At a summit in Germany, Emmanuel Macron (pictured with other G7 leaders, at meeting and dinner), who had been seen by No 10 as wavering, yesterday said he was committed for the long haul. Boris Johnson (main) said 'backing down' now would be a catastrophic mistake as he warned against encouraging Volodymyr Zelensky to accept a peace deal. Downing Street said the Russian leader's (inset) decision to fire missiles on the Ukrainian capital had been 'stupid' and had 'stiffened the resolve' of leaders. The spokesperson added that Macron and Johnson, who have until now had a strained relationship, were 'aligned' as the French said the defeat of Russia is 'option number one' and peace is 'number two'. 'There is a real sense that Putin was stupid to bomb Kyiv as the G7 gathered', a No 10 source also said. 'It has made the leaders more united'. The timing of the attack was seen as a pointed message to world leaders to encourage Ukraine into a peace deal where it cedes large portions of its territory. A Downing Street spokesman also warned that 'enduring instability' could be created if Putin was not curtailed now from launching similar attacks on other countries.
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