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European forces could send fighter jets over the skies of Ukraine (Image: Getty)
European allies including the UK could send a fleet of 120 fighter jets to the skies over in a bid to protect it from Russian missile and drone attacks. If it goes ahead, Operation Sky Shield would include aircrafts from the RAF sent to Eastern Europe to monitor a so-called Air Protection Zone over the war-torn region.
The defence plan would function separately from NATO and comes after US President ‘s repeated warnings that he could cut Europe off to face the threat of alone. The protection zone would help to shield key pieces of Ukrainian infrastructure including its nuclear power plants and the battered cities of Lviv and Odesa – but would not operate in eastern regions due to fears of a direct confrontation between Western and Russian troops.
Operation Sky Shield was initially proposed back in 2022 but could be revived amid fears that the US will permanently withdraw its support from Kyiv. Military experts believe that the initiative could have a “greater military, political and socioeconomic impact than 10,000 European ground troops,” The Guardian reported.
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Russia warns that ‘peacekeeping force’ could provoke all-out war
Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov has warned that European troops sent to as part of a “coalition of the willing” proposed by the UK and France “can’t be allowed”.
Lavrov said the suggested peacekeeping force would amount to the “direct, official and unveiled involvement of NATO members in the war against “.
Sergey Lavrov said a “coalition of the willing” would amount to a direct war between Russia and NATO (Image: Getty)
Ukraine hit by ‘massive missile and drone shelling’ overnight
‘s energy and gas infrastructure was targeted by “massive missile and drone shelling” overnight on Thursday, a Ukrainian minister has said.
“The energy and gas infrastructure in various regions of is under massive missile and drone shelling again,” energy minister German Galushchenko said in a statement on social media.
European leaders commit to strengthening defence in emergency talks
leaders have committed to increasing military spending on defence on the continent amid fears that US President will permanently withdraw support from .
During emergency talks in Brussels on Thursday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the 27 EU leaders were “determined to ensure Europe’s security and to act with the scale, the speed and the resolve that this situation demands”.
A move to loosen budget restrictions was signed off at the meeting, freeing up around £544 billion (€650bn) for defence spending.
Ursula von der Leyen said EU members were committed to defending Ukraine (Image: Getty)
Good morning
Good morning and welcome to our coverage of the latest updates surrounding the war in .
Stay across this live blog for updates from Kyiv, Washington, Moscow and other European capitals throughout the day.
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