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Macron: 'The only imperialistic power I see in Europe right now is Russia'
Here is more detail on what Macron said.
The French president hit back at Russia, after the Kremlin warned him not to threaten it with nuclear rhetoric. He drew comparisons with Napoleon’s failed conquest of Russia.
In a solemn address on Wednesday, Macron had warned the French nation that Russia was rearming quickly on the back of its invasion of Ukraine and could attack more countries if it was not firmly deterred, including with the French nuclear umbrella.
“I know President Putin well. If he’s reacting like that, it’s because he knows what I said is true,” Macron told reporters at the EU summit in Brussels on Thursday.
“He’s making a historical error: Napoleon waged conquests. The only imperialistic power I see in Europe right now is Russia,” he said, responding to a question posed by a Russian journalist in exile in France.
Macron said he knew Putin could betray his word, because he had done just that when it did not respect the Minsk agreements signed with France, Germany and Ukraine after the invasion of Crimea in 2014.
He also said the reactions in Moscow on Thursday were probably so vociferous because Russia’s intentions to continue waging war with Europe eventually, if a rushed peace treaty in Ukraine is signed, had been uncovered.
“He was probably piqued by the fact we’re exposing his game,” Macron said.
Responding to a question on Trump’s comments questioning whether France would come to the US’s rescue if it was attacked, Macron said France and other European countries had joined US troops in fighting in Afghanistan after 9/11.
“Not only the French, but the Europeans were there when we were called for Afghanistan. And by the way, they weren’t politely warned when (the US left Afghanistan),” Macron said.
“We are loyal and faithful allies.”
Macron also said he had been approached by other leaders all day during the summit in about his offer to extend French nuclear deterrence to the rest of Europe and hopes to see cooperation by the end of the first half of 2025, after technical talks with other leaders.
He has invited other EU leaders to a meeting of European army leaders in Paris on Tuesday, he said.
Updated
US preparing to shut down consulates in Europe
The US state department is preparing to shut down a number of consulates that are mainly in western Europe in the coming months and looking to reduce its workforce globally, multiple US officials said on Thursday.
The state department is also looking into potentially merging a number of its expert bureaus at its headquarters in Washington that are working in areas such as human rights, refugees, global criminal justice, women’s issues and efforts to counter human trafficking, the officials said.
Reuters reported last month that US missions around the world had been asked to look into reducing US and locally employed staff by at least 10% as Donald Trump and his billionaire aide Elon Musk have unleashed an unprecedented cost-cutting effort across the US federal workforce.
Sánchez: Spain will raise defence spending to reach Nato target faster
Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez said his country would raise defence spending to reach Nato’s target faster than previously committed. The eurozone’s fourth-largest economy, Spain ranked last in the 32-nation military alliance last year for the share of GDP that it contributed to the military, estimated at 1.28%.
Nato members pledged in 2014 to spend at least 2% of GDP on defense, a target that 23 countries were expected to meet last year amid concerns about the war in Ukraine. Spain previously said it would reach the target by 2029.
“We all have to make an effort and an expedited effort with respect to what we had previously set for the year 2029,” Sánchez told reporters.
Summary
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said she presented a plan to EU leaders that could mobilise up to €800bn to beef up the defences of EU nations. The first part of the plan would activate the national escape clause of the stability and growth pact, which would allow member states to invest in defence spending “immediately” and “substantially”, she said. The second proposal would be a new financial instrument that would provide €150bn in loans to accelerate joint procurement of European defences, she said. The third point would be a voluntary one, to direct more funds towards defence-related investments, she said.
European Council president Antonio Costa said of the new financial plan, “Today marks a defining moment for Europe, for the security of Europeans.” He said EU leaders are moving “decisively” towards a “strong and more sovereign” European defence. The European Council has taken “concrete” decisions to provide new resources, tools and instruments for Europe’s defence capabilities, Costa said. “That means to invest in our economy and to protect our citizens.”
Donald Trump said the US will not defend Nato allies who don’t spend enough on their own defence. “I think it’s common sense,” the US president told reporters in the Oval Office. “If they don’t pay, I’m not going to defend them.” Trump added Nato countries “should be paying more”. “It’s really not enough,” he said.
French president Emmanuel Macron said he had been approached by other leaders all day during an EU summit in Brussels about his offer to extend French nuclear deterrence and hopes to see cooperation by the end of the first half of 2025. He also hit back at Russian reactions to his calling Moscow an existential threat to Europe, saying the Kremlin had clearly been triggered by the fact their game had been uncovered. Macron added that Vladimir Putin is an revisionist imperialist and France will talk to the Russian president when the time is right.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had a “productive” day meeting EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday. In an update posted to social media, Zelenskyy said he had “good” meetings with the presidents of the European Council and European Commission, António Costa and Ursula von der Leyen, Nato secretary general Mark Rutte as well as the leaders of France, Belgium and Austria.
