Closing summary
… and on that note, it’s a wrap from me, Jakub Krupa.
Here are the three things to take away from today’s Europe Live blog:
European leaders reiterated their continuing support for Ukraine as they registered their scepticism about the US rush to strike a peace deal with Russia, warning it would have to involve Ukraine and provide meaningful security guarantees, including a US backstop, to be lasting (18:23, 19:56, 20:16, 20:42, 21:08, 21:54).
Her comments come just hours before US and Russian officials are due to meet in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for their first bilateral exploratory talks, led by US state secretary Marco Rubio and foreign minister Sergei Lavrov. The latter taunted European leaders by suggesting there was no point in inviting them to the table as “if they are going to sit at the negotiating table with the aim of continuing war, then why invite them there?” (11:57, 12:24, 21:46).
Pope Francis remains in hospital in Rome, Italy, after latest tests confirmed a “complex clinical image” of his on-going “polymicrobial infection of the respiratory tract,” which requires further treatment (13:44).
And that’s all from me, Jakub Krupa, for today. See you again tomorrow.
If you have any tips, comments or suggestions, email me at jakub.krupa@theguardian.com.
I am also on Bluesky at @jakubkrupa.bsky.social and on X at @jakubkrupa.
Scholz back in Berlin at ARD election debate
As reported earlier, it appeared that German chancellor Olaf Scholz had left the Paris summit earlier than other leaders to return to Berlin for a televised debate on ARD1 ahead of the election this Sunday (20:55).
We now know he is indeed back in Berlin and on TV.
He had to wait for his turn as CDU/CSU’s frontrunner to be the next chancellor Friedrich Merz took questions first, but he’s now live and answering questions from the studio audience.
When the two briefly stood to each other, they were asked which portfolio they would give to their rival in case they end up in a coalition after the vote.
Merz joked it was a “bold hypothesis,” but insisted he would have to wait for the results.
“Where he is right, he is right,” Scholz responded laughing, adding that they both wanted the same job of the chancellor, and so “the citizens will decide.”
Starmer's comments after Paris summit on Ukraine - video
Russian delegation arrives in Riyadh for talks with US
The Russian delegation led by foreign minister Sergiei Lavrov is now in Riyadh ahead of tomorrow’s talks on bilateral relations with the US, which are also expected to include first exchanges on a potential peace deal on Ukraine.
They’re starting early tomorrow morning and we will bring you all the key updates throughout the day.
Europe needs to spend more on defence, Dutch prime minister says
Dutch prime minister Dick Schoof told the country’s media that Europe took to heart the message from the US that it needed to invest more in its defence capabilities.
But he also stressed that European leaders were determined to work closely with the US to make sure that any settlement is lasting, he said in comments reported by De Telegraaf.
Ukraine deserves peace through strength, EU leaders say
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and European Council president Antonio Costa have both just posted on social media their identical reaction to tonight’s meeting in Paris:
Today in Paris we reaffirmed that Ukraine deserves peace through strength.
Peace respectful of its independence, territorial integrity, with strong security guarantees.
Europe carries its full share of the military assistance to Ukraine. At the same time, we need a surge in Defence in Europe.
Ukraine peace and European security two sides of same coin, Spain's Sanchez says
Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez told a press conference that tonight’s meeting served as a forum for consultation between leaders, and so no binding decisions were made.
But he struck a similar note to other participants, reminding that Ukraine’s fight against Russia had broader importance for European security.
Peace in Ukraine and European security are two sides of the same coin, he said.
He stressed that Spain was ready to support Ukraine for as long as this war continued, and similarly to Frederiksen warned against any pre-mature or rushed ceasefire, insisting that any deal would need to just just and lasting to work for all sides.
He insisted that Ukraine and the EU should be represented at the talks.
Turning towards Europe’s response, he said that “in the face of adversity, we need more Europe, more European Union.”
Asked about defence spending, he repeated that Spain was committed to meeting its 2% Nato target.
If you’re wondering why German chancellor Olaf Scholz left the meeting so much earlier from other leaders, we understand that he had to return to Berlin for a televised debate on ARD where he is due to appear alongside other chancellor candidates ahead of this Sunday’s federal election.
A German federal government spokesperson said that as a matter of principle they do not comment on internal planning.
Guess we will see if Scholz is on ARD in less than half an hour. The debate is due to start 21:15 CET.
