Graphic with missiles and mushroom cloud in the background, logos of CND and Stop the War Coalition, and pictures of speakers. Text reads:

The conflict in Ukraine continues to escalate. Today, whilst confirming it will keep its ‘non-strategic’ nuclear forces on constant combat alert, Russia warned it could increase production of hypersonic missiles in response to any US development of short- and medium-range missiles in Europe and Asia.

Meanwhile, NATO is increasing pressure for member states to hike up military spending to 3% of GDP.

The British government is already trying to soften up public opinion to raise military spending to 2.5%, but it would need to source an additional £20 billion every year to meet this higher rate. That mean higher taxes, cuts to services, cancelling new infrastructure projects, or a combination of all three.

Join CND this Wednesday, 18 December, for a webinar on these latest developments in Ukraine, the nuclear threat in Europe, and the impact of Trump’s presidency. Be part of the discussion on how we can de-escalate the situation and secure urgent peace talks.

Wednesday, 18 December
7pm
Online, register here

With guest speakers: Ann Wright, retired US Colonel; Sevim Dağdelen, German MP; Sophie Bolt, CND General Secretary; Lindsey German, Stop the War Convenor, and Tom Unterrainer, CND Chair.

You can read more about the escalations in Ukraine in December's issue of Campaign magazine.

Image of crowd at national march for Palestine with CND banner visible. Big Ben is visible in the distance.

National demonstration for Palestine, 18 January 2025

Despite issuing a partial arms embargo in September, the Labour government continues to issue export licences to Israel and still has not updated its assessment on whether Israeli air strikes on Gaza violate International Humanitarian Law.

That's despite warnings made by Amnesty International last week, that Britain should “immediately suspend the direct and indirect supply, sale or transfer, to Israel of all weapons” in order to stop fuelling these violations.

Some components for the F-35 aircraft used to conduct these attacks are manufactured in Britain and are indirectly exported to Israel via the US through the F-35 programme. While British-made parts can be tracked and prevented from making their way to Israel, Defence Minister Vernon Coaker recently told the Parliament Business and Trade Committee that there was “no particular appetite” to stop these exports, despite concerns they amounted to an IHL breech.

More Details

Heading into 2025, we need to keep up the pressure on the government to enforce a full arms embargo and end its complicity in Israel's war crimes. Join us in central London on Saturday, 18 January for the next national march for Palestine, where we'll be calling on Britain to stop arming Israel and its support for genocide.

Saturday, 18 January 2025
Assemble 12 noon, outside the BBC, Portland Place, London, W1A 1AA
More details on route and accessibility will be posted here