We must hold Russia accountable for ultimate crime of aggression 

The risk of Russia and America forcing a settlement on Ukraine against its wishes and in disregard of international law is a risk to us all 

Donald Trump (left) and Vladimir Putin after a meeting at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland, in 2018. The new US President appears to be conceding on all major Russian demands before peace discussions even begin, and in the stark absence of the most important actor in any such discussion about the future of Ukraine: Ukraine itself. File photo: AP/Alexander Zemlianichenko

In February 1805, James Gillray caused quite a stir when he came up with a famous political cartoon depicting Napoleon and British Prime Minister William Pitt carving up the globe into spheres of influence. Fast forward 220 years to February 2025, and Trump’s détente with Putin smacks of this imperial caricature, except it is no joke.

It has been an extraordinary few weeks, with the new US President appearing to concede on all major Russian demands before peace discussions even begin, and in the stark absence of the most important actor in any such discussion about the future of Ukraine: Ukraine itself.