Summary
Here’s a wrap-up of the day’s key events:
French president Emmanuel Macron is set to visit the White House on Monday, according to the White House, Reuters reports. Meanwhile, UK prime minister Keir Starmer will visit the White House on Thursday.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with US envoy Keith Kellogg after Donald Trump called Zelenskyy a dictator and warned him to “better move fast” or he “won’t have a country left.” On Thursday, Zelenskyy took to X to describe his meeting with Kellog, Trump’s envoy to Ukraine. “I had a productive meeting with @SPE_Kellogg — a good discussion, many important details. I am grateful to the United States for all the assistance and bipartisan support for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.”
Over in Greece prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has highlighted the need for Europe to augment its defence capabilities earlier telling Bloomberg TV: “This is really the time when we need to move more from words to actions.” The centre right leader, who has long advocated that the continent spend more on defence, said increased budget flexibility was required to allow EU member states to allocate funds to the sector.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has posted about his phone call with Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen. In a social media post, he said the pair “discussed European affairs together,” and compared their notes from recent talks with other global leaders.
Former Finnish prime minister Sanna Marin has warned that Vladimir Putin’s Russia would not stop at Ukraine if it is allowed to continue its aggression and could attack other neighbours and eventually Nato allies. Speaking at the event in London, she warned that “the world seems very dangerous place” now as she called for further support for Ukraine.
JD Vance claimed without offering further evidence or information on the progress of talks with Russia, that thanks to the US administration “we are on the cusp of peace in Europe,” as stated that US president Donald Trump was determined to “bring peace to this endless war.” I think with president Trump, what makes him such an effective negotiator and I have seen this in private, is that he does not take anything off the table. … Everything is on the table. And of course that makes the heads explode in America because they say, ‘Why are you talking to Russia?’”
Meanwhile, UK and Norwegian defence ministers said today the two countries were working on a new security pact that would cover development of defence capabilities, closer cooperation in the High North, and more exercises and joint training missions. Britain and Norway said in their statements that the pact would also cover closer intelligence cooperation.
Nato secretary general Mark Rutte is speaking in Bratislava after meeting with the Slovak president Peter Pellegrini. He says that Slovakia hosts one of the alliance’s multi-national groups, which he calls “very impressive.”
The US administration could adjust its sanctions against Russia in response to potential peace talks on Ukraine, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Bloomberg. Bessent also joined the growing chorus of US voices criticising Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy for his criticism of Donald Trump, saying that “he unfortunately escalated” and “put some daylight” between Ukraine and US, and calling his remarks “inappropriate.”
From claiming Ukraine was responsible for the war to incorrect numbers about aid received from the US and Europe, Donald Trump made a number of inaccurate statements while praising the progress made in US-Russia talks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The Guardian has had a look at his claims:
During Thursday’s press briefing, US national security adviser Michael Waltz accused Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy of failing to ‘come to the table’ and take ‘opportunity’ of a Donald Trump-brokered peace plan.
However, the Ukrainian leader was not invited to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia this week where top US and Russian officials discussed bilateral relations and ways to end the war.
Upon complaining about not being invited to the meeting, Trump falsely blamed Zelenskyy for starting the war, claiming: “Today I heard, ‘oh, well, we weren’t invited.’ Well, you’ve been there for three years ... You should have never started it. You could have made a deal.”
Waltz also echoed the proposal of Ukraine signing a deal that would see it handing over half of its rare mineral wealth to the US. However, the US has not offered Zelenskyy any security guarantees in return for its proposal.
Updated
US national security adviser Michael Waltz said Ukraine is wrong to push back against Donald Trump’s approach to peace talks with Russia.
The Guardian’s Luke Harding reports:
White House officials have told Ukraine to stop badmouthing Donald Trump and to sign a deal handing over half of the country’s mineral wealth to the US, saying a failure to do so would be unacceptable.
The US national security adviser, Mike Waltz, told Fox News that Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, should “tone down” his criticism of the US and take a “hard look” at the deal. It proposes giving Washington $500bn worth of natural resources, including oil and gas.
Waltz said Kyiv was wrong to push back against the US president’s approach to peace talks with Moscow, given everything the US had done for Ukraine. He denied accusations the US had snubbed Ukraine and America’s European allies by excluding them from talks earlier this week with Russia. This was routine “shuttle diplomacy”, he said.
For the full story, click here:
“So many people in Washington that were just demanding pounding the table for a cease fire in Gaza are suddenly aghast that the president would demand one and both sides come to the table when it talks to when it comes to Ukraine,” Michael Waltz said.
He went on to compare the Ukraine war to Israel’s onslaught on Gaza as a “war that has been arguably far greater in scope and scale and far more dangerous in terms of global escalation to US security.”