Many things need to be clarified before we can talk deployment, Denmark's Frederiksen says
Denmark’s Frederiksen gets also asked about the prospect of deploying Danish troops to Ukraine.
She does not rule it out immediately, but said there were “many, many things” that need to be clarified first, including any potential role for the US.
The focus should be on strengthening the position of Ukraine ahead of the talks instead, she says.
Russia is threatening all of Europe, Denmark's Frederiksen says
Denmark’s Mette Frederiksen specifically warns against a ceasefire that would not be lasting and simply give Russia time to regroup and attack Ukraine or another European country.
“Russia is threatening all of Europe now, unfortunately,” she says, adding that there is no sign that Russia wants peace.
She also says that no lasting peace deal can also be agreed without the Ukrainian direct involvement in talks.
She says European leaders should focus on what they can do in response to US talks with Russia.
“The most important thing here and now is that the Ukrainians get more of what they need so that they don’t lose this war, and so that they are in the best possible position,” she says.
She also repeats calls for higher defence spending and military preparedness, but does not give a clear answer on media speculations about plans to bring Denmark’s spend up to 3% GDP (14:13).
Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez and Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen are also addressing the media now.
I will bring you the key lines shortly.
You can watch Sanchez in Spanish here:
and Frederiksen here:
We need to ramp up support for Ukraine, Starmer says
Starmer says that the key issue is to “maintain the principle of peace through strength” by “making sure that Ukraine is in the strongest possible position.”
He pointedly warns against thinking that peace talks starting could lead to reducing support for Ukraine.
“We need to ramp it up,” he says, as he adds that is the only way to secure a “lasting, enduring and just agreement that secure the sovereignty of Ukraine.”
Security guarantees for Ukraine must have US backstop, Starmer says
Starmer insists that any guarantees offered to Ukraine must include a US backstop as he says that is “the only way” to effectively deter Russia from future attacks again.
'We have to recognise new era, not cling hopelessly to the past,' Starmer says
Starmer repeats that he is prepared to consider committing British forces on the ground alongside others.
He says the European response is in early stages and he intends to discuss it further with US president Trump during his visit to Washington DC next week.
“In this moment, we have to recognise the new era that we are in, not cling hopelessly to the comforts of the past. It’s time for us to take responsibility for our security, for our continent,” he says.
US must provide ‘backstop’ to deter Russia from attacking Ukraine again, Starmer says after emergency Paris summit
UK’s Keir Starmer is speaking now, too.
He says that “at stake is not just the future of Ukraine, it is an existential question for Europe as a whole,” and a “once in a generation moment of collective security of our continent.”
“Only a lasting peace in Ukraine that safeguards its sovereignty will deter Putin from further aggression,” he says.
Starmer called for the US to provide a “backstop” to deter Russia from attacking Ukraine again after meeting with European leaders for emergency talks on the war.
He says that Trump’s comments asking Europe to step up “should not come as a surprise,” and says “Europeans will have to step up, both in terms of spending and the capabilities that we provide to Ukraine.”
Updated
Poland can play active role in helping Ukraine, but no troop deployment, Tusk says
Tusk gets asked about any potential deployment of Polish troops to Ukraine.
He says the meeting has not changed anything in the Polish view, but stresses the importance of Polish support in logistics and broader humanitarian support for Ukraine.
“If it is possible to offer security guarantees through presence, with the US, with Nato, then Poland will be active in various ways, but I do not envisage sending Polish troops to Ukraine,” he says.
He makes a long point about other ways in which Poland is supporting Ukraine, and how it needs to look after its security, too.
“Poland and countries on the eastern flank are in a sense on the frontline, bordering with Russia, Belarus, and wartorn Ukraine. … When it comes to Poland, the Baltics, we need European and allied investment in our security,” he says.
If these countries “are not safe, supported by the entire alliance … they won’t be able to effectively help Ukraine,” he says.
“If the EU is unable to defend itself, then why should it give guarantees to others? Particularly as these would be empty guarantees anyway,” he says.
“We want any future obligations towards Europe to be serious. It so happens that Ukraine had different guarantees in the past, starting from the Budapest memorandum …,” he says.
Updated
No decisions on Ukraine without Ukraine, Poland's Tusk reiterates
Tusk also reiterates that any peace in Ukraine would need to be just and lasting, and Ukraine must be involved in any peace talks.