Britain’s foreign secretary, John Healey, said he was “fixed” on the opportunity Donald Trump has created to secure peace in Ukraine. Healey, who is in Washington to meet his US counterpart, Pete Hegseth, said: “The president has asked Europe to step up, and we are. The UK is ready to take on a leadership in that task.”
Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, said he is planning to travel to Saudi Arabia to speak to Ukrainian delegations about a ceasefire with Russia and a “framework” on a longer agreement.
Ukraine’s opposition leaders have confirmed they have held discussions with members of Donald Trump’s entourage, but denied on Thursday they were part of a reported White House plot to remove Volodymyr Zelenskyy from power. The former president Petro Poroshenko said he had held talks with US representatives but added that he opposed Trump’s demands for wartime elections. Poroshenko, who lost to Zelenskyy in the 2019 presidential vote, said a poll should only be held once martial law.
Britain will continue to supply intelligence to Ukraine, though the more limited capabilities on offer from London and other European countries will make it difficult to replace the flow halted from the US earlier this week. The UK will also continue to supply its analysis of the raw data, sources said on Thursday, though in line with normal intelligence practice it will not simply pass on US information obtained via long-established sharing arrangements between the two countries.
Updated
Macron said that France was a “loyal and steadfast ally” in Nato after Trump questioned whether alliance members would come to the United States’ defence.
“We have always been there for each other,” Macron said. He added that France had shown “respect and friendship” to the United States, and “we are entitled to ask for the same thing”.
Key event
Updated
Macron calls Russia an 'imperialistic power' in post-summit remarks
French president Emmanuel Macron held a separate press briefing at the end of the EU summit.
He told reporters he had been approached by other leaders all day during the summit in Brussels about his offer to extend French nuclear deterrence and hopes to see cooperation by the end of the first half of 2025.
He also hit back at Russian reactions to his calling Moscow an existential threat to Europe, saying the Kremlin had clearly been triggered by the fact their game had been uncovered.
“I know President Putin well. If he’s reacting like that, it’s because he knows what I said is true,” Macron told reporters at the EU summit in Brussels.
“He’s making a historical error: Napoleon waged conquests. The only imperialistic power I see in Europe right now is Russia,” he said, responding to a question posed by a Russian journalist in exile in France.
This post was edited to clarify Macron’s remarks.
Updated
The press conference in Brussels has now concluded.
Von Der Leyen said the new plan enables member states through joint procurement to procure necessary military capabilities to support Ukraine, now with the backing of the multi-billion euro package.
Updated
Von Der Leyen added that if Donald Trump wants peace through strength, that is only possible with the support of the EU.
The leaders were asked about article 122 being invoked to accelerate the treaty on Ukraine.
Von der Leyen and Costa both said they were happy with the treaty being used because of the urgency, and the speed and the emergency situation.
Updated
Antonio Costa said there was huge pressure on member states to increase defence spending and that was why the new plan was welcomed by leaders.
Updated
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said she and other EU leaders met with Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier today to speak about how to achieve a “just and lasting” peace.
“Our support for Ukraine’s armed forces has never been more urgent,” she said.
We will work very closely with Ukraine and the defence industry to ensure that Ukraine’s military needs are met.
Ursula von der Leyen said “we are making sure the energy system survives” in Ukraine during the winter, providing 1.8 gigabytes of energy.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said she presented a plan to EU leaders that could mobilise up to €800bn to beef up the defences of EU nations.
The first part of the plan would activate the national escape clause of the stability and growth pact, which would allow member states to invest in defence spending “immediately” and “substantially”, she said.
The second proposal would be a new financial instrument that would provide €150bn in loans to accelerate joint procurement of European defences, she said.
The third point would be a voluntary one, to direct more funds towards defence-related investments, she said.
EU commission chief says Europe will scale up defence at scale and speed amid 'clear and present danger'
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said Europe is facing a “clear and present danger” and that she presented a plan on Thursday to EU leaders in which they take on more responsibility for its security.
“Today, history is being written,” she told reporters in Brussels.
We are coming out of this European Council very determined to ensure Europe’s security and to act with the scale, the speed and the resolve that this situation demands. We are determined to invest more, to invest better and to invest faster.
The urgency is “real”, she said.
Updated
European Council president Antonio Costa said European leaders have reflected the “lessons learned from the war in Ukraine” and will invest in priority areas.
“We are putting our money where our mouth is,” Costa said at the news conference in Brussels.
A stronger European defence also provides deterrence for Ukraine. Our efforts to strengthen European defence will also benefit Ukraine, because Ukraine security is at the core of Europe’s security.
He said European leaders are preparing to support Ukraine when it decides to engage in negotiations to “help it reach a positive outcome”.
Updated
European council president says EU to spend more on defence
European Council president Antonio Costa is holding a joint news conference with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen following an emergency summit of EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday.
“Today marks a defining moment for Europe, for the security of Europeans,” Costa said.
He said that EU leaders are moving “decisively” towards a “strong and more sovereign” European defence.