Trump 'very frustrated' with Zelenskyy for failing to 'come to the table' and 'take opportunity' of US-agreed peace
“President Trump is obviously very frustrated right now with president Zelensky, the fact that that he hasn’t come to the table that he hasn’t been willing to take this opportunity that we have offered, I think he eventually will get to that point, and I hope so very quickly,” Michael Waltz said.
He went on to add:
“President Trump is, as we made clear to our Russian counterparts, and I want to make clear today, he’s focused on stopping the fighting and moving forward, and we could argue all day long about what’s happened in the past.”
Waltz did not directly answer a question on whether Donald Trump views Russian president Vladimir Putin as a dictator, a term he used to call Ukrainian president Vladymyr Zelenskyy earlier this week.
Updated
US national security adviser Michael Waltz is delivering a press conference right now at the White House press briefing.
“The president thinks this is an opportunity for Ukraine going forward. There can be, in my view, nothing better for Ukraine’s future and for their security than to have the United States invested in their prosperity long term,” Waltz said.
Updated
Macron to visit White House on Monday
French president Emmanuel Macron is set to visit the White House on Monday, according to the White House, Reuters reports.
Meanwhile, UK prime minister Keir Starmer will visit the White House on Thursday.
Updated
Zelenskyy describes 'productive' meeting with US envoy
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with US envoy Keith Kellogg after Donald Trump called Zelenskyy a dictator and warned him to “better move fast” or he “won’t have a country left.”
On Thursday, Zelenskyy took to X to describe his meeting with Kellog, Trump’s envoy to Ukraine.
“I had a productive meeting with @SPE_Kellogg — a good discussion, many important details. I am grateful to the United States for all the assistance and bipartisan support for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.
It’s important for us — and for the entire free world — that American strength is felt. We had a detailed conversation about the battlefield situation, how to return our prisoners of war, and effective security guarantees.”
Zelenskyy went on to thank Kellog for the “joint work to achieve important results.”
Updated
Brussels correspondent
Important clarification as we are hearing more on Hungary’s plans on EU sanctions (17:12, 17:14): they are blocking the rollover of sanctions on Vladimir Putin and more than 1,000 Russian and Belarusian officials, but the 16th package provisionally adopted yesterday is still expected to pass.
The sanctions on individuals expire in March and EU sources expect that Hungary will cause problems for the extension.
Updated
The day so far - summary
… and on that note, it’s a wrap from me, Jakub Krupa, as I’m passing the blog to Maya Yang who will guide you through the evening in Europe.
Here are the three things to take away from today’s Europe Live blog so far:
A news conference with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg got cancelled at the last minute after the pair met in Kyiv, reportedly at the US request (15:45 and 15:57). The move comes after US president Donald Trump’s persistent verbal attacks against Zelenskyy, which included falsely calling him a “dictator” (18:24), and a call from US national security adviser Mike Waltz to Ukraine to “tone it down” so the two sides can focus on their work behind the scenes (14:38).
Hungarian foreign minister Peter Szijjártó has threatened to block the extension of EU sanctions against Russia on Monday, as he said “time must be given” for US-Russia peace talks (17:12). The announcement of Hungarian plans to block sanctions may surprise EU diplomats, as Hungarian diplomats let the package pass on Wednesday in what was seen as the final round of discussions (17:14).
Spain’s high court has found former Spanish football head Luis Rubiales guilty of sexually assaulting the footballer Jenni Hermoso by kissing her on the lips without consent after the team’s victory in the 2023 World Cup final in Australia (13:38).
But don’t go anywhere and stay with us on Europe Live as our coverage of Europe continues here.
Updated
And as we enter late afternoon, please indulge me with a brief pause so I can bring you something slightly different in a desperate attempt to lighten your mood (unless you are Italian).
Although it still involves a diplomatic spat between two countries (a sign of times, I guess), it’s an unusual pair of Estonia and Italy, and it is over… a song.
The Eurovision song contest is several months away but the drama has already begun, with calls from Italy for Estonia’s catchy pick for the competition to be scrapped due to lyrics poking fun at Italian stereotypes of being coffee-drinking, spaghetti-eating mafiosi.
Espresso Macchiato, by the rapper Tommy Cash, is sung in a blend of broken English and Italian and depicts a life of sweet indulgence. “Ciao bella, I’m Tomaso, addicted to tobacco. Mi like mi coffè very importante,” the first verse begins.
The Italians are not happy: Codacons, a consumer association, has lodged an appeal to the European Broadcasting Union questioning whether “it’s appropriate to allow a song that offends a country and an entire community” to be part of the competition.
Angela Giuffrida has the story:
… and here is the song, of course:
To be fair, the presumed Italian entry (yet to be confirmed, but is expected to be sent as the winner of the Sanremo music festival) does not seem to include any (offensive or otherwise) references to Estonia.
