March 12, 2025
7 mins read

UK Front Pages 12/03: Ukraine Conflict Hogs the Headlines

In a significant development in the ongoing Ukraine conflict, Kyiv has signalled its openness to a 30-day ceasefire, contingent on Moscow’s agreement, following the Trump administration’s decision to lift its suspension of military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine. This move comes after a week-long pause aimed at pushing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy into peace talks. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasised that the US would present this offer to the Kremlin, highlighting that “Ukraine is ready to stop shooting and start talking.”
National Security Adviser Mike Waltz added that the Ukrainian delegation shares President Trump’s vision for peace. The talks also touched on long-term security guarantees and the potential signing of an agreement granting the US access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals. While this development signifies progress in US-Ukraine relations, the ultimate success hinges on Russia’s response, as President Trump’s special envoy is expected to meet with Vladimir Putin later this week.

The Times’ front page news, titled “Kyiv open to ceasefire as Trump restarts aid,” marks a significant development in the ongoing Ukraine conflict. The Trump administration has lifted its suspension of military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, following talks in Saudi Arabia.
This move comes after a week-long pause aimed at pushing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy into peace talks. Kyiv has responded positively, signaling openness to a 30-day ceasefire, contingent on Moscow’s agreement. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasised that the US would present this offer to the Kremlin, highlighting that “Ukraine is ready to stop shooting and start talking”. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz added that the Ukrainian delegation shares President Trump’s vision for peace.

The talks also touched on long-term security guarantees and the potential signing of an agreement granting the US access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals. While this development signifies progress in US-Ukraine relations, the ultimate success hinges on Russia’s response, as President Trump’s special envoy is expected to meet with Vladimir Putin later this week.

The Guardian’s front page news, titled “US says ‘ball in Russia’s court’ as Ukraine agrees 30-day ceasefire,” highlights a significant development in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. After high-level talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine has accepted a US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire. This move comes as the US resumes its military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, which had been paused following a contentious meeting between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The joint statement from the US and Ukraine indicates that Kyiv is willing to accept an immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire, extendable by mutual agreement and subject to Russia’s acceptance. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasised that the “ball is now in Russia’s court,” urging Moscow to reciprocate and engage in negotiations for a lasting peace.
This development is seen as a positive step towards de-escalation, though the success of the ceasefire hinges on Russia’s response. The talks also touched on potential security guarantees for Ukraine and the resumption of a minerals deal that had been put on hold. The international community now awaits Russia’s reaction, as the world hopes for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

The Telegraph’s front page headline, “Putin told to agree Ukraine ceasefire,” encapsulates the urgency and the shifting dynamics of the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. Following intense peace talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accepted a US-proposed 30-day ceasefire, contingent upon Russia’s reciprocal agreement. This development comes after a week-long suspension of US military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, which was reinstated immediately following the talks.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasised that the “ball is now in Russia’s court,” urging Moscow to reciprocate and engage in negotiations for a lasting peace. The ceasefire proposal is comprehensive, covering the entire front line, not just aerial or maritime engagements. Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to President Trump for the constructive conversation between their teams, highlighting Ukraine’s readiness for peace.
However, the success of this initiative hinges on Russia’s response. Previous statements by Russian President Vladimir Putin have set maximalist demands for a ceasefire, which Ukraine has rejected as unrealistic. The international community now awaits Russia’s reaction, as the US prepares to communicate the ceasefire offer directly to the Kremlin. This development marks a significant step towards potential de-escalation, though the ultimate outcome remains uncertain.

The front page of the Daily Mail, titled “Ukraine agrees ceasefire deal,” marks a significant development in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. After intense negotiations in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accepted a US-proposed 30-day ceasefire, contingent upon Russia’s reciprocal agreement. This move comes as the US resumes its military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, which had been suspended following a contentious meeting between President Trump and Zelenskyy.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasised that the “ball is now in Russia’s court,” urging Moscow to reciprocate and engage in negotiations for a lasting peace. The ceasefire proposal is comprehensive, covering the entire front line, not just aerial or maritime engagements. Zelenskyy expressed readiness to accept the proposal, stating that it is now up to the US to convince Russia to do the same.

The international community has welcomed this development, seeing it as a positive step towards de-escalation. However, the success of the ceasefire hinges on Russia’s response. Previous statements by Russian President Vladimir Putin have set maximalist demands for a ceasefire, which Ukraine has rejected as unrealistic. The US plans to communicate the ceasefire offer directly to the Kremlin, with President Trump’s special envoy expected to meet with Putin later this week.

This development marks a significant step towards potential peace, though the ultimate outcome remains uncertain. The ceasefire proposal not only aims to halt the immediate conflict but also to pave the way for broader negotiations that could lead to a lasting resolution.

Meanwhile, The Financial Times’ front page headline, “Trump ratchets up Canada trade war with 50% aluminium and steel tariffs,” captures the latest escalation in the ongoing trade dispute between the US and Canada. President Trump announced on Tuesday that he would double the tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminium imports from 25% to 50%, effective from Wednesday. This move comes in response to Ontario’s decision to impose a 25% tax on electricity exports to the US. Trump’s administration views this as an unfair trade practice and a threat to US interests.

The decision to increase tariffs has been met with significant concern from both US and Canadian businesses. Manufacturers and exporters are worried about the potential for further disruption to key industrial sectors, as metal prices are expected to rise. The US move could also lead to retaliatory measures from Canada, which has already threatened tariffs on $155 billion of US imports. Ontario Premier Doug Ford has vowed to keep the countermeasure on US energy in place, despite Trump’s latest reprieve.
The escalation of the trade war has broader implications for the North American economy. Markets have already been unsettled by the tariffs, with fears growing of a potential recession. The US President’s actions are seen by some as a way to protect domestic industries, while others argue that they could lead to a lose-lose situation for both countries. The situation remains fluid, with the potential for further developments as both sides weigh their next moves.

The front page of the London Digital Daily, titled “MELTDOWN,” provides a comprehensive analysis of the significant impact of President Donald Trump’s tariffs on the US stock market and broader economic sentiment. It highlights how these policies have introduced a high degree of uncertainty, leading to a substantial sell-off in the stock market and wiping out $4 trillion from the S&P 500’s peak.

The article begins by emphasising the shift in investor sentiment, noting that the optimism surrounding Trump’s pro-growth agenda, including tax cuts and deregulation, has been overshadowed by the unpredictability of his trade policies. The back-and-forth tariff moves with major trading partners like Canada, Mexico, and China have created a volatile environment, prompting businesses and investors to reconsider their strategies.

Key data points underscore the severity of the situation: the S&P 500’s 8.6% drop from its February 19 record high, the Nasdaq Composite’s 10% decline from its December high, and the significant losses in tech-heavy stocks like Apple, Nvidia, and Tesla. These figures illustrate the broad impact of the tariffs on various sectors of the economy.

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