Ukraine must be part of peace solution, Zelensky says ahead of Trump-Putin meeting

Published

1 month ago

August 9, 2025

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has underlined he will make no territorial concessions to Russia ahead of a scheduled meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin on the future of the war in Ukraine.

The US-Russia meeting is due to take place in Alaska on 15 August.

Hours before announcing the meeting, Trump had signalled Ukraine might have to cede territory to end the war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Zelensky said in a Telegram post on Saturday that “Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier”. He reiterated that Ukraine must be involved in any solution for peace, and said he is ready to work with partners for a “real” and “lasting” peace.

Zelensky said Ukraine “will not give Russia awards for what it has done”.

“The answer to the Ukrainian territorial issue is already in the Constitution of Ukraine. No one will and cannot deviate from this,” he added.

His statement followed comments from Trump at the White House on Friday that there “will be some swapping of territories, to the betterment of both”.

“You’re looking at territory that’s been fought over for three and a half years, a lot of Russians have died. A lot of Ukrainians have died,” the US president said.

He did not provide further details on what any such proposal would look like.

Sacrificing land for peace has been the Trump position all along. Zelensky has always made clear that is unacceptable under Ukraine’s constitution and would only reward Russia for starting the war.

While Ukraine’s president has been careful not to criticise Trump, his post on social media makes clear that he will not accept it.

Trump announced his meeting with Putin – which was later confirmed by the Kremlin – on Friday, saying details would follow.

Zelensky on Saturday said that Ukraine is ready for “real solutions that can bring peace” but underlined that Ukraine needed to be involved.

“Any solutions that are against us, any solutions that are without Ukraine, are simultaneously solutions against peace,” he said.

“We are ready, together with President Trump, together with all partners, to work for a real, and most importantly, lasting peace – a peace that will not collapse because of Moscow’s wishes.”

This is what Ukraine, and many European allies, were always worried about – Trump and Putin trying to do a deal without Ukraine present.

Trump’s words on Russia may have hardened in recent months, but for Ukraine they have yet to be followed by tangible actions.

The US president’s deadline for Russia to agree to a ceasefire or face more sanctions has passed without any apparent consequences. Now, reports suggest Trump is still willing to discuss Ukraine giving up some of its territory in return for a ceasefire when he meets Putin in Alaska next week.

The BBC’s US partner CBS News, citing a senior White House official, reported that it remains possible Zelensky could end up being involved in some way, as planning for the Friday meeting is still fluid.

On the ground there is a resignation that any initial peace talks may not include Ukraine.

Among soldiers and civilians the BBC spoke to there is a strong desire for peace. There is exhaustion from the constant fighting and Russian drone and missile attacks.

But there is little evidence that Ukraine is willing to accept a peace at any price – much less one that will be forced on it without its voice being heard.

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Utah Gov. Cox shares new details

Published

1 hour ago

September 14, 2025

Erin Doherty

Utah Governor Spencer Cox attends a press conference after U.S. right-wing activist, commentator, Charlie Kirk, an ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, was fatally shot during an event at Utah Valley University, in Orem, Utah, U.S. September 10, 2025.

Jim Urquhart | Reuters

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said Sunday that the man arrested in connection with the killing of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk is “not cooperating” with authorities, days after he was booked into Utah County Jail.

While Cox said on ABC News’ “This Week” that the suspect, identified as Tyler Robinson, is not cooperating, “all the people around him are.”

The governor’s comments come after the 22-year-old was arrested Friday after a manhunt that spanned more than 30 hours, and ultimately concluded when a family friend of the suspect contacted authorities.

The fatal shooting of Kirk, which occurred while he was speaking at a rally at Utah Valley University, has rattled the nation.

“If your view of America is not shaken right now, then there’s something wrong with you,” Cox said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

“This is a direct assault on America,” he continued.

‘Hamnet’ Wins Toronto Film Festival’s People’s Choice Award

Published

2 hours ago

September 14, 2025

Pete Hammond

The People’s Choice Award from the just-wrapped 50th Toronto Film Festival has gone to Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet, first runner-up is Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein and second runner-up is Rian Johnson’s Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery. Hamnet hails from Focus Features, while latter two are from Netflix.

Also in the awards revealed Sunday, the newly created International People’s Choice Award went to Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice. The Documentary winner was Barry Avrich’s The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue.

Voted on by audience members since 1978 and often considered a harbinger for the Best Picture Oscar, the People’s Choice Award has been won by such eventual Best Picture Academy Award winners as Nomadland, Green Book, 12 Years a Slave, The King’s Speech, Slumdog Millionaire, American Beauty and Chariots of Fire. Among those that went on to Best Picture nominations include last year’s winner American Fiction as well as The Fabelmans, Belfast, JoJo Rabbit, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri, Room, La La Land, The Imitation Game, Silver Linings Playbook, Precious, Life Is Beautiful, Places in the Heart and The Big Chill.

Last year’s surprise winner, The Life of Chuck, had no North American distributor in place and was later picked up by Neon and released this summer, making it Oscar eligible this year, just as the new People’s Choice winner is. So we shall see how the tradition of TIFF and Oscar hold up in this regard. Last year both the first runner-up Emilia Pérez and second runner-up Anora went on to a collective 19 Oscar nominations between them, both nominated for Best Picture, with Anora winning.

Hamnet is a historical drama co-written, co-edited and directed by Zhao, based on Maggie O’Farrell’s 2020 novel. Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal star in the emotionally charged drama that premiered at the Telluride Film Festival and had its international premiere at TIFF. It is considered a major Oscar contender from Focus and represents Zhao’s second People’s Choice Award at TIFF after 2020’s Nomadland, which went on to win the Best Picture Oscar.