He also says that leaders agreed on the importance of close cooperation between the EU and the US on next steps.
Updated
Tusk also highlights the importance of relaxing spending rules so defence spending above 2% GDP is exempt from the EU’s excessive deficit procedure.
European relations with US entering 'new stage' under Trump, Tusk says, as he calls for increased spending on defence
Poland’s Tusk says that European relations with the US are “in a new stage” under Trump, as leaders realise that it’s time for them to become more self-reliant and radically increase defence spending as he calls for greater European defence capabilities.
Poland’s Donald Tusk is speaking now.
He says that all participants had “similar views” on all key issues from the Polish perspective.
He says there are no binding decisions, but it was important to align the views of all allies.
He stresses the importance of involving all Nato allies, including the UK, to speak one voice.
I will bring you the key lines here, or you can watch it in Polish here.
We’re waiting for more updates from other leaders.
Poland’s Donald Tusk has just been seen leaving the Elysée, and Denmark’s Mette Frederiksen is saying goodbyes to president Macron as I type.
We will bring you more updates when we get them.
Scholz calls for more flexible rules of funding to support Ukraine, dismisses talk of European deployment as speculation, and says EU and US must not be divided over Ukraine plan
Scholz spoke about how Europe must continue to support Ukraine and reassure Kyiv it can rely on Europe’s backing.
“We welcome that there are talks about a peace agreement, but for us it is clear this cannot be a diktat,” he said.
He also said that Ukraine must be allowed to defend itself, continue on the path to join the European Union, and have own strong army. He said these matters are not up for negotiations.
Scholz also returned to the idea of reforming the EU’s fiscal rules, suggesting that any spending above 2% GDP on defence should be excluded from existing restrictions.
He says new sources of financing are required so that further support for Ukraine does not come through cuts to domestic budgets and public services.
The German chancellor is also once again asked by the idea of deploying European troops to Ukraine as part of a peacekeeping force and he repeats the earlier line that such discussions are premature.
He says he is irritated by such suggestions as they are speculative and get ahead of any peace talks, dismissing them as “highly inappropriate.”
Scholz also says there can be no rift between Europe and the US on security, as he stresses the importance of the Nato alliance.
Updated
No diktat can be imposed on Ukraine, Germany's Scholz says
German chancellor Olaf Scholz is briefing the press after the meeting now.
He just said that no diktat can be imposed on Ukraine, and stressed that Europe should continue to support Ukraine, Reuters reports.
We will bring you further lines soon and you can watch his press conference in German below.
Updated
As the talks continue one leader has been online from under the table (or, I can reluctantly admit, probably his team is active on his behalf) with their initial thoughts.
Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez said that “Europe wants peace,” but one that “preserves the principles on which the international order is based.”
“A just peace for Ukraine and the European security architecture are inseparable,” he said.
We have also been getting messages from outside the Elysée.
Swedish prime minister Ulf Kristersson said in a social media post that the country and the broader Nordic-Baltic region is represented by Denmark’s Mette Frederiksen, as he insisted that they are “unanimous and stand strong in our support for Ukraine.”
“What we bring to the talks in Paris is that no discussions should be held about Ukraine without Ukraine and that support for Ukraine needs to be increased and accelerated,” he said.
Updated
So the front doors to the Élysée are now closed as European leaders discuss how to respond to Trump and Putin and what to put forward as their plan for Ukraine – oh, to be a fly on the wall!
Just to give you an idea on what’s next, the talks are expected to run for about two hours (wouldn’t bet on it at all), and many leaders are expected to speak to the media afterwards.
We will obviously bring you all the latest when it happens.
European leaders arrive at Élysée - in pictures
Updated
France's Macron spoke with US president Trump before European summit in Paris
French president Emmanuel Macron spoke with US president Donald Trump ahead of an informal meeting of European leaders in Paris on Ukraine, a French presidency official told Reuters.
An earthquake measuring 4.7 on the Richter scale hit the Portuguese capital Lisbon on Monday, local media reported.
The epicentre was reportedly in the Seixal area, just over 20 kilometres away from the capital.
Local emergency services reported no known damage or injuries, but people reported experiencing the impact in conversation with local media and on social media websites.
Earlier today, I brought you comments from Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy saying he would not recognise any peace deal made between the US and Russia if it didn’t involve Ukraine (13:10).