The European Council has taken “concrete” decisions to provide new resources, tools and instruments for Europe’s defence capabilities, he said. “That means to invest in our economy and to protect our citizens.”
Updated
Russian forces launched a new mass drone attack on Ukraine’s Black Sea port of Odesa, its regional governor Oleh Kiper said.
The attack damaged energy infrastructure and triggering fires, Reuters reports, citing the governor.
“Information about the victims is being clarified,” he added.
The Russian ambassador to the UK ruled out the prospect of Nato peacekeepers on the ground in Ukraine.
Andrei Kelin, in an interview with Sky News, said the proposal made by the UK and French leaders was “senseless” and “not for reality”.
He also dismissed Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s proposal of a temporary ceasefire as a “crazy idea”.
“We will never accept it and they perfectly are aware of that,” Kelin said.
We will only accept the final version, when we are going to sign it. Until then things are very shaky.
Russia’s ambassador to the UK, Andrei Kelin, said he was “not surprised” that Donald Trump has changed the US’s position on the Ukraine war and accused the UK, France and other European countries of not wanting to end the conflict.
Russia has told the US that its territorial advances in Ukraine “should be recognised” as part of any peace deal, Kelin told Sky News.
The territorial situation should be recognised. These territories have been included in our constitution and we will continue to push that all forces of the Ukrainian government will leave these territories.
Asked if he thought Trump would agree to give occupied Ukrainian land to Russia, Kelin said:
I don’t think we have discussed it seriously. [From] what I have read, the Americans actually understand the reality.
Trump warns US will not defend Nato members that 'don't pay'
Donald Trump said the US will not defend Nato allies who don’t spend enough on their own defence.
“I think it’s common sense,” the US president told reporters in the Oval Office.
If they don’t pay, I’m not going to defend them.
Trump went on to say that Nato countries “should be paying more”. “It’s really not enough,” he said.
Updated
Britain will continue to supply intelligence to Ukraine, though the more limited capabilities on offer from London and other European countries will make it difficult to replace the flow halted from the US earlier this week.
The UK will also continue to supply its analysis of the raw data, sources said on Thursday, though in line with normal intelligence practice it will not simply pass on US information obtained via long-established sharing arrangements between the two countries. A former Whitehall insider said":
They are not as far reaching as US capabilities, not at the same scale and not able to take their place.
But they will allow Ukraine to maintain some early warning from attack and a degree of deep strike capability into Russia.
Reconnaissance data collected from satellites, ground stations, surveillance aircraft such as Rivet Joint, and even covertly deployed ground forces is accumulated and shared with Ukraine in conjunction with open source material to enable damaging deep missile and drone strikes into Russia.
As we reported earlier, France also said publicly that it would continue to provide intelligence to Ukraine. Sébastien Lecornu, the country’s armed forces minister, said that while the US decision would have a “significant operational impact” Paris would continue to help with its “sovereign intelligence”.
European leaders holding emergency talks in Brussels have agreed on a massive increase to defence spending, amid a drive to shore up support for Ukraine after Donald Trump halted US military aid and intelligence sharing.
But the show of unity was marred by Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orbán, failing to endorse an EU statement on Ukraine pushing back against Trump’s Russia-friendly negotiating stance.
The 26 other EU leaders, including Orbán’s ally Robert Fico, the Slovakian prime minister, “firmly supported” the statement.
“There can be no negotiations on Ukraine without Ukraine,” said the draft statement, a response to Trump’s attempt to sideline Europe and Kyiv.
EU leaders agree to new defence spending plans
EU leaders have agreed to back new defence spending plans after holding emergency talks in Brussels on Thursday.
The 27 EU leaders approved to adopt conclusions on European defence, including that Europe “must become more sovereign, more responsible for its own defence and better equipped to act and deal autonomously with immediate and future challenges and threats”.
It said the EU will “accelerate the mobilisation of the necessary instruments and financing in order to bolster the security of the European Union and the protection of our citizens.”
European Parliament president Roberta Metsola said earlier on Thursday that it was “about damn time” for European leaders to “say that we are ready to put finally our money where our mouth is on Ukraine.”
Speaking ahead of a meeting of EU leaders in the wake of the US’s signalling that it will withdraw aid for Ukraine, Metsola said:
This is something that we have been asking for a long time: that the European Union, that Europe is capable of standing up on its own two feet.
That’s why we’ve been saying we need to scale up. We need to be prepared. We need to produce and we need to protect.
That is essentially what our citizens are asking from us.
Zelenskyy says his team will meet US officials in Saudi Arabia next week
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had a “productive” day meeting EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday.
In an update posted to social media, Zelenskyy said he had “good” meetings with the presidents of the European Council and European Commission, António Costa and Ursula von der Leyen, Nato secretary general Mark Rutte as well as the leaders of France, Belgium and Austria.
“I’m grateful for the support from all the leaders,” he said.
