Rolling out the red carpet for the US president is more than mere ceremony – our nation’s future prosperity and security depends upon it, says Tobias Ellwood

After provocative incursions over Poland and Romania by Russian drones, Nato’s response – to deploy military equipment along its eastern flank – might actually suit Vladimir Putin, says Mark Almond

The case for invoking an Article 5 collective response against Russia’s drone incursion into Poland isn’t as simple as it first looks for Nato, writes Mary Dejevsky. So what, then, is its least-worst option?

Next month’s surprise confidence vote could bring down an already crisis-hit minority government, test the country’s governability and end with a drastic power shift – it might also be bad news for Keir Starmer and his coalition of the willing, says Mary Dejevsky

Editorial: With the White House all but abandoning its efforts to bring Vladimir Putin to heel, the people of Ukraine at least survive to fight another day – strengthened by the certainty that a bad peace is worse than no peace at all

As the US president leaves Russia and Ukraine to sort a ceasefire among themselves, Sean O’Grady asks if this is Trump’s famously short attention span at play – or whether he is merely reluctant to be associated with near-certain failure

Editorial: Following Volodymyr Zelensky’s skilful performance in the White House, supported by an impressive posse of European leaders, the diplomatic focus is firmly – and, for the Russian president, uncomfortably – on Moscow’s next move

In the era of the political soundbite, ‘letter diplomacy’ is back, thanks to Melania Trump and Olena Zelenska, whose handwritten missives are having an impact on the Ukraine peace process – and on more than just their intended recipients, says Michael Day

Editorial: Volodymyr Zelensky and his European allies have been presented with a ‘land for peace’ deal – one that guarantees that any peace will be an uneasy one

The delegation of European leaders who will fight Zelensky’s corner as the US president decides Ukraine’s fate could still play a blinder – but however heartening the show of solidarity, they are but supplicants, says Sean O’Grady

Editorial: Donald Trump appears to be urging Volodymyr Zelensky to give up land for peace

He may have helped to persuade Donald Trump not to abandon Ukraine, but for all his energy devoted to foreign policy, the PM has gained no credit for it at home, writes John Rentoul