Closing summary
… and on that note, it’s a wrap from me, Jakub Krupa, for today.
US envoy Steve Witkoff visits Russia today, where his is expected to meet Russian president Vladimir Putin (14:27). The meeting comes amid growing impatience over Russia’s refusal to agree to a ceasefire and peace talks over Ukraine, with US president Donald Trump saying “Russia has to get moving” (16:10).
Ukrainian defence minister Rustem Umerov warned Russia was ramping up its military production and has shown no will for peace (12:55).
His comments came on the day as western allies mobilised over €21bn in new military aid to Ukraine, including from the UK and Germany.
But German defence minister Boris Pistorius stressed that “given Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine, we must concede peace in Ukraine appears to be out of reach in the immediate future.”
British defence secretary John Healey strongly pushed back on EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas’s apparent criticism that there was a lack of clarity on the Coalition of the Willing’s plans for the reassurance force in Ukraine (9:39), saying the planning was “real, substantial, well advanced,” and the EU was not a part of it (12:59).
On economy front, the EU trade commissioner Maroš Šefčovič will go to Washington on Sunday for further talks with US counterparts on tariffs, a commission spokesperson confirmed (11:52).
And finally, in Greenland, the head of the US military base that was visited by vice-president JD Vance has been fired for criticising Washington’s agenda for the Arctic island (10:35).
And that’s all from me, Jakub Krupa, for today.
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.
'Russia has to get moving,' Trump says
We also got an update from Trump on what he thinks about Russia as his envoy Steve Witkoff is in Moscow for talks with president Vladimir Putin.
Here’s his post on Truth Social:
Russia has to get moving. Too many people ere [sic] DYING, thousands a week, in a terrible and senseless war - A war that should have never happened, and wouldn’t have happened, if I were President!!!
… and if you wondered what president Donald Trump thinks of his tariffs policy, here’s his take, as published on Truth Social just now:
We are doing really well on our TARIFF POLICY. Very exciting for America, and the World!!! It is moving along quickly. DJT
If you want to know what the markets think – the New York Stock Exchange has just opened for trading – our business live blog is here:
Updated
EU will not rip up tech rules for trade deal with Trump, senior official says
The EU will not rip up its tech rules in an attempt to reach a trade deal with Donald Trump, the bloc’s most senior official on digital policy has said.
Henna Virkkunen, the European Commission vice-president responsible for tech sovereignty, indicated the EU was not going to compromise on its digital rulebook to reach an agreement on trade with the US – a key demand of Trump administration officials.
“We are very committed to our rules when it comes to the digital world,” Virkkunen said in an interview with European newspapers, including the Guardian. “We want to make sure that our digital environment in the European Union … that it is fair and it’s safe and it’s also democratic.”
Read in full:
US envoy Witkoff will meet Putin for talks on Ukraine, Russian agencies report
We’re just getting new lines from the Kremlin, confirming that US president Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff who landed in Moscow a few hours ago will meet Russian president Vladimir Putin.
In reports carried by Reuters from Russian agencies, Ria and Interfax, the Kremlin is also quoted as saying the pair will talk about Ukraine and “may discuss Putin’s meeting with Trump”.
But also a caveat that “Witkoff’s visit to Russia cannot be called momentous, no breakthroughs should be expected.”
Updated
Spanish PM offers condolences after family of five killed in New York helicopter crash
Elsewhere, Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, has offered his condolences to friends and relatives of a Spanish family who died in New York on Thursday after their sightseeing helicopter crashed in the Hudson River, killing all onboard including the pilot.
It emerged on Friday that the victims were Agustín Escobar, his wife, Mercè Camprubí, and their three children, who were 11, five and four. The identity of the pilot has not yet been made public.
The sightseeing helicopter broke apart in midair and crashed upside down into the Hudson between Manhattan and the New Jersey waterfront shortly after 3pm local time, leading to a huge response from emergency crews.
Umerov gets asked about Witkoff’s trip to Russia, but sidesteps the question, as he says he only just heard about it, and he hopes to hear from US counterparts on this later.
And that concludes the press conference.
Pistorius gets also asked if Germany could provide more Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine, but he says that is not an option at that moment as it is waiting on deliveries of these systems itself.
Asked about it, Germany’s Pistorius plays down the significance of US defence secretary Pete Hegseth’s participation via a video call, and not in person.
