PRESS DIGEST-British Business - February 17

Feb 17 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories on the business pages of British newspapers. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

The Times

- Dame Meg Hillier, chairwoman of the British Treasury committee, said that Lloyds Banking Group LLOY.L must publish in full a long-delayed report into whether it covered up a 1 billion pounds ($1.26 billion) banking fraud.

- X-Energy, the nuclear power developer backed by Amazon AMZN.O, that is looking to build the first next-generation plants in Britain, has threatened to take its investment elsewhere unless the government sets out a clear regulatory and financial route to the market.

The Guardian

- Jonathan Reynolds, Secretary of State for Business and Trade, said that Britain hopes to act as a bridge between Europe and the U.S. before a crucial week of diplomacy in deciding Ukraine's future.

The Telegraph

- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will resist pressure from military chiefs to increase UK defence spending above the 2.5% of GDP target already set.

- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he is "ready and willing" to put British troops on the ground in Ukraine to enforce any peace deal.

Sky News

-French President Emmanuel Macron will host European leaders, including Britain's prime minister on Monday for an emergency summit on the Ukraine war after U.S. officials suggested Europe would have no role in any talks on ending the conflict.

($1 = 0.7940 pounds)