Fears that diplomatic efforts will fail to prevent a Russian invasion of Ukraine within days are writ large across most of today’s front pages, despite the latest talks announced by Boris Johnson and German chancellor Olaf Scholz.
The Mirror carries an air of the inevitable with the headline “Countdown to war”, saying Vladimir Putin has continued to mass troops at the border and quoting No 10 saying there could be an invasion “at any moment”.
Tomorrow's front page: Countdown to war#tomorrowspaperstodayhttps://t.co/yUWympGttR pic.twitter.com/2sBJGhb85r
— The Mirror (@DailyMirror) February 13, 2022
The Mail’s front page says “Frantic 48 hours to save Europe from war”, referring to reported US intelligence suggesting Wednesday could be when the Russian president gives the order. It notes Johnson’s planned tour of European leaders as a “last-ditch diplomatic blitz”.
Monday's @DailyMailUK #MailFrontPages pic.twitter.com/z9dQxIX67v
— Daily Mail U.K. (@DailyMailUK) February 13, 2022
The Times also frames the latest diplomatic efforts from the British and German leaders as a last attempt to avoid conflict. “Leaders in final push to avert Ukraine invasion” is the headline, although it notes Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, has invited Joe Biden to visit and called for calm.
TIMES: Leaders in final push to avert Ukraine invasion #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/wD3YUr47LR
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) February 13, 2022
Its main image is of a 79-year-old Ukrainian woman being shown how to use an assault rifle, which is also the image of choice for the Telegraph, which homes in on Johnson’s planned efforts on the world stage, with the headline “PM urges Russia to step back from the brink”. It does not offer further details on who he will meet, and when, but says the prime minister “will focus on engagement with the Nordic and Baltic nations”. The Express carries almost exactly the same headline, and quotes Johnson’s fears that the crisis is now at a “critical juncture”.
The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph:
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) February 13, 2022
'PM urges Russia to step back from brink'#TomorrowsPapersToday
Sign up for the Front Page newsletterhttps://t.co/x8AV4Oomry pic.twitter.com/tN4SuhMRUX
EXPRESS: Boris urges Putin to step ‘back from brink’ #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/auU4wTAHpI
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) February 13, 2022
The i has the main points in its bullet-point format, under the headline: “Tensions rise in Ukraine as west steps up efforts to stop invasion”.
Monday's front page: Tensions rise in Ukraine as West steps up efforts to stop invasion #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/oUCB3FVf1e
— i newspaper (@theipaper) February 13, 2022
The FT also opts for an image of a Ukrainian civilian being given basic weapons training and focuses on German diplomacy and the diplomatic and military pullouts. “Scholz plans fresh Ukraine talks as west steps up evacuations” is the headline.
Just published: front page of the Financial Times, UK edition, for Monday 14th February pic.twitter.com/vNWY6iNKNG
— Financial Times (@FinancialTimes) February 13, 2022
The Guardian opts for a more colourful Ukrainian civilian being shown around an assault rifle in its main image, and focuses on the evacuations, saying politicians are being extra cautious after being surprised six months earlier by the speed of the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban.
Guardian front page, Monday 14 February 2022: Damning race report reveals vast inequalities across health service pic.twitter.com/v9QYjpxkJK
— The Guardian (@guardian) February 13, 2022
Metro focuses on the bravado displayed by Russia’s ambassador to Sweden, Viktor Tatarintsev, who said: “We don’t give a shit about all their sanctions”. The headline is “West can’t Vladi scare Putin”.
Tomorrow's Paper Tonight 📰
— Metro (@MetroUK) February 13, 2022
'WEST CAN'T VLADI SCARE PUTIN'
🔴 Russian Ambassador's foul-mouthed rant as he says sanctions don't worry Moscow. #tomorrowspaperstoday https://t.co/mD8SvSVix0 pic.twitter.com/6Sg7sp0R5o
Sunday’s New York Times says “US pulls most diplomats in Kyiv as tensions mount”, carrying two stories: one on Biden’s efforts to deter Putin and another analysing the west’s “information warfare” strategy with Russia.