He said he presented to EU leaders a vision that “swift progress toward peace is possible” and Kyiv and the EU are preparing “practical proposals” to stop the war, guarantee security in Ukraine, and ensure a just and lasting peace.
Zelenskyy said the first priority would be a ceasefire in the sky and at sea, including the halting of all military operations in the Black Sea.
We consider these initial steps as a prologue to a broader and comprehensive settlement. The war must end as soon as possible, and Ukraine is ready to work 24/7 with our partners in the United States and Europe for peace.
Zelenskyy said he plans to visit Saudi Arabia on Monday for a meeting with crown prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud. “After that, my team will stay in Saudi Arabia to work with our American partners,” he said.
Ukraine is most interested in peace. As we told @POTUS, Ukraine is working and will continue to work constructively for a swift and reliable peace.
Updated
'Trump asked Europe to step up, and we are': UK defence secretary meets US counterpart
Britain’s foreign secretary, John Healey, said he was “fixed” on the opportunity Donald Trump has created to secure peace in Ukraine.
Healey, who is in Washington to meet his US counterpart, Pete Hegseth, said:
The president has asked Europe to step up, and we are. The UK is ready to take on a leadership in that task.
You saw that from Keir Starmer at the weekend, in the way that he is pulling the parties together, ensuring that we take Ukraine with us and that we work closely alongside the United States.
Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff said he hoped that the US will “get things back on track” with Ukrainians after Washington stopped sharing intelligence with Kyiv on Wednesday.
Witkoff told reporters that Trump has said that there is a “path back” and that Volodymyr Zelenskyy has “demonstrated that he’s intent on that good faith path back.”
Zelenskyy said that he wants to work towards peace. That’s ultimately the goal.
US special envoy Steve Witkoff said Donald Trump was pleased by a letter sent by Volodymyr Zelenskyy that said he appreciates Washington’s support and that he is ready to negotiate a peace deal with Russia.
Trump, in a speech to Congress on Tuesday, said Zelenskyy had told him that Ukraine would accept a critical minerals agreement with the US to facilitate a peace deal with Russia as soon as possible.
Witkoff, speaking to reporters on Thursday, said:
He felt that Zelenskyy’s letter was a very positive first step. There was an apology. There was an acknowledgement that the United States has done so much for the country of Ukraine, and a sense of gratitude.
Asked if Ukraine would sign the deal during talks in Saudi Arabia, Witkoff replied:
I think Zelenskyy has offered to sign it, and we’ll see if he follows through.
Trump envoy says he plans to meet with Ukraine over peace 'framework' in Saudi Arabia
Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, said he is planning to travel to Saudi Arabia to speak to Ukrainian delegations about a ceasefire with Russia and a “framework” on a longer agreement.
“We’re now in discussions to coordinate a meeting with the Ukrainians in Riyadh, or even potentially Jeddah,” Witkoff told reporters on Thursday, adding:
The idea is to get down a framework for a peace agreement and an initial ceasefire as well.
Delegations from the US and Ukraine are expected to meet in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Tuesday, Agence-France-Press reports, citing a senior Ukrainian official.
The Ukrainian delegation will be led by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, the official said. Defence minister Rustem Umerov may also be part of the Ukrainian delegation.
Separately, Reuters cites Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, as saying that he was coordinating a meeting with the Ukrainians in Saudi Arabia.
Updated
Summary of the day so far
It’s just past 7.30pm in Brussels, 8.30pm in Kyiv, 9.30pm in Moscow. Here’s a recap of the latest developments:
EU leaders are holding emergency talks in Brussels on Thursday on ways to massively increase defence spending, after Donald Trump halted US military aid and intelligence sharing. EU leaders are expected to largely endorse European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen’s €800bn (£670bn) plan to increase European defence spending. The show of unity could be spoiled by Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orbán.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who met with the EU’s 27 leaders on Thursday, said Kyiv was “very thankful that we are not alone.” He appeared to back a truce between Russian and Ukrainian forces in the air and at sea, but said any such truce could only be seen as a first step towards comprehensive agreement on ending the war and providing security guarantees to Ukraine. He also called on Russia to the release of all prisoners of war as a means of establishing “basic trust”.
Zelenskyy said he hoped for a “meaningful meeting” with the US next week. The meeting will reportedly take place on Tuesday. Zelenskyy again stressed the the need to adhere to the principle of no talks on Ukraine without Ukraine.
The US special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, blamed Zelenskyy for Washington’s decision to cut aid and intelligence to Kyiv. Ukrainians “brought it on themselves”, Kellog said on Thursday, claiming that cutting aid was meant to be a short-sharp shock, “sort of like hitting a mule with a two-by-four across the nose.”
Ukraine’s opposition leaders confirmed they have held discussions with members of Trump’s entourage. Former president Petro Poroshenko and former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko denied they were part of a reported White House plot to remove Zelenskyy from power. Under Ukraine’s constitution, elections are suspended while martial law is in force.
