I'm John Baxter with my colleagues, Bill Raggio and John Hardy of the FD, discussing Ukraine

conflict. Right now, there's no evidence that there will be a ceasefire matching that

Vladimir Putin has announced for the parade on Friday, the 80th anniversary of the

victory of the Great Patriotic War, is how it's presented in Russia.

Xi Jinping is said to be joining Vladimir Putin for the parade.

Mr. Putin has asked for a three-day ceasefire, perhaps because he doesn't want

a swarm of drones incoming anywhere near Moscow for the parade. Mr. Zelensky has said,

no way we're calling off the war so you can have a good time with the enemy. What we have now is what else can be done to degrade the Russian potential?

Certainly this will be a significant insult to the parade, which is adequate given that the

parade represents people making war on Ukraine.

But what else can be done?

John, you've mentioned purchases and equipment promised from the U.S.

However, the equipment from European partners has flowed very slowly.

I don't have a list in front of me, but I know there's been

hemming and hoeing, start and stopping. And I attach that to the concern about a reassurance

force from the Europeans. The U.S. will do what it wants, according to Mr. Trump's guidance.

But the Europeans, are they adequate for what you're calling for, John,

or are they well short of reassuring?

So with regard to military assistance for Ukraine, I think, you know, the Europeans have done

a good job.

And overall, if you combine both military and financial, they've actually provided

more than we have, or at least committed more than we have. I think on the military side,

...