What's happened
At the G20 summit in Brazil, leaders criticized the weak communique regarding Russia's invasion of Ukraine, marking 1,000 days of conflict. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized continued support for Ukraine, while Ukraine launched long-range missile strikes into Russian territory for the first time, following U.S. approval.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to Jessica Elgot in The Guardian, the G20 communique was criticized for its lack of strong language regarding Russia's actions, with leaders expressing disappointment over the failure to hold Russia accountable. Meanwhile, BBC News reported that Ukraine's missile strikes into Russian territory represent a significant escalation, following U.S. approval for such actions. Starmer emphasized the UK's commitment to supporting Ukraine, stating, 'We cannot allow Putin to win this war.' This sentiment was echoed by Trudeau, who called for a stronger statement from the G20 regarding Russia's invasion. The Mirror highlighted the ongoing pressure on Starmer to clarify the UK's military support, particularly concerning the use of Storm Shadow missiles.
How we got here
The conflict in Ukraine, initiated by Russia's invasion in February 2022, has seen escalating tensions and military actions. Recent developments include the U.S. granting Ukraine permission to use long-range missiles against Russian targets, prompting a shift in military strategy.
More on these topics
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Sir Keir Rodney Starmer KCB QC MP is a British politician and former lawyer who has served as Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition since 2020. He has been Member of Parliament for Holborn and St Pancras since 2015.
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Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which borders it to the east and northeast.
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Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country located in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. Covering an area of 17,125,200 square kilometres, it is the largest country in the world by area, spanning more than one-eighth of the Earth's in
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Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who has served as President of Russia since 2012, previously holding the position from 1999 until 2008.
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The G20 is an international forum for the governments and central bank governors from 19 countries and the European Union. Founded in 1999 with the aim to discuss policy pertaining to the promotion of international financial stability, the G20 has expande
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Emmanuel Jean-Michel Frédéric Macron is a French politician who has been President of France and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra since 14 May 2017.
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Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
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Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. is an American politician who is the 46th and current president of the United States. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 47th vice president from 2009 to 2017 and represented Delaware in the United States Senate
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John Healey is a British Labour Party politician serving as Member of Parliament for Wentworth and Dearne, formerly Wentworth, since 1997 and Shadow Secretary of State for Defence since 2020.
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The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 North American and European countries.