Norway will more than double its aid to Ukraine in 2025 to bring the annual total to 85 billion Norwegian kroner (over €7.2bn), prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre announced. “The Norwegian aid will help Ukraine oppose Russia and (reinforce) the peace plan on which the European countries are working,” he said.
A European air force of 120 fighter jets could be deployed to secure the skies from Russian attacks on Kyiv and western Ukraine without necessarily provoking a wider conflict with Moscow, according to a plan drawn up by military experts.
Ukraine opposition leaders confirm talks with US but deny plot to oust Zelenskyy
Ukraine’s opposition leaders have confirmed they have held discussions with members of Donald Trump’s entourage, but denied on Thursday they were part of a reported White House plot to remove Volodymyr Zelenskyy from power.
Former president Petro Poroshenko said he had held talks with US representatives but added that he opposed Trump’s demands for wartime elections. Poroshenko – who lost to Zelenskyy in the 2019 presidential vote – said a poll should only be held once martial law ends.
Yulia Tymoshenko – Ukraine’s former prime minister – said she also opposed elections while fighting continues. She said her team was “talking with all our allies who can help in securing a just peace as soon as possible”.
The online newspaper Politico reported that the secret discussions took place as part of an attempt by the White House to remove Zelenskyy from his post. Four senior members of Trump’s team were involved, it said, adding they believed Ukraine’s president would lose a vote.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Thursday he had discussed with French counterpart Emmanuel Macron a meeting of the military representatives of countries interested in coalition to support Ukraine.
“We discussed the upcoming meeting on March 11 ... We coordinated our positions and next steps,” he said on X, adding that there is “a clear shared vision” that it is possible to achieve lasting peace through cooperation with the United States.
Here is a graph that demonstrates the amount of nuclear weapons each nation has at its disposal.
As you can see, Russia and the United States are well ahead of the rest of the world.
Fox News’ senior White House correspondent is reporting that the meeting between Ukraine and the US is due to take place on Tuesday next week.
Jacqui Heinrich posted on X: “Rubio, Witkoff, Waltz headed to Riyadh on Tuesday to meet with Ukrainians, including Yermak.”
As talks in Brussels continue, it’s worth remembering that we are expecting to hear from EU leaders too, once they are done. When is that going to happen? That’s anyone’s guess.
So, that’s all from me, Jakub Krupa, for today, but don’t go anywhere:
I’m leaving you with Tom Ambrose who will bring you the lines coming out from Brussels and all other key updates from across Europe.
Zelenskyy's update after EU talks - in full
Here is Zelenskyy’s social media update in full:
Everyone must ensure that Russia, the sole source of this war, accepts the need to end it. This can be proved by two forms of silence: no attacks on energy and other civilian infrastructure – a truce for missiles, bombs, long-range drones; no military operations in the Black Sea.
The next step is basic trust in the circumstances in which the negotiations are taking place. Ukrainians, all Europeans, Americans, every human heart in the world that does not agree with the war – we all need to feel that the Russians are not deceiving us. The release of prisoners could serve as a means of establishing basic trust.
This should be based on the understanding that any truce or trust-building measures can only serve as a prologue to a full and fair settlement, to a comprehensive agreement on security guarantees and the end of the war.
Ukrainians truly want peace, but not at the cost of giving up Ukraine. The real question for any negotiations is whether Russia is capable of giving up the war. Be sure that Ukraine will share all the details of peace plans and the talks process with all of Europe. Every European nation that helps must be on board on the path to peace.
I urge you to continue supporting the position that any issues related to Ukraine’s security should be resolved with Ukraine’s participation, just as any issues related to the security of your nations or Europe as a whole should be resolved with your participation.
Only this can guarantee peace on the continent and respect for the interests of all European states. That is why we are trying to ensure that European interests are represented. Anything that affects the security of Europe should be resolved with the participation of Europe.
Every day and every night, we must protect lives. Russian ballistic missiles continue to strike our cities. Shelling at the front continues, and Russian sabotage groups are still trying to enter our territory across the border in Sumy and Kharkiv regions.
Moscow is not reducing its investment in death, increasing its army, and making no pauses in trying to overcome sanctions. Russia now has 220 brigades with war experience, and in five years, they will bring this number to 300. We must respond to this by taking care of lives now, tomorrow, and in the future.
I welcome the European Commission’s efforts to rearm Europe. The ReArm Europe Plan is the right initiative. The defense funds under this European Plan should strengthen all parts of Europe, and I call for a significant part to be allocated to arms production in Ukraine – our industrial capabilities are the fastest and most relevant to the current security threats.
I welcome the efforts of my European colleagues to increase national defense spending and modernize national armies. Everyone in Europe needs this. When we agree on the format of the Armed Forces of Europe, this format will rely on the strength of national armies and on the experience of deploying partner contingents in Ukraine, which is what we are working on now.