He says “it is a matter of schedules,” as Hegseth only returned to the US from other grips, and said that some other ministers were not physically here for the same reason.
“The most important fact was that he took part,” he said.
He says:
“And in the near future, in the weeks to come, we will see what’s going to happen with the US participation, with the US support.
I am not able to … look in the crystal ball. We wait and see. …
We take on more responsibility as Europeans and Nato as Europeans, together with UK.”
Ukraine’s Umerov supports him speaking along the same lines.
EU not part of planning for Coalition of Willing, UK defence secretary says
UK defence secretary John Healey strongly pushed back on EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas’s apparent criticism that there was a lack of clarity on the Coalition of the Willing’s plans for the reassurance force in Ukraine (9:39).
Asked about it, he says:
Our planning is indeed for the Coalition of the Willing, [it is] real, substantial, well advanced. The European Union is not part of that planning.
Russia shows no will for peace, Ukraine's Umerov says
Ukrainian defence minister Rustem Umerov says he informed other ministers that “Russia is ramping up its production … and does not show any evidence [it is] willing to have peace.”
He thanks allied countries for their continuing help, stressing the particularly urgent need for more air defence systems.
Over €21bn in new military aid to Ukraine committed today, UK defence secretary says
UK defence secretary John Healey says today’s discussions led to over €21bn in fresh military aid commitments from allied countries, “a record boost in military funding for Ukraine.”
He adds the UK also continues its support, with the total of £4.5bn to be spent on military support for Ukraine this year.
Healey joins Pistorius in calling out Putin’s continuing aggression:
Today is one month to the day in which Russia rejected president Trump’s peace settlement.
Putin said he wanted peace, but he rejected a full ceasefire.
Putin said he wanted peace, but he continues to drag his feet and delay negotiations.
Putin said he wanted peace, but his forces continue to fire on Ukraine, military and civilian targets alike.
Peace in Ukraine 'out of reach in immediate future,' Germany's Pistorius says
Speaking about the current situation, German defence ministers Pistorius – who is expected to retain his job in the next coalition government – says that:
“Given Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine, we must concede peace in Ukraine appears to be out of reach in the immediate future.”
He adds:
“We will ensure that Ukraine continues to benefit from our joint military support. Russia needs to understand that Ukraine is able to go on fighting, and we will support it.”
Russia 'still not interested in peace,' German defence minister says
Germany’s Pistorius condemns Russia for “continuing its attacks against Ukraine,” as he says Moscow “is still not yet interested in peace.”
“Ukraine needs a strong military, and only then can the negotiation process lead to a just and lasting peace,” he says.
Press conference after ministerial meeting on Ukraine under way
German, British and Ukrainian defence ministers are giving a press conference after today’s meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group now.
I will bring you they key lines here.
Updated
'Difficult to assess' US tariffs's impact, EU wants a 'mutually acceptable outcome', EU economy commissioner says
Separately, speaking at a press conference in Warsaw, EU economy commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis spoke about the US tariffs, saying that:
The nature of these rapidly moving developments make it difficult to assess their impact on the EU’s economic outlook.
But what is clear and what also ministers in today’s meeting agreed on is that the impact of the tariffs, it will be the US itself that will be first and most hit by the tariffs.
He said that early model simulations indicated the US GDP would be reduced by 0.8 to 1.4% until 2027, with the EU’s growth hit much lower, at 0.2%.
“These model simulations do not account for additional loss of investor and business confidence in the US economy, which could further the negative GDP impact,” he added.
He said:
“So let me make it clear, Europe did not start this confrontation, and Europe does not want this confrontation.
Tariffs go against the political and economic logic of deep and longstanding transatlantic trading partnership, … so from commission side, will continue to closely monitor financial developments in a days and weeks ahead.
We’re ready to negotiate a mutually acceptable outcome while defending our economic interests so there is no need to continue to hurt the US own and our economy.”
US envoy Witkoff met with Russia's international envoy Dmitriev
We’re getting an update on US envoy Steve Witkoff’s visit to Moscow, with TASS news agency reporting he met with Vladimir Putin’s international cooperation envoy Kirill Dmitriev.
I will bring you more on their conversation if and when we have it.
EU trade commissioner Šefčovič to go to Washington on Sunday
EU trade commissioner Maroš Šefčovič will go to Washington on Sunday, a commission spokesperson told the Irish broadcaster RTÉ.