Updated
Why hasn't Ukraine held elections since the war began? - explainer
Since US president Donald Trump and other senior US leaders have been repeatedly asking questions about this issue in recent days, let’s answer this question once and for all.
That’s the long story short:
If Russia had not invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Volodymyr Zelenskyy would have faced a re-election campaign in spring 2024. But after Vladimir Putin sent his troops across the border, the country quickly entered a state of martial law. That meant that both presidential and parliamentary elections were postponed.
For a more detailed answer, go here:
And for a similar, but slightly different, perspective from Ukrainian exiles head to the story below, by Chris Osuh and Aamna Mohdin.
“Ukrainians do not have the luxury of falling into despair,” Olga Onuch said, when asked about the mood of expats watching the future of their war-torn country being decided from afar.
Donald Trump’s sidelining of Ukraine – and his claim the invaded country “never should have started it” – has stunned Ukrainians living overseas.
Onuch, a professor of Ukrainian politics at the University of Manchester, the first in the Anglosphere, believes any attempt to impose an unjust and “unconstitutional” settlement will be fiercely resisted in Ukraine – with the support of members of the diaspora.
“It’s an existential question of the survival of their homeland. This is not a simple thing that tomorrow someone agrees and then it’s done,” she said. “Ukrainians would not be willing to give up territory and they would potentially go against the government.
What Ukrainians think? - your responses
Yesterday we asked Ukrainians to tell us what they make of the current situation in the country and Donald Trump’s efforts to bring the Russian invasion of Ukraine to an end.
Anna, 36, who used to live in Kharkiv and now works in IT as an engineer in the Cherkasy region, was one of thousands of Ukrainians who shared with the Guardian how they feel about the peace talks between the US and Russia.
“Trump’s comments that Zelenskyy is a ‘dictator’ just unites Ukrainians in their anger – he’s our president. Many of us don’t agree with the actions that have been taken by the government within the country but there is solidarity when it comes to foreign policy.
“Ukrainian society stands united in the impossibility of holding an election during wartime – there is no public demand for it. Active military personnel would not be able to run and voting would be practically impossible due to the constant threat of artillery and missile strikes.
“I don’t think Trump will achieve anything in these negotiations and through the impossibility of ending the war, he will place the blame on Zelenskyy. The US is not acting as Ukraine’s partner in these negotiations and is not advocating for Ukraine’s interests. The Ukrainian people will not accept any agreements made without the participation of their own government.”
In Kyiv, 27-year-old YouTube producer Yevhen, said he was more positive about Trump’s attitude to peace in Ukraine before he became president.
“Biden was more about ideology but at least Trump was willing to take concrete steps, even though it required certain concessions from Ukraine. It would have caused outrage to concede some territories to Russia but at least it would bring an end to the conflict.
“My opinion remained more or less the same until the events of the past week. Now, like the overwhelming majority of Ukrainians, I feel catastrophic disappointment and shock at his words. It’s like Trump is more Putin than Putin.”
Move from words to actions and spend on defence, Greek prime minister says
in Athens
Over in Greece prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has highlighted the need for Europe to augment its defence capabilities earlier telling Bloomberg TV: “This is really the time when we need to move more from words to actions.”
The centre right leader, who has long advocated that the continent spend more on defence, said increased budget flexibility was required to allow EU member states to allocate funds to the sector.
“I have always been in favour of the view that Europe should set its own defence policies. We need to increase resources for defence and we need greater fiscal flexibility in Europe so when we spend more on defence, the incremental spending should not count towards our European deficit calculations,” he told the channel.
He argued it was crucial that a decision was made on the issue at the next European Council in mid-March.
“We cannot delay this decision any longer. In extraordinary times, we need to take extraordinary measures.”
At over 3% of its GDP Greece contributes more to defence than most other members of the 27-member bloc.
Mitsotakis’ comments chimed with recent statements made by the European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, who has not ruled out spending on defence being exempted from EU limits on government spending.
The Greek prime minister emphasised the importance of Europe speaking “with one voice” on the issue of Ukraine.
“There can be no solution for Ukraine without the involvement of Ukraine,” he told Bloomberg. “Europe must do what is necessary for its own security, not only for the security of Ukraine.”
Describing the US president as a “smart man,” Harvard-educated Mitsotakis said Trump had “his own unique way of expressing himself.”
“We are in a phase of reawakening. When Trump said that in Europe we do not spend much on defense, he was right,” he added.
Ukraine has for centuries been home to a large ethnic Greek community. Prior to Russia’s unprovoked invasion of the country almost three years ago on 24 February, much of the 200,000-strong minority had been concentrated in Mariupol and Black Sea cities such as Odesa.