I welcome the investments of all partners in the defense industry, both in Ukraine and in your countries. The industrial base of Europe must grow. Europe should become the place where the most technologically advanced and effective weapons in the world are produced. This is not a fantasy if Europeans really set themselves this goal.
I’m grateful for the 16th EU sanctions package, and we must continue applying this pressure. We need a 17th sanctions package. These sanctions must remain in place until Russia stops the occupation. I am aware that a special European financial instrument for Ukraine’s resilience is being developed—I urge you to expedite this process.
In these circumstances, it is needed to speed up the work of our teams in the negotiations on Ukraine’s membership in the EU. Currently, the work on the clusters is blocked without any rational reason. We need common sense, we need to unblock the work on clusters, and this can be done at the leadership level.
I am grateful for all the support, and Ukrainians really appreciate that in a time of such great emotions in global politics, European integrity is preserved and Europe is truly trying to do the right thing. Meanwhile, Ukrainian and American teams have resumed work, and we hope that next week we will have a meaningful meeting.
Ukraine has been seeking peace since the very first moment of the war, and we have always stated that the war continues solely because of Russia. Ukraine is not only ready to take the necessary steps for peace, but we are also proposing those steps. I ask for the support of Ukraine and the European leaders who are helping to pave the way for peace. This is what I addressed to the European Council.
Ukraine hopes for 'meaningful meeting' with US next week, Zelenskyy says
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has just posted a lengthy update on his diplomatic talks today on the margins of the EU summit in Brussels, in which he revealed he hoped to have “a meaningful meeting” with the US next week as the two sides continue to work on next steps for Ukraine.
He also:
appeared to back Emmanuel Macron’s proposed limited truce in air and sea as a first step towards a peace deal with Russia
urged Russia to agree to a deal on releasing prisoners “as a means of establishing basic trust” for future peace negotiations
said “Ukrainians truly want peace, but not at the cost of giving up Ukraine,” asking if “Russia is capable of giving up the war.”
warned against continuing attacks from Russia, including ballistic missiles and sabotage groups “trying to enter our territory” in Sumy and Kharkiv.
welcomed the European Commission’s plans to rearm Europe, calling it “the right initiative,” and urging them to allocate some funds to arms production in Ukraine
praised efforts to invest in European defence industries, saying the continent “should become the place where the most technologically advanced and effective weapons in the world are produced.”
backed EU sanctions against Russia and urged leaders to “expedite the process” of developing a special European financial instrument for Ukraine’s resilience
asked the European Commission to “unblock” the work on Ukraine’s accession to the European Union
thanked Europeans for continued support for Ukraine
Norway more than doubles its planned Ukraine aid for 2025
Norwegian prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre and finance minister, and former Nato secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg succeeded in convincing leaders of other parliamentary parties to agree to a dramatic increase of Ukraine aid for 2025, more than doubling the previously budgeted amount.
Under new plans, Norway will spend 85 billion Norwegian kroner (over €7.2bn) on supporting Ukraine this year, up from 35 billion (€3bn).
“We are increasing support because there is a need for it, and it is a solid contribution to peace and stability in Europe,” Støre told reporters.
He added that he received “a detailed overview” of Ukraine’s needs during his earlier conversations with Zelenskyy.
Slovakia won round by new wording on gas transit dispute, but Hungary remains opposed
Brussels correspondent
Slovakia is expected to support the EU summit text in support of Ukraine, but Hungary is still refusing to sign up, a move that is likely to deepen its isolation.
The EU’s most senior diplomats met on Thursday morning to finetune the language of the final summit text, ahead of the ongoing summit.
Slovakia has been won round, after securing a mention of its gas transit dispute with Ukraine in the text. EU leaders are to call on Slovakia and Ukraine to find “workable solutions to the gas transit issue, including through its resumption,” according to the latest draft text.
Ukraine shut down a pipeline that had been supplying Russian natural gas to Slovakia for decades on 1 January when a transit agreement expired, triggering threats by Slovakia’s prime minister Robert Fico to cut financial support for Ukrainian refugees.
Hungary is not so easily solved.
Viktor Orbán wants the EU to copy Trump’s diplomacy and insists that the UN resolution drafted by the US that makes no criticism of Moscow – and was supported by Russia and Belarus – makes all previous EU declarations redundant.
EU sources suggested it was unlikely EU leaders would be up in the small hours trying to talk Orbán around. As an alternative European Council President António Costa could issue conclusions backed by the other 26 member states, rather than formal council conclusions.
Earlier today I tried to explain the views of Slovakia and Hungary, the two countries indicating their scepticism about the new European strategy set to be endorsed at today’s European Council, so let’s get the latest on that…
Continuing the theme of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy meeting European leaders in Brussels, here are the latest pictures – this time, from his visit at the Royal Palace, where he was hosted by Belgium’s King Philippe, shortly after leaving the EU summit.
