It is day 994 of the war in Europe, created by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. It is also around eight weeks until President Donald Trump once again brings his leadership to the White House – and the planet. Dithering, timid European leaders must decide very quickly whether to acquiesce to the Kremlin in a Chamberlain-type manner, or stick two fingers up to Putin, Churchillian style.

The new reality is that Sir Keir Starmer and the French President Emmanuel Macron have eight weeks to save Ukraine and Europe from another devastating war. These are the two nuclear nations who will prevent Russia using tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine when Trump inevitably casts Europe adrift after his inauguration as US President on 25 January.

It is also Britain and France which probably have the military heft and knowledge to enable Ukraine. But with Finland and Sweden capable of offering armies of manpower and capability to secure Europe’s northern flank, the rest of Nato can secure the centre and south, at the same time as........

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