Finance aid for Ukraine using frozen Russian assets, Poland's Tusk says
Polish prime minister Donald Tusk has just posted his three-point plan for the European Union to respond to the situation in Ukraine.
Here is what he said:
Enough talking, it’s time to act!
1. Let’s finance our aid for Ukraine from the Russian frozen assets.
2. Let’s strengthen air policing, the Baltic sentry and the EU borders with Russia.
3. Let’s swiftly adopt new fiscal rules to finance the EU security and defence. Now!
Ukraine's Zelenskyy spoke with Denmark's Frederiksen
And staying with the theme of the Nordics, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has posted about his phone call with Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen.
In a social media post, he said the pair “discussed European affairs together,” and compared their notes from recent talks with other global leaders.
“We deeply appreciate Denmark’s clear stance on a true peace—the peace we all strive for, the peace we work for, and the peace that must be securely guaranteed,” he said.
Frederiksen also posted about the call, saying:
Solidarity. Strength. Europe. That was my message to @ZelenskyyUa when we spoke on the phone earlier today.
We must stand together during this time and harness Europe’s strength to get through this challenging period.
Former Finnish PM calls out 'unprecedented' comments from 'former trusted ally' Trump
Marin also made a comment on the US under Donald Trump, referring to the US as “our former trusted allies” as she noted the president was “saying things that are unprecedented from the leader of the free world.”
Now we are seeing a world where not only Putin and Russia, but unfortunately, also our former trusted allies in the US are now raising voices... Donald Trump is saying things that … [are] unprecedented from the leader of the free world.
Looking from a perspective of a smaller nation, this kind of future where only strength and power – brutal, hard power – dictates our future, is frightening.
She also said she was sceptical about Trump’s attempt to end the war.
I don’t think it will be resolved, not with these statements that we have heard. … Knowing Ukrainian people, having visited Kyiv and Ukraine many times since the war started, and knowing their mindset, they won’t give up.
I don’t think that we will see ending this war anytime soon.
She added that “we are entering this … very difficult era in Europe,” but insisted that the continent could and should take initiative, “because I do not think that Europe is as weak as it might think.
We have the means and we have the resources now, we have to just really step up our effort and make sure that we are as united as possible, to make sure that we are safe and secure. We cannot any more rely that somebody else will come to our aid, that US will come to our aid when problems occur.
Putin won't stop at Ukraine, former Finnish prime minister warns
Former Finnish prime minister Sanna Marin has warned that Vladimir Putin’s Russia would not stop at Ukraine if it is allowed to continue its aggression and could attack other neighbours and eventually Nato allies.
Speaking at the Brand Finance event in London, she warned that “the world seems very dangerous place” now as she called for further support for Ukraine.
If we don’t stop Putin in Ukraine, if we don’t help Ukraine to fight this war, we will only see larger and wider aggression from Putin and Russia’s side.
I don’t think Russia would stop at Ukraine. I think they would next go to Moldova, then maybe western Balkans, and then maybe even Nato countries.
She also talked about Finland’s decision to join Nato in 2023, when she was the country’s prime minister.
She said that for her it was “evident when Russia attacked … a neighbouring country with brutal, full force, that the Finnish mindset shifted overnight.”
Updated
Hungary's threat on Russian sanctions - snap analysis
Brussels correspondent
The announcement of Hungarian plans to block sanctions may surprise EU diplomats, as Hungarian diplomats let the package pass on Wednesday in what was seen as the final round of discussions (yesterday’s Europe Live).
Hungary’s obstruction often slows down or weakens EU sanctions against Russia, but Budapest does not usually announce a veto, after signalling agreement. Szijjártó, as reported by Hungary’s chief government spokesman, said Hungary would not support extending sanctions on Russian and Belarusian individuals (17:12).
EU sanctions must be approved by all 27 member states to pass. The latest and 16th package would target Russia’s aluminium exports to the EU, as well as dozens more “shadow” vessels covertly exporting Russian oil below a price cap imposed by western allies. A total of 48 people and 35 entities face asset freezes and travel bans.
Hungary has previously successfully lobbied to remove individuals from the EU sanctions list, such as Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, who is a staunch supporter of Vladimir Putin.
* Updated: Further context and clarification on Hungarian position at 19:00.
Updated
Hungary threatens to veto EU sanctions against Russia
Hungarian foreign minister Peter Szijjártó has threatened to block the extension of EU sanctions against Russia on Monday, as he said “time must be given for US-Russia peace talks,” according to the international spokesperson of the Hungarian government, Zoltán Kovács.
In a social media post, Kovács said that Szijjártó thought Brussels was “rushing decisions that hinder peace efforts.”
The Hungarian government also opposes further aid package for Ukraine, “which aims to strengthen Kyiv’s position in negotiations rather than pushing for peace,” he said, accusing “pro-war European liberals” of sabotaging Trump’s efforts.