You can now watch his remarks here:
European leaders about to meet at Élysée in Paris
First European leaders are expected at the Élysée Palace soon for today’s meeting, which is expected to start around 4pm CET (3pm GMT).
Chinese foreign minister visits Dublin in push to soften relations with Europe
in Dublin
China’s foreign minister Wang Yi has arrived in Ireland after spending a weekend in Munich positioning the country as Europe’s friend.
He is meeting the taoiseach Micheál Martin and foreign minister Simon Harris this morning before heading to New York to chair a UN security council on Monday.
Ireland, which is EU headquarters for Tiktok, Shein and Temu, is the only other country apart from the UK the foreign minister has visited.
Although China wasn’t the main dish at the Munich security conference Wang’s round of meetings with leaders including Olaf Scholz, Germany chancellor hopeful Friedrich Merz, and Mark Rutte, was seen as a deliberate attempt to capitalise on the rupturing of the US-European relationship and present itself as an ally of Europe.
The EU last year imposed tariffs on Chinese EVs, something staunchly opposed by the Germany industry and, in turn, the government which voted against them.
Wang’s meetings with German leaders, and now Irish leaders, will be seen in some as a further moves to soften relations with Europe which remains one of its most important markets.
The European Chamber of Commerce in China, which represents 1700 companies manufacturing there, however warns that the EU is losing out to Beijing on foot of lack of demand for the amount of goods it is pumping out.
Such over capacity has led to the EV tariffs and the Chamber’s president, Jens Eskelund, warns that the trade imbalance is only going to grow.
“There’s almost zero growth in the European economy, and still China manages to grow export by 13% in the first 11 months of 2024 which is actually quite spectacular, whereas European exports to China declined by 9%. And Europe is not alone. If you look at other big manufacturing economies, United States, Korea, Japan, Canada, Australia, you know, they also decrease the export of manufactured goods.
“It seems to indicate this is not about European weakness, it affects all countries that are losing to China and there will be employment consequences to that and that is something China needs to be sensitive to,” said Eskelund.
The Netherlands 'not negative' about deployment of troops, PM says in cautious remarks
Dutch prime minister Dick Schoof – who will also take part in today’s Paris meeting – signalled his openness to discussing a deployment of troops to Ukraine, but with heavy caveats.
In remarks reported by Telegraaf over the weekend, he said that such as a discussion would need to be “conducted properly” and involve the parliament, but stressed that he was “not negative” about it as “we understand that Europe has to do something here.”
But he noted that any such operation would need to be backed by the US.
If not earlier, we are likely to hear more from him on Tuesday as he will join his defence and foreign ministers in a parliamentary debate on supporting Ukraine.
Slovakia PM Robert Fico says EU officials have no mandate for talks in Paris
European Union officials have no mandate for talks in Paris on Monday on Europe’s role in any Ukraine ceasefire, Slovak prime minister Robert Fico said, adding the discussions did not concern the EU and their participation hurt confidence in the bloc.
He said in a statement issued by the government office that the issue of troops in Ukraine was only for the UN or through bilateral deals and “is a topic with which the EU has nothing to do and should not comment.”
Updated
Discussion of European troops in Ukraine premature, German prime minister says
German chancellor Olaf Scholz suggested that any discussion of European troops taking part in a peacekeeping force in Ukraine is premature.
In comments reported by the Süddeutsche Zeitung, Scholz said that “unfortunately we are still a long way off” that moment, and added that “it’s quite clear that a very strong Ukrainian army, even in peacetime, must be at the core” of any solution.
Reuters said he also spoke about the European security more broadly, saying that supporting Ukraine and its army will be “a great task for Europe, for the US, and international alliance partners.”
“We have to make sure that Europe overcomes the challenges of the future in a strong and sovereign manner and with its back straight,” Scholz told reporters on the sidelines of an election campaign event in Kassel, ahead of his departure for the French capital.
Denmark looking to increase defence spending to 3% GDP - media reports
The Danish government is looking to advance multi-billion investments in defence, effectively increasing its defence spending for 2025 and 2026 to 3% GDP, according to the Danish daily Berlingske.
The weekly Weekendavisen, which also reported the plans, said that the priority investments would be picked by the acting Chief of Defense in the high command of the Armed Forces, Michael Hyldgaard.
Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen is expected to take part in an hour-long questions session in the Danish parliament on Tuesday, where she is likely to get asked about the country’s reaction to developments in Munich over the weekend and her participation in today’s informal Paris summit.
Speaking in the last hour, she told reporters that Europeans “must increase military support for Ukraine, produce more, and do it faster”.
She said she sensed “a new European determination … a drive that is necessary” to respond to the challenge, Berlingske reported.
Updated
If we fail to spend now, we will spend 10 times more during war, Poland's Tusk warns
After his press conference earlier (13:01), Polish prime minister Donald Tusk has now made further comments – unusually, this time in English – on social media, warning that Europe should not shy of making necessary defence commitments now as it would have to “spend 10 times more if we don’t prevent a wider war.”
He once again points to Poland’s track record in this matter, as the country spends 4.7% of its GDP on defence, way above the Nato target of 2%.
Here is what he said:
If we, Europeans, fail to spend big on defence now, we will be forced to spend 10 times more if we don’t prevent a wider war.
As the Polish PM I’m entitled to say it loud and clear, since Poland already spends almost 5% of its GDP on defence. And we will continue to do so.
Pope Francis faces 'complex' clinical picture as hospitalisation continues
Pope Francis has a “complex clinical picture” with a “polymicrobial infection of the respiratory tract,” which will require further hospitalisation, his spokesperson confirmed.
There was no timeframe given for his hospitalisation, but spokesperson said the complexity of his symptoms “will require an appropriate hospital stay.”
Europe needs to 'step up' its defence capability, Starmer says before Paris talks, as he confirms plans to visit Trump
British prime minister Keir Starmer has said that Europe needs to “step up in terms of our collective response in Europe” as he travels to join European leaders in Paris for emergency talks on Ukraine.
“By that, I mean playing our full part when it comes to the defence of the sovereignty of Ukraine if there’s a peace agreement,” he said, quoted on our UK liveblog and the BBC.
Last night, Starmer said the UK would be ready to deploy troops to Ukraine as part of a peacekeeping force (9:32).
The British PM also said that any Ukraine deal would need to be “just and enduring.”
“The last thing I want to see is a pause in the fighting that simply gives Putin the chance to come again,” he said in comments reported by the AFP.
Separately, his office also has confirmed in the last few minutes that Starmer will travel to Washington DC next week to meet US president Donald Trump, the first European leader since Trump’s inauguration last month.
You can read more details lined from Starmer and our coverage of UK politics on our UK live blog here:
Updated
View from the Élysée ahead of Paris talks
in Paris
Élysée officials have said the key objective of today’s mini-summit is to seek agreement on what concrete actions European governments should and can take, including making progress on the fraught question of how to fund a major increase in defence spending.
“We consider that, in view of the acceleration of the Ukraine situation and in view, also, of what US leaders have said, there is a necessity for the Europeans to do more, better, and in a coherent manner, for our collective security,” an adviser said.
The meeting also aims to reassure Kyiv that as the US and Russia begin peace talks this week that could result in a settlement Ukraine could not sign up to, Europeans – including the UK – would stand by their political, financial and military commitments.
Emmanuel Macron is expected to tell the leaders of the UK, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Spain and Italy, as well as Nato chief Mark Rutte and top EU officials Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa, that the US stance can be an opportunity.
Trump’s peace initiative could hasten the end of the war, the Elysée adviser told French media, but it was essential that the agreement was acceptable to Ukraine and to Europe, whose security was also at stake.
In any event, Macron is thought likely to urge leaders not to rise to the US bait and to avoid provocative or confrontational language. Instead, Europe should welcome Washington’s proposals – while taking meaningful steps of its own.
Ukraine will not accept US-Russia talks outcome if not involved, Zelenskyy says
We’re also now hearing directly from Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, commenting on the US-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia.
In comments reported by the Associated Press and Reuters, he said Ukraine won’t take part in US-Russia talks this week on ending the war and won’t accept the outcome of the talks if Ukraine doesn’t take part.
Speaking to journalists on a conference call from the United Arab Emirates, Zelenskyy said his government had not been invited to Tuesday’s planned talks in Saudi Arabia.
He said they would “yield no results,” given the absence of any Ukrainian officials.
“Ukraine regards any negotiations on Ukraine without Ukraine as ones that have no result, and we cannot recognise … any agreements about us without us,” he said.