The pic is set for a limited Thanksgiving release November 27 and a wide release starting December 12.

Here is the list of this year’s TIFF award winners:

People’s Choice Award

Hamnet, dir. Chloé Zhao

First runner-up: Frankenstein, dir. Guillermo del Toro

Second runner-up: Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, dir. Rian Johnson

International People’s Choice Award

No Other Choice, dir. Park Chan-wook

First runner-up: Sentimental Value, dir. Joachim Trier

Second runner-up: Homebound, dir. Neeraj Ghaywan

People’s Choice Documentary Award

The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue, dir. Barry Avrich

First runner-up: EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert, dir. Baz Luhrmann

Second runner-up: You Had to Be There: How the Toronto Godspell Ignited the Comedy Revolution…, dir. Nick Davis

People’s Choice Midnight Madness Award

Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie, dir. Matt Johnson

First runner-up: Obsession, dir. Curry Barker

Second runner-up: The Furious, dir. Kenji Tanigaki

Short Cuts Award for Best International Short Film

Talk Me, dir. Joecar Hanna | Spain/USA

Honourable Mention: Agapito, dirs. Arvin Belarmino & Kyla Danelle Romero | Philippines

Short Cuts Award for Best Canadian Short Film

The Girl Who Cried Pearls, dirs. Chris Lavis & Maciek Szczerbowski | Canada

Honourable Mention: A Soft Touch, dir. Heather Young

Short Cuts Award for Best Animated Short Film

To the Woods, dir. Agnès Patron | France

FIPRESCI Prize: Forastera, dir. Lucía Aleñar Iglesias | Spain/Italy/Sweden

NETPAC Award

In Search of The Sky (Vimukt), dir. Jitank Singh Gurjar | India

Best Canadian Discovery Award

Blue Heron, dir. Sophy Romvari | Canada

Honourable Mention: 100 Sunset, dir. Kunsang Kyirong | Canada

Best Canadian Feature Film Award

Uiksaringitara (Wrong Husband), dir. Zacharias Kunuk | Canada

Honourable Mention: There Are No Words, dir. Min Sook Lee | Canada

Platform Award

To The Victory!, dir. Valentyn Vasyanovych | Ukraine/Lithuania

Honourable Mention: Hen, dir. György Pálfi | Germany/Greece/Hungary

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We will never surrender our flag, Sir Keir Starmer says

Published

3 hours ago

September 14, 2025

Tom McArthur

EPA Protesters taking part in a 'Unite the Kingdom' rally are held back by police officers, some on horses, in central London.

Britain will not surrender its flag to those who wish to use it as a symbol of violence, fear and division, Sir Keir Starmer has said.

The prime minister said the flag represents “our diverse country” and he will not allow people to feel intimidated on “our streets because of their background or the colour of their skin”.

His comments come after more than 150,000 people took to the streets of central London for a “Unite the Kingdom” march organised by far-right activist Tommy Robinson, and about 5,000 took part in a counter-protest, co-ordinated by Stand Up To Racism.

Earlier, Business Secretary Peter Kyle said marchers were “demonstrating freedom of association and freedom of speech”.

The prime minister said on Sunday afternoon: “People have a right to peaceful protest. It is core to our country’s values.

“But we will not stand for assaults on police officers doing their job or for people feeling intimidated on our streets because of their background or the colour of their skin.

“Britain is nation proudly built on tolerance, diversity and respect. Our flag represents our diverse country and we will never surrender it to those that use it as a symbol of violence, fear and division.”

Police say 26 officers were injured on the day – including four who were seriously hurt – with 24 people arrested.

For most of Saturday afternoon, central London was filled with thousands of people waving mainly union jacks as well as St George’s flags. Some Scottish Saltires and Welsh flags were also seen.

Reuters Large crowds fill Whitehall in central London with many seen waving union jacks and St George's flags, with grand Whitehall cream-coloured buildings seen in the background. — About 150,000 people descended on central London for the march organised by Robinson

Speaking about the protests, Kyle said on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg moments like these were “klaxon calls” for those in power to redouble their efforts to address the big concerns people have, including on immigration.

“What worries me most is the divisions in our society and other societies and other democratic societies… it’s not even the left and the right at the moment,” he told the programme.

“There are figures such as Tommy Robinson that are able to touch into a sense of disquiet and grievance in the community in our society,” he said.

The “small minority” who had committed violence would be held accountable, he told the programme.

Tech billionaire Elon Musk spoke to protesters on Whitehall via videolink, telling them to “fight back” or “die”. He also referred to massive uncontrolled migration and called for a change of government in the UK.

Kyle criticised some of Musk’s comments as “totally inappropriate”.

Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, addressed crowds directly at the march where he criticised politicians for “parroting” his ideas.

A huge policing operation was put in place for the protests this weekend, with about 1,000 Met officers deployed and an extra 500 from other forces including Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Devon and Cornwall drafted in.

Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said: “There is no doubt that many came to exercise their lawful right to protest, but there were many who came intent on violence.”

The protest was largely peaceful on Saturday lunchtime but as the afternoon continued, tensions flared.

The Met said some officers had been attacked while trying to keep the two groups apart and dozens of officers were injured, including four who were seriously hurt.

The number of protesters joining the march, organised by Robinson, became too large to fit into Whitehall, police said, and confrontation took place when officers tried to stop them encircling counter-protesters.

Mounted police officers used batons to push back the crowds and officers were kicked and punched, the Met said.

Three of the 24 people arrested were women and the rest were men, while the youngest and oldest people detained at the protest were aged 19 and 58 respectively, the force said on Sunday.

Several people were arrested for more than one offence.

The force added officers were working to identify other people involved in disorder with a view to making further arrests.

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