European leaders meet as US and Russia lock them out of Ukraine talks | First Thing

The meeting, convened by Emmanuel Macron, comes as US officials prepare for talks in Riyadh with their Russian counterparts. Plus, the comprehensive ridiculing of New Zealand's tourism campaign

Good morning.

US officials are preparing to hold preliminary negotiations in Riyadh with Russia over Ukraine, as European powers meet in Paris to demand the inclusion of Kyiv and themselves in the talks.

Who will attend the Paris summit? The French president, Emmanuel Macron, who is convening the talks, Germany's chancellor, Olaf Scholz, Poland's prime minister, Donald Tusk, and the UK prime minister, Keir Starmer.

What role is the UK playing? An active one - Starmer on Sunday said he was prepared to put British troops on the ground in Ukraine to safeguard peace.

How will this affect consumers? Expect to see rising prices, Stiglitz said, adding that almost all economists agree with this: it is just a question of magnitude.