Olof Gill told RTÉ radio:
The trade commissioner is gong to Washington to try and sign deals. That is what we are focused on.
Updated
Ukraine's Umerov thanks Germany, UK for further military aid packages
Ukrainian defence minister Rustem Umerov has offered an update on talks and commitments made in Brussels, as he posted about Germany’s declaration it would offer €11bn in further military help to Ukraine up to 2029.
He said:
The deliveries from in 2025 will help us defend our skies (IRIS-T systems with missiles, PATRIOT missiles) and strengthen our positions on the battlefield (Marders, Leopards, artillery systems). Thank you, Germany, for standing by our side. Together, we will ensure a just and lasting peace in Europe.
Umerov also commented on the UK plans, thanking for £450m in new aid package, with Britain offering £350m and Norway “contributing further funding.”
He said it would pay for “repairs and maintenance to vehicles and equipment as well as radar systems, anti-tank mines, and hundreds of thousands of drones.”
Head of US base in Greenland fired after Vance visit
Meanwhile in Greenland, the head of the US military base that was visited by vice-president JD Vance has been fired for criticising Washington’s agenda for the Arctic island, AFP reported.
Colonel Susannah Meyers, who had served as commander of the Pituffik Space Base since July, was removed amid reports she distanced herself and the base from Vance’s criticism of Denmark and its oversight of the territory during his visit to the base two weeks ago.
“Commanders are expected to adhere to the highest standards of conduct, especially as it relates to remaining nonpartisan in the performance of their duties,” the US Space Force said in a statement late Thursday.
AFP noted the statement did not expand further, but US website Military.com said Meyers sent a March 31 email to all personnel at Pituffik “seemingly aimed at generating unity among the airmen and guardians, as well as the Canadians, Danes and Greenlanders who work there, following Vance’s appearance.”
In her email, relayed to Military.com, Meyers wrote: “I do not presume to understand current politics, but what I do know is the concerns of the US administration discussed by vice-president Vance on Friday are not reflective of Pituffik Space Base.”
US envoy Witkoff arrives in Russia, Russian media say
US president Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff has arrived in Russia, the RIA state news agency reported on Friday, citing the Kremlin.
Reuters reported that Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he would announce any meeting that Vladimir Putin held with Witkoff if time for such an encounter arose in the Russian leader’s schedule, according to Interfax.
China raises tariffs on US goods after Xi's meeting with Sanchez
In the last few minutes, China has announced additional tariffs on US goods, raising them to 125%, according to Reuters.
The move comes just hours after China’s president Xi Jinping urged the European Union on Friday to join hands with Beijing in resisting “unilateral bullying” from Donald Trump.
At talks with Spain’s prime minister Pedro Sánchez on Friday, state media quoted Xi as saying that China and the EU should simply team up on the issue, AFP reported.
This, he stressed, would not only “safeguard their own legitimate rights and interests, but also... safeguard international fairness and justice.”
Sanchez, in turn, said “we must not let trade tensions stand in the way of the potential growth of the relationship between China and Spain and between China and the EU”.
AFP also reported that China said it would “ignore” further tariff hikes by the United States because US goods would no longer make economic sense for importers, as it slapped fresh levies of 125 percent on its largest trading partner.
State media also reported China would file a lawsuit with the World Trade Organization over Washington’s fresh tariffs.
Updated
No clarity on what is needed for reassurance force for Ukraine, EU's Kallas says
Ooof. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas was just asked if she got the clarity she wanted yesterday on what any reassurance force in Ukraine would involve.
Her answer is brutally clear:
No.
Asked to elaborate, she added:
Different member states, like I said, have different opinions, and the discussions are still ongoing.
She also appeared to diplomatically urge the US administration to push Russia a bit more, saying:
“We are already four weeks into the time when Ukraine agreed to unconditional ceasefire, and we haven’t seen any positive signs on the Russian side.
So we really need to put the pressure on Russia, and I think it’s the credibility of all the ones who said that we need the killing to stop.”
Dutch defence minister Ruben Brekelmans also drew on his personal experience of a recent visit to Ukraine.
He insisted that “if you want to make sure that Ukraine gets a better position at negotiation table, it’s important to support them at the battlefield,” as he called for more support for Kyiv.