Poland's Duda calls for increase spending to fend Putin off attacking Nato, backs US minerals deal proposal for Ukraine
In the meantime, Nato secretary general Mark Rutte welcomed Polish president Andrzej Duda to Brussels.
Rutte praised Poland for “lead by example when it comes to investing in defence, with 4.7% defence expenditure pledged for this year.”
Duda picked up this theme, formally suggesting that all Nato countries should raise defence spending to at least 3% of GDP immediately, effective from the alliance’s upcoming summit in The Hague in late June.
“The situation is such that we cannot wait until 2030,” he added.
Duda, who recently met with US president Donald Trump on the sidelines of the CPAC conference in the US, warned against the “revival of the Russian imperialism.”
“That risk is real, particularly … on the eastern flank … One is 100% certain: if the entire Nato does not increase its defence spending, then unfortunately, Putin may want to attack again, because there is not enough deterrence,” he said.
But hitting very similar tones to Kellogg’s, he urged Ukraine’s Zelenskyy to return to the negotiating table with the US and sign the minerals deal.
“If they reach a deal, Ukraine will become a place of strategic importance for the US, because of the minerals sourced from Ukraine for the US,” he said.
“These are very difficult, spectacularly fierce negotiations, but I deeply believe that we are still in talks, and this is the fundamental issue,” he said.
Kellogg's comments on Ukraine - video
If you read Kellogg’s comments on Ukraine below, but actually prefer to watch him say this over my write up, here are the highlights, courtesy of our fantastic video team:
Proposals on seizing frozen Russian assets divide EU countries
The issue of what to do with frozen assets, mentioned earlier by Kellogg, appears to be something that divides European allies.
Poland’s Donald Tusk said publicly on the weekend that there was “no unity” on seizing Russian assets in the west, as even as all leaders agreed it was a good idea in theory, some countries “feared the consequences either for the euro or the banking system”.
“Poland is very strongly pressing for this, but, let’s be real, as we are not in the eurozone, our voice in this discussion will not be decisive,” he said.
Belgian prime minister Bart de Wever picked up this theme today, addressing this issue on his arrival for today’s European Council, and presenting the other side of the argument.
He said he “advocated great caution when it comes to those frozen assets.
“At the moment, that is actually a chicken that also lays golden eggs. Those windfall profits are going to Ukraine. As long as that can stay that way, I think, that’s fine,” he said.
But he pushed back on calls for seizing these assets, saying that “countries that are already calling for the confiscation of those funds, they should be well aware of the economic risks they are taking, who will ultimately be the injured party of that kind of operation and the legal risks involved.”
“That is something that can really shock the world financial order. You should not take that lightly,” he said.
US intelligence pause needed to make Ukrainians realise we are serious, Kellogg says
US Ukraine envoy Kellogg was also further challenged about the impact of the US decision to stop sharing intelligence with Ukraine, acknowledging the impact, but saying “it was one of the reasons why it was done” for the Ukrainian government to realise how serious the US administration was about ending the war.
The best way I can describe it is sort of like hitting a mule with a two by four across the nose. You get their attention.
…
I made it very clear when I was in Kyiv, the potential for this [and] it was almost like, ‘Well, OK, we hear you.’ Well, no, we’re serious. We’re deeply serious about this.
We let them know that this President is very serious about it and we’re going to end this war. And this is one way to make sure you understand we’re serious about it.
So is it hard? Of course it is, but … it is not like they didn’t know this was coming. They got fair warning that was coming. I told them, and they were told last week as well.
…
They have an ability with the assets they’ve got to continue to prosecute the fight, to do it, but… let’s be obviously, let’s be clear about it. …
If you take away support like that, of course it, it’s important, we know that. But that’s one of the reasons why it was done.
And I think as a result of that, they realise we’re serious and they need to get serious about it as well. …
That 50 minutes in the Oval Office was entirely preventable.
President Trump was very magnanimous in that for the first 30 minutes, I’d ask you to go back and look at the tape, not once, but two or three times, and everything he did. And then it went … south real quick.
Kellogg also offered his reasoning on why Ukraine should seriously consider signing the minerals deal with US a priority.
We tried to get across President Zelensky and his team: look, when you get involved economically with somebody, I don’t care if it’s setting a McDonald’s hamburger franchises or the precious metals, you invest yourselves, diplomatically, militarily, economically in the future of this country.
And that’s what we’re trying to get across.
This is something that is a big deal for us, because President Trump is a transactional leader and transactional starts with economics.
And so we thought this [would be] a good start for Ukraine.
Security guarantees go beyond military troops, Kellogg says
Discussing his understanding of any potential security guarantees for Ukraine, Kellogg offered this explanation:
Well, I think when you look at it, there’s a tendency to default to kinetics. When you talk about a security guarantee, that means 50,000 or 100,000 or 80,000 troops right on the border, right on the line of contact.
It is more complete than that.
I think you have to look at it when you talk about security guarantees. It’s not only the kinetic piece, the military piece, which is clearly important, but it’s also the economic piece, the sanctions.
