Top story: Ukraine sees signs of hope in talks
Morning everyone. I’m Martin Farrer and these are the top stories this morning.
Diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine are stepping up with talks between the Kyiv government and Russia set to resume today. The negotiations come after a deadly Russian missile attack on a Ukrainian military base near the Polish border heightened fears about an escalating conflict and as bombing resumed in Kyiv this morning. Although the Biden administration again rejected calls from Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskiy for a Nato-enforced no-fly zone, his negotiators think there is some hope that Russia is “beginning to talk constructively”. In another diplomatic initiative today, the US and China will meet amid concern that Beijing could supply arms to Putin’s war machine. Jake Sullivan, the US national security adviser, will meet his Chinese counterpart, Yang Jiechi, in the Italian capital amid reports that Russia has asked China for weapons to bolster its faltering invasion of Ukraine.
The human cost of the war was brought home yesterday as Ukraine announced that at least 1,300 of its soldiers have been killed so far. The horrors of the conflict have been described by Ukrainians who managed to escape westwards, accusing the Russians of shooting people dead in the street as they advance through towns and villages. Tributes have been paid to the American journalist Brent Renaud, who has been killed in Ukraine, apparently by Russian fire. The Kremlin has reportedly urged Russian media to use clips of US Fox News host Tucker Carlson on their shows because he has been critical of the US response to the war.
The US faces a standoff with Saudi Arabia and the UAE over their refusal to pump more oil and bring prices down to ease pressure on western economies. Brent crude is down 3% to $109.37 this morning. A Russian default on its debts after western sanctions is not “improbable” but would not trigger a global financial crisis, the head of the International Monetary Fund said. You can follow all the day’s developments in Ukraine at our live blog, and catch up with what we know so far.
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Refugee delays – British families trying to help Ukrainian relatives get to safety in the UK have expressed frustration at continued bureaucratic delays, despite government promises to cut the red tape involved in the family reunification scheme. One woman stuck in Budapest with her elderly parents said it was a “humiliating process”. Another refugee problem is brewing as Belarus pushes asylum seekers from the Middle East into Ukraine, according to people in Belarusian camps. The refugees became trapped in Belarus after they were promised passage to the EU to cross the border last year.
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Covid warning – Ministers have been accused of “turning off the headlights at the first sign of dawn” after scrapping nationwide Covid surveillance programmes, with scientists saying it will almost certainly end up costing more money in the long run. It comes as growing numbers of new infections in multiple countries led one expert to prompt speculation that Europe could be at the start of a sixth wave of Covid infections, partly driven by the “stealth” BA.2 Omicron variant. China’s government has responded to a sharp rise in coronavirus infections by shutting down Shenzhen, a huge city of 17.5 million people. It is two years since coronavirus hit the US, leaving nearly a million people dead. But as it counts the cost, is the country ready for another pandemic?
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Every dog has its day – The Power of the Dog, Jane Campion’s western starring Benedict Cumberbatch as a rancher in 1920s Montana, has taken the best film and best director prizes at the Baftas in London. Will Smith took the best actor statuette for King Richard and best actress was awarded to Joanna Scanlan for After Love. The Guardian documentary The Black Cop, about a former Metropolitan police officer who explores his memories of homophobia, racial profiling and racial harassment, won the Bafta for best short film. Climate protesters tried to disrupt proceedings, but Rebel Wilson ruffled enough feathers with a series of filthy jokes and 85-year-old Shirley Bassey opened the show by singing Diamonds Are Forever to mark 60 years of Bond films. And you can check out the frills and fluff of the red carpet here.
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Inflation crisis – The poorest households in the UK could see their cost of living jump by as much as 10% by this autumn if Russia’s invasion of Ukraine leads to a prolonged conflict, the Resolution Foundation thinktank has warned. Higher food and energy prices could drive inflation above 8% in the autumn, it warns, hitting poorer families disproportionately harder. Tenants could see a big increase in rent and bills, with research showing typical costs set to rise £1,000 this year.
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Bright spot – The UK’s first solar farm owned by a health board and linked directly to a hospital has exceeded expectations by providing all the electricity needed to run the site on some days. Bosses hoped the farm in south-west Wales would supply Morriston hospital in Swansea with a fifth of its energy but it provided enough energy over one 50-hour period to meet 100% of the hospital’s demands.
Today in Focus podcast
If confirmed by the US Senate, Ketanji Brown Jackson will be the first Black woman to take a seat on the country’s highest court. The New York University law professor Melissa Murray explains the significance of Jackson’s nomination.
Lunchtime read: ‘I’ll never grow up’ – Lisa McGee
Lisa McGee wowed the world with her sitcom Derry Girls but now she’s tackling poverty in a series of monologues for the BBC called Skint. She tells Zoe Williams about the childhood that inspired her, the breaks that got her into TV – and the barriers that keep so many out.
Sport
Thomas Tuchel said he would not quit before the end of the season after Chelsea put their uncertain situation to one side and beat Newcastle United thanks to a brilliant goal from Kai Havertz. Andriy Yarmolenko broke down in tears after setting West Ham on their way to a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa. Chelsea were able to do what they needed to in their pursuit of Arsenal in the WSL, thanks to a 92nd‑minute goal from the talismanic Sam Kerr. Eddie Jones believes England can exploit the pressure facing grand slam-chasing France this weekend, insisting his side have already found the winning formula against Les Bleus. Jones has questioned why Ireland were not shown a yellow card as a result of England’s scrum dominance in his side’s 32-15 loss but believes the gallant defeat – in which they played 78 minutes with 14 men – could be the making of their 2023 World Cup campaign.
Emma Raducanu’s time at Indian Wells came to an end yesterday as she was defeated 6-7 (3), 6-4, 7-5 by Petra Martic of Croatia in the third round of the BNP Paribas Open. And Joe Root’s continuation as England Test captain may be in part down to a lack of alternatives but the interim head coach, Paul Collingwood, has spoken of a “real unity” being formed under the Yorkshireman. England’s women are in action in the World Cup and have South Africa chasing 236 to win. You can follow the action here.
Business
The boss of BrewDog, James Watt, hired private investigators to obtain information about people whom he believed were taking part in a smear campaign against him. According to multiple sources, investigators approached people to gather evidence about those who he appeared to believe had maligned him. The brewer says investigators were hired to find the source of false allegations about Watt and as a result of those investigations its lawyers “are pursuing a private criminal prosecution for fraud and malicious communications”. On the markets, shares in China and Hong Kong are down sharply over Covid concerns, but FTSE100 futures are up 0.24%. The pound is down at $1.301 and €1.193.
The papers
The Russian missile attack on Yavoriv and the implicit threat to Nato is the lead in most papers. “Russia escalates war in Ukraine with attack close to Nato border”, says the Guardian, and the FT has “Russian strike at western Ukraine base sends warning signal to Nato”. “War reaches Nato border” says the Times, and the Telegraph goes for “US warns Putin as he takes war to the West”. The i leads with “Putin strikes bring war to door of Nato”, while the Mirror has a picture of the Russian leader and the headline “The west in his sights…”. The Sun has “Putin blitz on Nato border”. The Mail says “Putin’s deadly warning to the west” and the Express goes with “Putin’s missile strike brings war to Nato’s border”. There’s an interesting angle in the Scotsman, which reports “Farmers warn Ukraine crisis and inflation could lead to food shortages”.
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