He particularly stressed the importance of providing Ukraine with further measures to protect itself from air strikes, which are “more intense than ever.”
Asked about US’s Hegseth only joining through a video call, he played it down, saying “what we have seen so far is that the support of the United States that has been promised is now delivered, and I think that is very important.”
He also succinctly described what is the need for the US to be involved in any potential future reassurance force:
You can have different types of missions with a different risk profile.
And in general, I could say … the higher the risk of consultation, the more important it is that the United States is closely involved. If there is a lower risk profile, then it’s relatively less important.
Estonian defence minister raises concerns about US-Russia deal ahead of 9 May, calls for increased aid for Ukraine
Estonian defence minister Hanno Pevkur told reporters that “it is a sunny morning here in Brussels, but definitely not so sunny in Ukraine at the moment,” as he urged partners to step up their military and financial help for the country.
“I just came back two days ago from Kyiv so I know very well how the situation is,” he said, adding that there are opportunities to increase military assistance quickly if countries act decisively.
Pevkur also hinted that Russia could try to secure a more comprehensive deal with the US in the build up to the Russian Victory Day on 9 May. “Exactly this is why we need to speed up the deliveries as quickly as we can,” he said.
Asked about why he expected movement here, he explained:
I’m reading the signs. … Putin has always been [keen on important] dates.
Take the 24 February [the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine]. 23 February is the day of Russian Army. For the Kremlin, always, dates are very important.
So this is why I believe that also 9 May, which is for us, the day of Europe, for Russia is the day of ending the Second World War, they will strive probably towards this to get some kind of deal, some kind of ceasefire or whatever.
Will it happen, I don’t know, it’s up to Ukrainians and then of course, together with the United States who are at the moment behind the table.
He broadly backed the idea of a reassurance force in Ukraine, but stressed this must not come at the expense of the security of Nato’s eastern flank, particularly in the context of expected major military exercises by Russia in the autumn.
“We need to see that, you know, that we will not fall into any kind of trap,” he said.
He also said the reassurance force would not be a peacekeeping mission under the UN Charter Article 7, but asked for patience so military planners can work out the details.
Germany's Pistorius suggests new military aid packages for Ukraine
In his opening remarks as he arrived at Nato’s headquarters in Brussels, Germany’s Boris Pistorius – expected to stay in position under the new coalition government – spoke also about new aid for Ukraine.
Germany would provide another four IRIS-T surface-to-air defence systems with missiles, and another 30 missiles for Patriot systems. He also said the leaders would “talk about” Ukraine’s request to produce missiles on licence, locally.
He was also asked about the developing plans for a reassurance force which could involve European troops in Ukraine, but he said he “would rather not discuss issues like that in the marketplaces of the world,” and stay “smart and ambitious.”
“We will find a way to go where we have to go, but up [until] then, we should rather discuss that internally than publicly,” he said.
US envoy Witkoff travelling to Russia to meet Putin - media reports
US special envoy Steve Witkoff travelled to Russia and is expected to meet president Vladimir Putin on Friday, Axios reported, citing a source familiar with the trip and FlightRadar data.
It would be the third meeting between the two, usually linked with significant developments in US-Russia relations and talks on Ukraine.
The development comes a day after a US-Russia prisoner exchange deal which included the release of dual US-Russian citizen Ksenia Karelina, but also amid reports about US president Donald Trump’s growing frustration with Russia’s refusal to abide by the terms of the ceasefire.
Let’s see what happens here.
Morning opening: Focus on Ukraine
Given the avalanche of tariff news all week, the world briefly lost focus on the situation in Ukraine and the continuing Russian aggression.
But this should change today, as representatives of some 50 nations gather in Brussels for a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group to hear what’s the situation on the ground, what is needed, and how they can help.
Contrary to earlier reports, US defence secretary Pete Hegseth will also take part – although only via a video link. German defence minister Boris Pistorius, a new co-chair of the group, said it was a US decision, and insisted it was “not his business” to comment on what signal it sends.
Ministers are arriving now, and I will bring you all the key comments in the blog.
Separately, finance ministers meet in Warsaw for a chat on tariffs, which will be followed by a separate chat on defence funding tomorrow. I will keep an eye on developments there, too.
Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez also met with China’s Xi this morning, with some lines on how they want to work closer. Given the trade-focus of this week, this feels significant.
It’s Friday, 11 April 2025, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
