While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, March 3, 2025
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British PM Keir Starmer and other European leaders have agreed to draw up a Ukraine peace plan.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
Europe forms ‘coalition of the willing’ to help end Ukraine war
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on March 2 that European leaders had agreed to draw up a Ukraine peace plan to take to the United States, a vital step for Washington to be able to offer security guarantees Kyiv says are vital to deter Russia.
At a summit in London just two days after Mr Volodymyr Zelensky clashed with US President Donald Trump and cut short a visit to Washington, world leaders offered a strong show of support to the Ukrainian president and promised to do more to help his nation.
European leaders agreed they must spend more on defence to show Mr Trump the continent can protect itself, and with many nations struggling with already stretched public finances, the European Commission chief suggested the bloc could ease its rules around debt.
Mr Starmer, who welcomed a visibly shaken Mr Zelensky on March 1 with a warm hug, said Britain, Ukraine, France and some other nations would form a “coalition of the willing” and draw up a peace plan to take to Mr Trump. He did not mention which other nations, but said more countries were willing to join.
UK announces $2.7 billion deal to fund air-defence missiles for Ukraine
PHOTO: REUTERS
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on March 2 announced a new 1.6 billion pound (S$2.7 billion) deal that would allow Ukraine to purchase 5,000 air-defence missiles using export finance.
Britain’s Ministry of Defence said Thales will manufacture the lightweight-multirole missiles for Ukraine.
Thales said the missiles have a range of more than 6km and they can be fired from a variety of platforms on land, sea, and air.
Trump allies pressure Zelensky to change course or resign
PHOTO: DOUG MILLS/NYTIMES
Top Republicans aligned with US President Donald Trump pushed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on March 2 to change his position on the war with Russia or step aside, ramping up pressure on the Ukrainian leader after a contentious White House meeting last week.
European leaders gave a show of support to Mr Zelensky at a meeting in London on March 2, with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer urging his counterparts to step up their defense efforts, just two days after Mr Trump and Vice-President J.D. Vance clashed with Mr Zelensky in the Oval Office, spurring him to leave early without signing a planned minerals deal.
The blowup, which showcased Vance in an attack dog role for his boss, stunned leaders around the world and raised questions about the next phase of the war, which Russia started by invading Ukraine three years ago, and Mr Trump’s efforts to end it.
UN urges Israel to restore Gaza aid as Hamas sees ‘coup’ against truce
The United Nations on March 2 called on Israel to immediately allow aid into Gaza, hours after it suspended humanitarian deliveries into the war-battered territory as talks on a truce extension appeared to hit an impasse.
With uncertainty looming over the truce, both Israel and Palestinian sources reported Israeli military strikes in the Gaza Strip which the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory said killed at least four people.
The 42-day first phase of the ceasefire drew to a close, and early on March 2 Israel announced a truce extension until mid-April that it said US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff had proposed.
Leno is Fulham’s shootout hero as Man United crash out of FA Cup
PHOTO: REUTERS
Fulham keeper Bernd Leno saved two penalties as they beat FA Cup holders Manchester United 4-3 in a shootout to secure their spot in the quarter-finals after March 2’s dramatic fifth-round tie at Old Trafford ended 1-1 after extra time.
The match went to penalties after United’s Bruno Fernandes grabbed a second-half leveller following Calvin Bassey’s opener for Fulham in stoppage time at the end of the first half.
After a goalless extra time, Leno saved Victor Lindelof’s penalty, leaving United’s Joshua Zirkzee needing to bury his to keep their hopes alive. Yet he fired his effort straight at Leno sparking wild Fulham celebrations.