We are on cusp of peace in Europe thanks to Trump, US vice-president JD Vance claims
JD Vance also claimed, without offering further evidence or information on the progress of talks with Russia, that thanks to the US administration “we are on the cusp of peace in Europe,” as stated that US president Donald Trump was determined to “bring peace to this endless war.”
I think with president Trump, what makes him such an effective negotiator and I have seen this in private, is that he does not take anything off the table. … Everything is on the table. And of course that makes the heads explode in America because they say, ‘Why are you talking to Russia?’
How are you going to end the war unless you are talking to Russia? You’ve got to talk to everybody involved in the fighting.
He says that Trump “recognises that a lot of these issues are tough, it is going to take a smart statesman to figure this stuff out,” but insisted that “I really believe we are on the cusp of peace in Europe for the first time in three years.”
Updated
JD Vance takes aim at Germany, Europe again as he repeats key themes of Munich speech at US conservative conference
Across the ocean, US vice-president JD Vance has been speaking at the conservative CPAC conference and in the last few minutes he talked about European reactions to his Munich speech.
He received a standing ovation when it was mentioned, and then went on to attack Europe and the US under the previous administration on letting “unvetted foreign migrants into their countries.”
We cannot rebuild the United States of America or Europe by letting millions and millions of unveiled illegal migrants come into our country. It has to stop. Thank God it stopped here, but it has got to stop here. …
He then, once again, took aim at Europe, and Germany in particular, for what he claimed were restrictions on free speech, seemingly linking it with military support for the country.
Obviously, we’re going to continue to have important alliances with Europe, but I really do think the strength of those alliances is going to depend on whether we take our societies in the right direction.
Think about this. Germany’s entire defence is subsidised by the American taxpayer. There are thousands upon thousands of American troops in Germany today. Do you think that the American taxpayer is going to stand for that if you get thrown in jail in Germany for posting a mean tweet?
His comments come just three days before the German federal election.
Repeating the main theme of his Munich speech, he went on to say:
So the point that I try to make to our European friends, and I think that they’re our friends, I believe that, I know President Trump does, is that friendship is based on shared values.
You do not have shared values if you’re jailing people for saying we should close down our border.
You don’t have shared values if you cancel election because you don’t like the result, and that happened in Romania.
You don’t have not have shared values if you’re so afraid of your own people, you silence them and shut them up.
So let’s have shared values. Let’s defend democracy. Let’s have free expression, not just in the United States, but all over the western world, that is the path to strong alliances.
Norway, Britain work on new security pact; offer support for Ukraine and Zelenskyy
Meanwhile, UK and Norwegian defence ministers said today the two countries were working on a new security pact that would cover development of defence capabilities, closer cooperation in the High North, and more exercises and joint training missions.
Britain and Norway said in their statements that the pact would also cover closer intelligence cooperation.
Both ministers took the opportunity to offer strong endorsement for Ukraine.
Norwegian minister Tore O. Sandvik said that “we have to support Ukraine [as] our freedom, Europe’s freedom and security lies now in Ukraine.”
Speaking alongside his Norwegian counterpart, UK’s John Healey said that “we said as two European nations that we will step up further the support we give to Ukraine.”
“Ukraine is still fighting. We must keep them in the fight. We must try and keep them strong to secure that peace for the long term,” he said.
Healey’s also said that he warned that “Russia remains a threat beyond Ukraine, Russia’s aggression is not confined to Ukraine, and we have to meet that challenge and confront that together.”
He said that the UK was “leading some of the detailed discussion about what may be needed” to offer sufficient security guarantees during the peace process, but declined to “give any detail that is going to make president Putin the wiser.”
Healey has also been asked about Trump’s false comments that Ukraine was responsible for the start of the war, and he said clearly that “this war started because Russia invaded the territory of a sovereign state.”
“This war could be ended today if president Putin withdrew his troops from Ukraine,” he added.
He then, in stark contrast to Trump’s words, heaped Ukraine’s Zelenskyy with praise:
In my second day in the job as defence secretary, I flew to Odesa. I spent the afternoon with president Zelensky, and I saw for myself … his commitment to his country. This was a man, after all, who told President Biden, when Putin first invaded, I need ammunition, not a taxi. This was a man who stuck with his country, led his country, and still does.
He then noted Zelenskyy’s decision to delay elections during the war, saying Winston Churchill did the same in the UK during the second world war.
Updated
No press conference after Zelenskyy-Kellogg meeting
The cancellation means we will not hear from either of the two leaders after today’s Ukraine-US talks in Kyiv, at least for now, as they were meant to hold a joint press conference.
Reuters and AP are reporting that it was cancelled at the US request.