The Ukrainian president also said that “for the first time” he noted some interest from China over any settlement of Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Zelenskyy also pushed back on the floated idea of a minerals agreement with the US, saying that Ukraine cannot be just seen as a “simple supplier of raw materials,” and that any deal would need to include “at least somehow” additional security guarantees.
He said that he expected to get more clarity on any future meeting with Trump only after US envoy Keith Kellogg visited Ukraine.
Updated
Poland will not send troops to Ukraine, prime minister Tusk says
Poland will not send troops to Ukraine as part of a peacekeeping force, Polish prime minister Donald Tusk said today, ahead of European leaders’ meeting in Paris on the continent’s response to potential peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.
Tusk said the issue of Polish support was “settled,” as Warsaw was ready to continue its logistical, financial, humanitarian and military support for Ukraine, but not to deploy Polish troops inside Ukraine.
“We will be supporting, through logistics and political support, other countries willing to make such [hard security] guarantees,” he said.
Speaking to reporters before flying to Paris, Tusk also urged European leaders to “massively” increase spending on defence, noting that Poland’s 4.7% of GDP, way above Nato target, is “an exception, not a rule” and “this needs to change”.
He signalled his support for US comments on spending, saying that “there is no point getting offended or irritated” about their warnings on spend, as Europe “has to show that we are capable of much more serious investment in our own security.”
He also warned against trying to build any European defence formats outside Nato, despite “what some people say, sometimes in brutal words, … but there is no reason for allies, even if they disagree [on some topics], to not find an agreement on the most important issues.”
In what seemed like a pointed swipe at the UK and the US, the signatories of the 1994 Budapest agreement which was meant to guarantee Ukraine’s security after it gave up nuclear arsenal, he also said that leaders of the countries considering making such promises now must be ready to follow through with actions.
Updated
Russian view on negotiations with US
Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has been speaking to the media this morning offering the Kremlin’s view on negotiations with the US over Ukraine.
Lavrov is expected to be part of the talks with the US in Riyadh on Tuesday, alongside Putin’s diplomatic adviser Yuri Ushakov.
He said “Putin and Trump agreed on the necessity of leaving behind absolutely abnormal relations.”
He also addressed the issue of any potential European involvement in the peace talks:
I don’t know what they would do at the negotiating table... if they are going to sit at the negotiating table with the aim of continuing war, then why invite them there?
Lavrov also said there could be “no thought of” Russian territorial concessions to Ukraine at future peace talks, Reuters reported.
Pro-Russian hackers hit Italian transport system, banks after threats of 'consequences' over president's criticism of Russia
in Rome
Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova has said on Monday that Italian president Sergio Mattarella’s comments at the University of Marseilles earlier this month (Europe Live on 6 Feb) comparing Moscow to Nazi Germany over its invasion of Ukraine will not go “without consequences”.
“During a lecture at an educational institution, he said he believed that Russia could be equated with the Third Reich,” Russian news agency Ria Novosti quoted Zakharova as saying on Russian state TV.
“This cannot, and will never, be left without consequences”, she added.
Shortly after Zakharova’s comments, the pro-Russian hacker group “NoName57” attacked the telematic system of transportation and several Italian banks, citing how Mattarella is “Anti-Russian.”
Zakharova described Mattarella’s speech as “blasphemous inventions”.
Premier Giorgia Meloni said the attacks against Mattarella “offend the whole nation, which the head of state represents.
“I express my full solidarity, as well as that of the entire Government, to President Mattarella, who has always firmly supported the condemnation of the aggression perpetrated against Ukraine”, the prime minister said in a statement.
Ukrainian president Zelenskyy to visit Saudi Arabia on Wednesday
We are just getting a line from the Agence Frence-Presse that Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy will visit Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, just a day after US-Russia talks are due to start there…
Zelenskyy spoke briefly about the trip last week, even if without giving dates, and insisted that he had no plans to meet Russian or US officials there.
One to watch.
Confirmation of US-Russia talks on Tuesday
US secretary of state Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and special envoy Steve Witkoff will meet with Russian delegation in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday, the US state department spokesperson Tammy Bruce confirmed.
Poland's Sikorski floats idea of Nobel peace prize for Trump for fair peace deal in Ukraine
Polish foreign minister Radosław Sikorski put forward one of the most creative proposals on how to get to US president Donald Trump, influence his position on peace talks with Russia and make him side with European allies on the need of a just and lasting peace with appropriate security guarantees for Ukraine.
