He beams at the British King as the two shake hands, saunters offstage to hug a BBC journalist, giggles with Macron and Scholz over a minor flag mixup. And then, down to business: "We have freedom - now give us wings to protect it," he appeals.

Zelensky's European tour seems like more of a charm offensive than a negotiation. He is greeting European leaders from Rishi Sunak to Olaf ScholzThe new chancellor of Germany. and Emmanuel MacronThe current president of France, nicknamed "Jupiter" after the chief of the Roman deities for his top-down manner of governance. like old friends.

But for the West, this might feel like a relationship moving too fast. Diplomatic relations between the UK and Ukraine began just 31 years ago. Now, in the midst of an ever-escalating war with Russia, the Ukrainian president is asking for valuable fighter jets and long-range missiles.

Western nations have recently committed to sending Leopard 1 and 2 tanks after a long and controversial debate. But Zelensky has warned that Ukraine's position in the war could "stagnate" without combat planes and long-range weaponry.

Nobody wants to make any rash promises. So far, the West has sent more than 320 tanks, 2,400 armoured vehicles, 450 artillery pieces and 135 air-defence systems to Ukraine. 

But this has not come without retaliationCounter-attack.. The threat of nuclear warfare has risen. One of Putin's closest allies and propagandists has alluded to possible nuclear strikes on Ukraine, Poland, the UK and the USA.¹

And yesterday, Zelensky claimed that the Ukrainian army had intercepted Russian plans to "destroy" Moldova.

It is not controversial to call this a new Cold WarA period of diplomatic conflict between blocs led by the USA and the USSR that lasted from 1947 until 1991, when the USSR collapsed.. But some go one step further, claiming we have already entered a third world war.

Some experts think we have already lost our "exit ramp". They say that the situation can no longer be de-escalated. And Putin's ambitions are only growing.

Yes: Unfortunately, there is little chance of the West managing to de-escalate the war at this point. Putin's ambitions are only growing, and the West's military support is placing it increasingly in the firing line.

No: We should not stoke fear for what may never happen. Nobody wants to welcome all-out nuclear war, and survival instincts will prove more powerful than we might think.

Or... We could certainly call this a Cold War, but given that there is no direct warfare between NatoThe North Atlantic Treaty Organisation was founded in 1949 to unite Western democracies in Europe and North America against the perceived growing threat of the USSR. It now has 31 members. and Russia as of yet, it would be inaccurate to call it a world war.

Olaf Scholz - The new chancellor of Germany.

Emmanuel Macron - The current president of France, nicknamed "Jupiter" after the chief of the Roman deities for his top-down manner of governance.

Retaliation - Counter-attack.

Cold War - A period of diplomatic conflict between blocs led by the USA and the USSR that lasted from 1947 until 1991, when the USSR collapsed.

Nato - The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation was founded in 1949 to unite Western democracies in Europe and North America against the perceived growing threat of the USSR. It now has 31 members.