US Kellogg cancels press conference after meeting Zelenskyy
in Kyiv
The US envoy Keith Kellogg has cancelled his press conference following a meeting with Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv.
Kellogg would not be taking questions from the press, Ukrainian officials said, and would only appear for a photocall and protocol handshake.
Kellogg’s three-day trip to Kyiv came as Donald Trump accused Zelenskyy of being a “dictator” and blamed him for his country’s war with Russia. Zelenskyy had suggested on Wednesday Trump was living in a Russian “disinformation bubble”.
One senior Ukrainian source described Zelenskyy as engaged and “highly motivated”.
He said it was unclear if Kellogg would take up the president’s invitation to visit the frontline together. Kellogg is due to leave Kyiv on Friday evening.
Asked what Zelenskyy made of the dictator remark one aide smiled and walked off.
Ramp up your defence spend when I tell you or Trump will call you, Rutte tells Nato allies
Nato’s Rutte says that Europe will have an important role to play in bringing the Russian invasion on Ukraine to an end.
“We should continue to strengthen Ukraine’s hands so they can come to the negotiating table from a position of strength,” he says.
He says he continues engaging with countries that do not spend 2% of their budget on defence.
“They all have to do it by next summer. I tell them: if you do not react to my phone calls, you may get phone calls from a very nice man in Washington who might be less ... well, let’s say ... has more of a time limit on what he wants to achieve,” he says.
2% defence spending will not keep us safe, Nato's Rutte warns as he calls for increased funding
Nato secretary general Mark Rutte is speaking in Bratislava after meeting with the Slovak president Peter Pellegrini.
He says that Slovakia hosts one of the alliance’s multi-national groups, which he calls “very impressive.”
“This presence is a vital part of how we collectively deter aggression and defend our Eastern flank,” he says.
“Over the past week, Europe has seen an extraordinary level of engagement by the new US administration … The US has made crystal clear its commitment to a strong Nato. That should not be in doubt,” he stressed.
But “that commitment comes with an expectation that all Nato allies are contributing their fair share,” he says.
He acknowledges that Slovakia pays 2% of GDP on defence, but notes that “growing threats will require greater investment,” he says.
“We know that the 2014 target of 2% will not keep us safe in the years ahead. Allies must invest more,” he insists.
US could adjust sanctions against Russia as part of 'elegant deal' for peace, US Bessent says
The US administration could adjust its sanctions against Russia in response to potential peace talks on Ukraine, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Bloomberg.
Bessent also joined the growing chorus of US voices criticising Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy for his criticism of Donald Trump, saying that “he unfortunately escalated” and “put some daylight” between Ukraine and US, and calling his remarks “inappropriate.”
He revealed that his frustration is to do with the lack of progress on the minerals deal with the US.
“President Zelenskyy, when I met with him, assured me he would be signing the minerals deal in Munich. He has not,” he told Bloomberg Television.
He added that Trump had “a very elegant plan” to “bring the Ukrainians closer to the US” through an economy deal, but it has now turned into “a media circus.”
He threw some light on the US approach to talks, saying:
The sequencing of what was going to happen was: bring the Ukrainians closer to the US through economic ties, convince the American people, the American public, get them onside.
And then tell the Russians, go to the negotiating table with a very fulsome message that if we need to, we will take sanctions up.
He explained that the idea was that “the US with greater economic interests in Ukraine provides a security shield,” he said.
Bessent also turned to discussions on Nato and European defence funding, pointedly praising Poland for its high spending in contrast with other European allies and growth over the last few decades.
When I went to Ukraine, you’re flying to Poland. Poland is spending almost 5% GDP on defence. Look at Poland, sitting next to Ukraine. It is one of the great economic success stories of the past 30 years, after China they have had the fastest growth.
Why couldn’t Ukraine, with some US capital, ingenuity, knowhow, and root[ing] out some corruption, do what as well as their neighbours have done?
Speaking separately about the prospect of the EU dropping some of its tariffs on the US, Bessent said he did not see the proposal, but added:
I think the good thing about president Trump’s negotiating style is that people put things that were not on the table before on the table very quickly.
He declined to comment on the timeline for any Trump-Putin meeting.
… and let’s not forget that US Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg is in Kyiv today, taking part in talks with senior Ukrainian leaders.
Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said in a social media post that he discussed “ways toward a comprehensive, just, and lasting piece” in his conversation with Kellogg today.
“I affirmed Ukraine’s willingness to achieve peace through strength and our vision for the necessary steps. I also reiterated that the security of Ukraine and the transatlantic is indivisible,” he added.
'Tone it down, sign that deal,' Waltz tells Ukraine, but insists differences with US can be reconciled
We have also heard from the current US administration in the last hour as White House national security adviser Mike Waltz spoke to Fox News.
Reuters reported that he said Ukraine should “tone it down, take a hard look and sign that deal” on mineral with the US.