Playing off Trump’s well-known desire to get praise and public recognition, he suggested that Europeans could use the promise of a Nobel peace prize to get him on side.
“I would tell him that we, Europeans, control the Nobel peace prize. If you want to earn it, the peace has to be fair,” he told the Munich Security Conference over the weekend.
Updated
Europe needs to show unity, come up with plans on security guarantees, Spanish foreign minister says
in Madrid
Spain’s foreign minister, José Manuel Albares, says today’s meeting of European leaders in Paris has three main objectives.
In an interview this morning with the Onda Cero radio station, Albares said:
“It’s about showing European unity at such a crucial moment for European security.
Second, it’s about what we Europeans should do going forward to guarantee that there’s a just and lasting peace in Ukraine as soon as possible.
Third, it’s about analysing and deciding what we Europeans need in order to be able to achieve that just peace and to keep helping Ukraine win peace; it’s also about European security and the protection of our citizens.”
Albares said he didn’t think anyone would be talking about sending troops to Ukraine as “peace is still very far away”.
He also rejected suggestions that the meeting was a direct response to what had been said in Munich last week, saying:
There’s a new [US] administration that’s putting forward new ideas on Ukraine and, at the same time, we’re about to enter the fourth year of war and unjustified aggression. It’s very legitimate that, faced with this new panorama, Europeans should be meeting and reflecting on taking a series of decisions because all this affects our security and our European values.
Updated
Sweden could be part of peacekeeping forces in Ukraine, prime minister says
Swedish prime minister Ulf Kristersson told Reuters that deploying Swedish troops to Ukraine as part of a peacekeeping force is “absolutely a possibility.”
His comments build on earlier declaration from Swedish foreign minister Maria Malmer Stenegard (9:40).
“We will take part in those discussions and of course that is absolutely a possibility,” he said on the sidelines of a military exercise in Sweden’s capital,” Kristersson said.
“There needs to be a very clear mandate for those forces and I don’t think we can see that until we have come further in those negotiations. But Sweden, we are normally a part of strengthening security in our part of the world, so I foresee us to be a part of that this time as well,” he told Reuters.
Updated
Norway, UK with 'clear expectation' Ukraine and Europe must be involved in peace talks with Russia
Norwegian prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre said he spoke with UK counterpart Keir Starmer on Monday, and they expressed “a clear expectation that Ukraine must have a seat at the table” during any peace talks with Russia.
The pair also stressed that Europe also “must participate” in the negotiations.
“Norway and the UK are further developing close security policy cooperation, as we agreed in December,” he added.
Updated
Italian singer claims he was asked to perform in Russia to mark end of Ukraine war
in Rome
The popular Italian singer Albano Carrisi, better known by his stage name Al Bano, has said that he has been invited to perform in a concert between the end of August and the beginning of September on Moscow’s Red Square to celebrate the end of the war in Ukraine.
In an interview with Italy’s state radio broadcaster Radio Rai 1, Al Bano—one of the most well-known Italian singers in Russia, who met Russian President Vladimir Putin on several occasions—said that he was contacted a few days ago by his Moscow-based agent, who told him to prepare to perform in a major concert to celebrate the end of the war, which is nearing its third year.
“‘The other day I received an SMS from the Russian agent,’” said Al Bano. “‘It’s the same manager who introduced me to Putin and his entire staff. He told me, “Al Bano, get ready, because between the end of August and, at the latest, the beginning of September, we will hold the concert on Red Square—the famous concert for peace. And it will happen. I am absolutely convinced it will happen.”
Asked if he was ready to perform, he replied: “As always.”
Al Bano did not name the manager and the Guardian could not independently verify the report.
Hungary welcomes US-Russia talks, criticised 'pro-war' European leaders
Hungarian foreign minister Péter Szijjártó has welcomed the restart of the high level talks between Russia and the US, criticising “pro-war” European leaders who he said were trying to prevent a peace deal for Ukraine.
Szijjártó spoke at a press conference with his counterpart in Kazakhstan, streamed on his Facebook and reported by Reuters.
Hungary has long been a vocal critic of the European response to the war, and repeatedly called for the removal of sanctions against Moscow.
US Rubio arrives in Riyadh for talks with Russia
US state secretary Marco Rubio has now arrived in Saudi Arabia, where he will take part with talks with Russia, expected to start on Tuesday. He is expected to be joined by US national security advisor Michael Waltz and Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.
