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European leaders debated whether to send troops to Ukraine at a meeting in Paris.

Germany and Spain rejected the idea, while Britain said it was prepared to consider

deploying forces after a peace deal. They also discussed boosting European defence spending,

including possible joint borrowing. Earlier, Sergei Lavrov, Russia's foreign minister,

accused European countries of wanting to continue the war

and suggested that they should not be part of negotiations.

Marco Rubio, America's Secretary of State, said that the next few days will show whether

Vladimir Putin, Russia's president, is serious about peace in Ukraine.

Mr. Rubio confirmed that he would meet Mr. Lavrov in Saudi Arabia this week.

Mr. Rubio appeared to contradict America's Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, saying that Ukraine and

Europe would, in fact, be given a seat during any, quote, real negotiations.

Israel would keep soldiers stationed at five sites in southern Lebanon after the deadline for them to withdraw from the country.

Israel has been expected to leave by Tuesday as part of a ceasefire deal

brokered by America in November. An army spokesperson said that troops needed to remain in southern

Lebanon to defend Israeli citizens from Hizbola, a Shia militia.

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