Pushback from Ukraine on the deal and how Trump is carrying out peace talks is simply unacceptable, Waltz said, given everything the United States has done for Ukraine.
But he insisted that these difference of views could be reconciled as “the president also said how much he loves the Ukrainian people.”
Waltz denied that U.S. allies and Ukraine were not being consulted.
“There’s a term for this in diplomacy. It’s called shuttle diplomacy, because bringing everybody to the table at once just hasn’t worked in the past,” he said in comments reported by Reuters.
Polish foreign minister to meet US state secretary Rubio on Friday
Polish foreign minister Radosław Sikorski will meet with US state secretary Marco Rubio on Friday, Poland said.
A spokesperson for the Polish minister told the Polish Press Agency that the pair were expected to meet in Washington DC on Friday.
Later Sikorski will travel to New York where he’s due take part in the UN security council and speak at the UN general assembly next week.
The Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita reported earlier that the meeting was requested by the US side.
Sikorski was among the first European diplomats Rubio spoke with after assuming office last month.
US Kerry rejects Trump's words Ukraine started war, but says 'basic playing field for peace is there'
Former US state secretary John Kerry said “the basic playing field for making peace in Ukraine is there,” as he rejected Donald Trump’s suggestions that Ukraine was responsible for starting the war with Russia and dismissed Russian president Vladimir Putin’s logic for invasion as “lies.”
Speaking at a London conference organised by the consultancy Brand Finance, Kerry, who served as the US state secretary in Barack Obama’s Democratic administration, said this:
Putin individually decided, contrary to what Donald Trump said yesterday or day before, to invade Ukraine. He wants it back. …
He said different motives expressed at different times, that it was Nazis taking over the country, and he had to go in to root out the Nazis. Well, come on, folks. I mean, that lie has been proved. There’s so many lies.
Kerry lamented that “there is no system, unfortunately, by which Putin is accountable to anybody,” with “a total lock” on communication, governance structure in Russia.
“I mean, we saw what happened to [Alexei] Navalny and other, many others, [Boris] Nemtsov, you name it, I mean, there are plenty people who just disappeared,” he said.
“Everybody knows what is going on, so the answer is, yeah, that’s evil,” he said.
But, while criticising US defence secretary Pete Hegseth’s comments at Nato, he insisted that Trump “is trying to find a peace,” even if “it may not be the way that you or I would choose to go about the process.”
He argued that in his view “the basic playing field for making peace in Ukraine is there.”
And why do I say that? Because I think all of the parties need to end the war. And the question is, can you be clever enough, dexterous enough to put together the ingredients, which should be done quietly and privately, not with daily releases on who’s asking for what and doing what?
That’s not the way to affect really good peace diplomacy, because you do have to have a compromise, and you’ve got to have the capacity for that compromise.
And if you close in too much, raising expectations, or getting one group really pissed off because they believe you’re about to give away the store, they’ll come at you, and then that blocks you from doing what you need to do. There is a place of reasonableness in how to resolve Ukraine.
Former Spanish football chief found guilty of sexually assaulting footballer Jenni Hermoso
Spain’s high court has found former Spanish football head Luis Rubiales guilty of sexually assaulting the footballer Jenni Hermoso by kissing her on the lips without consent after the team’s victory in the 2023 World Cup final in Australia.
He was told to pay a fine worth over 10,000 euros and was banned from approaching the player. But the court has acquitted Rubiales of coercion.
Here is our correspondent Sam Jones’s report from Madrid on the court’s decision:
We extensively covered the entire trial, so you can catch up on key arguments here:
Pope Francis health update
Let’s very quickly check on Pope Francis, who is battling double pneumonia at the Gemelli hospital in Rome.
He had a peaceful night in hospital, “got up and had breakfast in his armchair”, the Vatican said this morning.
Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni issued a new update after confirming late Wednesday that new blood tests showed a “slight improvement” in some inflammation indices for the 88-year-old pontiff, who had an acute case of pneumonia in 2023 and is prone to respiratory infections in winter, AP noted.
On Wednesday, the pope briefly met with Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, who said he was “alert and responsive,” as the pair “joked as always.”
Spanish prime minister Sánchez to travel to Kyiv on Monday
Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez will travel to Kyiv on Monday “to reaffirm Spain’s support for Ukrainian democracy and the president” Volodymyr Zelenskyy, he said in a social media post.
He added a hashtag #SlavaUkraini, meaning “Glory to Ukraine”.
European plans with Nato troops in Ukraine unacceptable, Kremlin says
We are now getting first lines from the Kremlin on Russia’s response to media reports about European plans to deploy up to 30,000 troops as peacekeeping forces in Ukraine as part of a broader peace settlement.
