleration of "loan disbursements to partially enable Ukraine to facilitate artillery purchases".
Mr Macron wants to "prepare what the format of the Ukrainian army of tomorrow will be". That includes discussing "what land force? What maritime capacity? Air force? What format in terms of size and equipment, to be able to respond to a possible Russian aggression?"
"These would be forces from a few [European] states, because there is no unanimity on this point, present in strategic locations pre-identified with the Ukrainians, who would sign a long-term support agreement, a reassurance of the armed forces, and would act as a deterrent against potential Russian aggression," the French President added. "What is at stake in Ukraine is the security of Europeans in a few years."
UK Defence Secretary John Healey will lead the next Ukraine Defence Contact Group on April 11, "to marshal more military aid and keep Ukraine in the fight", as talks in Saudi Arabia continue.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the deployment could spark a direct clash between Russia and Nato. She accused France and Britain on Thursday of hatching plans for "military intervention in Ukraine" under the guise of a peacekeeping mission.
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
From Europe to the Middle East, economic success brings wealth - and lifestyle diseases
A rise in obesity figures and the need for more public spending is a familiar trend in the developing world as western lifestyles are adopted.
One in five deaths around the world is now caused by bad diet, with obesity the fastest growing global risk. A high body mass index is also the top cause of metabolic diseases relating to death and disability in Kuwait, Qatar and Oman – and second on the list in Bahrain.
In Britain, heart disease, lung cancer and Alzheimer’s remain among the leading causes of death, and people there are spending more time suffering from health problems.
The UK is expected to spend $421.4 billion on healthcare by 2040, up from $239.3 billion in 2014.
And development assistance for health is talking about the financial aid given to governments to support social, environmental development of developing countries.
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
THE SPECS
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Transmission: six-speed manual
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Speed: 0-100km/h 3.9 seconds
Price: Dh230,000
On sale: now
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs: 2019 BMW i8 Roadster
Price, base: Dh708,750
Engine: 1.5L three-cylinder petrol, plus 11.6 kWh lithium-ion battery
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power: 374hp (total)
Torque: 570Nm (total)
Fuel economy, combined: 2.0L / 100km
'Moonshot'
Director: Chris Winterbauer
Stars: Lana Condor and Cole Sprouse
Rating: 3/5
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
More on animal trafficking
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PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Saturday
West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur (3.30pm)
Burnley v Huddersfield Town (7pm)
Everton v Bournemouth (7pm)
Manchester City v Crystal Palace (7pm)
Southampton v Manchester United (7pm)
Stoke City v Chelsea (7pm)
Swansea City v Watford (7pm)
Leicester City v Liverpool (8.30pm)
Sunday
Brighton and Hove Albion v Newcastle United (7pm)
Monday
Arsenal v West Bromwich Albion (11pm)
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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