He is continuing his first visit to the Middle East since taking office last month; he flew into Riyadh from Israel, where he met with the country’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
US Ukraine envoy Kellogg to visit Warsaw on Tuesday
US president Donald Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, will visit Warsaw on Tuesday where he will meet with Polish president Andrzej Duda to discuss the peace talks about Ukraine, a senior Polish administration official said.
Duda’s most senior foreign policy aide, Wojciech Kolarski, told RMF24 radio that the pair would meet on Tuesday afternoon at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw at the initiative of the US side.
He declined to say if Poland would be prepared to send troops to Ukraine.
Sweden does not rule out sending troops to Ukraine
Swedish foreign minister Maria Malmer Stenergard told public radio Sveriges Radio that the country would not rule out sending peacekeeping troops to Ukraine if necessary.
“We must first now negotiate a fair and sustainable peace that respects international law... When we have such a peace in place, it will need to be maintained and for that our government is not ruling out anything,” she said.
UK prepared to send troops to Ukraine, Starmer says
Keir Starmer has said he is prepared to put British troops on the ground in Ukraine if there is a deal to end the war with Russia – acknowledging it could put UK forces “in harm’s way” if Vladimir Putin launches another attack.
It is understood to be the first time the prime minister has explicitly stated he is considering deploying British peacekeepers to Ukraine. The comments came just before emergency talks with European leaders in Paris on Monday.
Writing in the Daily Telegraph (£), he said the UK was “ready to play a leading role” in Ukraine’s defence and security, including the commitment of £3bn a year until 2030. Starmer said that along with military aid, “it also means being ready and willing to contribute to security guarantees to Ukraine by putting our own troops on the ground if necessary”.
“I do not say that lightly. I feel very deeply the responsibility that comes with potentially putting British servicemen and women in harm’s way,” Starmer said.
“But any role in helping to guarantee Ukraine’s security is helping to guarantee the security of our continent, and the security of this country.
Paris talks on Ukraine, European security - context
The Paris meeting will aim to outline a European action plan after days of chaotic briefing by the Trump administration. The summit will also need to decide how to respond to a request by the US to spell out whether leaders are prepared to commit troops to a stabilisation force in the event of a ceasefire.
Confirming the Paris meeting, France’s foreign minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, told France Inter radio on Sunday: “The president will bring together the main European countries tomorrow for discussions on European security.” He said there was a wind of unity blowing through.
It will discuss what defence capabilities Europe could provide to give Ukraine credible security guarantees, including a plan for Ukraine to be given automatic Nato membership in the event of a clear ceasefire breach by Russia. The US has said there must be devastating consequences for any side that breaches a ceasefire agreement, an element missing from previous Ukraine ceasefires since 2014.
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Morning opening: Make Europe Relevant Again
After a brutal awakening about the state of the transatlantic alliance over the weekend, key European leaders are meeting in Paris today to figure out what to do next.
They will not be necessarily looking how to Make Europe Great Again, as JD Vance claims he would have want them to, but how to Make Europe Relevant Again in the looming talks about Ukraine’s future.
Hastily convened by French president Emmanuel Macron, the talks will see key regional leaders try to path a way forward outside the formal structures of the European Union, and without the risk of being sabotaged by the likes of Viktor Orbán.
Macron is expected to be joined by Germany’s Scholz, Italy’s Meloni, Poland’s Tusk, Denmark’s Frederiksen (representing the Nordic-Baltic Eight), Spain’s Sanchez, the Netherlands’ Schoof and EU leaders in Commission president von der Leyen and Council president Costa.
The meeting will discuss what defence capabilities Europe could provide to give Ukraine credible security guarantees, including a plan for Ukraine to be given automatic Nato membership in the event of a clear ceasefire breach by Russia.
But there is no hiding from the fact that the Paris summit will be taking place just as US officials will be prepping to meet with Russian counterparts in the Saudi capital of Riyadh to discuss some of the issues at hand – without any Ukrainians or Europeans attending.
If Europe wants to put itself back in this conversation, there is not much time left to do this before it is too late, with potentially devastating consequences for the security order that kept us safe since 1945.
Pas de pression, Paris.
It’s Monday, 17 February 2024, and this is Europe Live. It’s Jakub Krupa here.
Good morning.
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