𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Europeans have been told to stockpile food, water and essentials for three days in the event of a military attack or environmental catastrophe.

“We are saying to member states: 72 hours of self-sufficiency is what we recommend,” Hadja Lahbib, the European commissioner for preparedness and crisis management, said.

Asked about what citizens should stockpile, she referred to a video on her social media, in which she presents an emergency bag.

Russia’s time wasting and new demands over a ceasefire in Ukraine suit Kyiv just fine – the delays help build a non-American alliance and mean it can drive on with campaigns where it’s dominant in a war that it can win, The Independent’s World Affairs Editor Sam Kiley writes.

Vladimir Putin’s latest demand is that Russia’s agricultural sector be allowed to use the Swift banking system as a reward for a ceasefire in the Black Sea, allowing it to move its grain and other farming exports.

The move is a sleight of hand to end the banking sanctions imposed by the US and Europe following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

But a ceasefire in the Black Sea is essential to Putin where his naval fleet has been crippled and now cannot operate.

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European troops deployed in Ukraine to monitor a peace deal between Kyiv and Moscow could respond to a Russian attack, French president Emmanuel Macron said.

Speaking after talks with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, Mr Macron said European armies could respond to a “conflict situation” if one emerged.

“If there was again a generalised aggression against Ukrainian soil, these armies would be under attack and then it’s our usual framework of engagement,” Mr Macron said.

“Our soldiers, when they are engaged and deployed, are there to react and respond to the decisions of the commander in chief and, if they are in a conflict situation, to respond to it.”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday the agreements struck with Ukraine and Russia a day before was in principle and that Washington was going to evaluate the conditions that Moscow put forward and decide on a way forward.

The United States reached separate deals on Tuesday with Ukraine and Russia to pause their attacks at sea and against energy targets, with Washington agreeing to push to lift some sanctions against Moscow.

Shortly after the US announcements, the Kremlin said the Black Sea agreements would not come into effect unless links between some Russian banks and the international financial system were restored.

French president Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday it was “much too early” to lift sanctions against Russia.

“The question of (lifting) the sanctions will come, but in due time within the framework of a solid and lasting peace. So it is much too early,” Mr Macron said alongside Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Paris.

The United States reached separate deals on Tuesday with Ukraine and Russia to pause their attacks at sea and against energy targets, with Washington agreeing to push to lift some sanctions against Moscow.

British troops must be ready to fight Vladimir Putin’s forces to defend Ukraine, a senior Volodymyr Zelensky aide has said.

ZIgor Zhovkva, a top Ukrainian negotiator, said European soldiers should be prepared to fight Russia and defend Ukraine if deployed to the country after any ceasefire agreement.

It comes after Sir Keir Starmer has urged a “coalition of a willing” to organise a European peacekeeping force to monitor Ukraine’s border and enforce a peace deal between Moscow and Kyiv.

“It’s not the amount which matters… it’s also their readiness to fight, their readiness to defend, their readiness to be equipped,” Mr Zhovkva told AFP.

France will provide €2bn euros of extra military aid to Ukraine, president Emmanuel Macron said.

He also accused Russia of reinterpreting and rewriting recent limited ceasefire deals.

“I can announce today €2bn of extra military support to Ukraine,” Mr Macron said alongside Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Paris.

Mr Macron added that anti-tank missiles, surface-to-air missiles and drones were part of the new military equipment aid to be provided to Kyiv.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky (R) meets with French President Emmanuel Macron at Elysee Palace.

The French president’s office said Paris “will make continuing and strengthening military and financial support to Ukraine its top priority.”