The Kremlin has reportedly called them “unacceptable for Moscow,” and “concerning” given they would include a deployment of Nato forces and have ramifications for Russia’s own security, Reuters says.
Russia also criticised Volodymyr Zelenskyy for “inappropriate” comments on the talks, and, similarly to Trump, made claims his approval rating in Ukraine.
Ukraine must not be hindered in its path towards Europe, Germany's Scholz says
German chancellor Olaf Scholz insisted that Ukraine “must be not hindered” in its decision to be “a democratic, sovereign nation on its way into Europe.”
In a radio interview aired on Thursday, just days before the federal election on Sunday, Scholz rejected Donald Trump’s comments that Ukraine was to blame for the war, saying: “It is not. We in Europe insist on this.”
In the case of a future peace settlement, Scholz said Ukraine must have a strong army, “for which we in Europe and our international and transatlantic partners share responsibility,” Reuters reported.
Risk of war highest since 1945, French prime minister warns, as Macron summons political leaders for talks
In France, president Emmanuel Macron is due to meet with party leaders in just over an hour, at 11am Paris time, to discuss “the existential threat” posed by Russia.
This comes on the back of two meetings with European leaders this week and ahead of his trip to Washington DC to meet with Trump, which the US president said could come early next week.
In a late night social media post, Macron said that “France and its partners have a clear and united position. We seek a long-lasting and solid peace in Ukraine.”
“We are convinced of the need to increase our defence and security spending and capabilities for Europe and each of our countries. Decisions will be made in the coming days and weeks,” he said.
If you were in any doubt as to the seriousness of the situation, French prime minister François Bayrou was quoted this morning by the French media as saying that “the risk of war has never been so high since 1945.”
Overnight Ukraine military update
The Ukrainian military said that Russia launched 161 drones and about 14 missiles during an overnight attack.
The missile attack targeted critical infrastructure in the northeastern region of Kharkiv.
Ukrainian energy minister German Galuschenko said that some of the attacks damaged gas production facilities overnight, Reuters reported.
“The purpose of these criminal attacks is to stop the production of gas needed to meet the domestic needs of citizens and central heating,” he said on Facebook.
Zelenskyy calls for 'constructive' talks with US
After exchange of words with Trump, Zelenskyy tried to move the difficult conversation with the US forward ahead of today’s meeting with Kellogg.
In his regular video update on Wednesday night, he said it was “crucial that this discussion and our overall cooperation with the US remains constructive.”
But in a pointed comment, he added:
“Together with America and Europe, peace can be more secure, and that is our goal. But most importantly, this goal must be shared by our partners, not just by us,” he said.
Morning opening: Can Europe trust Trump?
Completely undeterred by public pushback from multiple European leaders, US president Donald Trump repeated his attack on Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy overnight, telling the audience at a Saudi-backed event in Miami that he is a “dictator without elections.”
He also repeated his false claims about the US spending on Ukraine, and warned Zelenskyy “he better move fast or he is not going to have a country left; gotta move, gotta move fast.”
Separately, Trump also attacked Zelenskyy for treating US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent “rather rudely,” because the Ukrainians “wouldn’t sign the document” confirming his proposed minerals deal. (Zelenskyy said he wasn’t prepared to “sell [Ukraine] away.”)
“They are no longer dealing with the same United States as they were dealing a few months ago,” Trump said.
“If you’d told me just three months ago that these were the words of the US president, I would have laughed out loud,” former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev said.
You and me both, Dmitry.
Suppose you are a leader of a central and eastern, Baltic and Nordic European frontline nation. How confident are you that the US would immediately come to the rescue if Russia attacked your territory within the next few hours?
Exactly. That’s the problem.
A new Polish poll published overnight showed remarkable levels of trust in Nato as a whole, with 67% expecting the alliance to intervene if Poland gets attacked by Russia. On the other hands, that’s 17%* thinking it wouldn’t. That is a lot.
Some may decide it is better to be safe than sorry and follow the Danish lead in rapidly increasing defence spending to prepare for what they fear comes next.
Prime minister Mette Frederiksen said the country needed “massive rearmament” to avoid war as she announced Denmark would spend 50bn DKK over the next two years on defence.
The investment brings Denmark’s defence spending up to 3% of GDP in the next two years (up from 2.4% in 2024), the highest level in over half a century.
Should others follow? Will they? Let’s see.
Amid this war of words, US Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg will meet with Zelenskyy in Kyiv today, and we are expecting some lines from that meeting – and more from across Europe. I will bring you the latest.
It’s Thursday, 20 February 2025, and this is Europe live. It’s Jakub Krupa here.
Good morning.
* Update – an earlier version of this post said that 33% of Poles who took part in the poll thought that Nato would not come to intervene if Poland got attacked by Russia; the correct number is 17%; 33% included all don’t knows.
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