What do you do with the frozen Russian assets? There’s 300 billions in Belgium right now. What are you going to use those with them? Primarily, that’s oligarchs money.
– Do you want to seize it?
I think… President Putin needs to understand those … can be seized, as long as the Europeans are willing to do it.
He also said one example could be tougher enforcement of existing sanctions, including on so-called “shadow fleet,” “that would really make everybody understand, stand up and say, OK, they’re serious about this, [and] bring them to the table.”
He also said that part of discussions with Europeans was about what they meant asking for US “backstop” for any European help for Ukraine.
No way forward until mineral deal gets signed, Kellogg suggests
Kellogg also defended Trump’s decision to pause aid and intelligence, saying he made it clear “it was not over, it is a pause.”
Look, my experience working with [Trump] is. It’s sort of like, if all of you get a contract. When you sign a contract for a car, for a house. Before you go forward, you have a signed contract. …
The reason he [Zelenskyy] came to the White House was to sign a document that was going to say, this is us going forward. It’s not signed.
My point would be, and my personal belief be, you don’t move forward until you get a signed document, period.
… He had an option to do that when I was in Ukraine, they didn’t do it; they had the option to do it last week, and didn’t do it.
I wouldn’t do anything …
When it was put to him that Zelenskyy has now repeatedly offered to sign the deal, he retorted:
There is a difference between offering to do it and doing it.
Sign the document.
…
Once you signed the document, you want to go forward, that you’re serious about it, then I think you can move forward.
I think we’ve seen too many, you know, starts and misses as we go forward on this, I think that’s part of the issue is, how serious are you to get to peace discussions?
He said that “some people misread the room” with Trump, but he declined it “personal” at this stage.
Kellogg was asked if Ukraine gets aid, intelligence back on once it signs the deal.
That is up to the president of the US. I am not the president. I didn’t get a single electoral college vote. It’s up to the president. …
I would never, ever speak for the president. It is going to be his call.
Ukrainians 'brought it on themselves' with Oval Office stand off, Kellogg says
Speaking at the same event, Kellogg disclosed some of the behind-the-scenes preparation before Ukrainian president Zelenskyy’s now infamous visit to the Oval Office last week which led to the cutting of US intelligence.
This is one of those, very candidly, … they brought it on themselves, the Ukrainians.
I’ll kind of give you the background, a little bit of it.
We talked with President Zelensky before that meeting, there were 13 US senators … we said, okay, this is like stage managing. This is what you want to say. It’s basically going to [go like that:] come in, we have a precious metals deal, you’re going to sign the deal, you’re going to have lunch, have a press conference, exit, stage right, and you’re good to go.
What happened? [It] became a very combative conference that went on for almost, what, 50 minutes, that caught everybody by surprise…
And I think what happened is they said, Wait a second, this is not what we thought this was going to be. You don’t negotiate peace discussions in public. You don’t try to challenge the President of the United States in the Oval Office. In fact, you need to side with me and not the Russians.
And he was forewarned. It’s not like President Zelenskyy was not made aware that this is what we wanted out of the Ukrainians to basically go here, set the next stage. It opens up, it goes forward.
So I don’t blame the President of the United States at all.
Updated
US aid, intelligence pause meant to push Ukraine to negotiations, Kellogg says
US Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg is speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations event in Washington just now.
He was just asked about Donald Trump’s decision to suspend aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, and what was required of Ukraine to get them back.
Here is what he said:
I believe the push is to get them to engage in diplomatic activities … [to get] for lack of a better their term sheet, to get this to the table and say, this is an approach to going forward.
We know that both sides are going to have disagreements and agreements as well.
…
So, more of anything, it’s a forcing function to get to the realisation that we wanted to go to a peace discussion, a peace deal.
Trump's US 'destroying' world order already questioned by Russia, former Ukrainian commander-in-chief warns
Former Ukrainian commander-in-chief, who now serves as the country’s ambassador to the UK, Valerii Zaluzhnyi spoke earlier today at a conference organised by the international affairs thinktank, Chatham House.
In unusually blunt remarks, he said the US under Donald Trump was “destroying” the world order, long questioned by Russia and other actors.
“The failure to qualify actions of Russia as an aggression is a huge challenge for the entire world, and Europe in particular, because we see that it’s not just the axis of evil and Russia trying to revise the world order, but the US is finally destroying this order,” he said.
He also said he was concerned by with “a number of talks between the US and Russia – Russia being headed by a war criminal – we see that the White House makes steps towards the Kremlin, trying to meet them halfway,” potentially opening up the risk of further Russian aggression in Europe.
“It’s obvious that the White House has questioned the unity of the whole western world, and now Washington is trying to delegate the security issues to Europe without participation of the US. So we can say that in the near future, Nato … can stop existing,” he said.
“In the backdrop of the Nato’s inability or unpreparedness to stand up to this axis of evil, the position of Ukraine becomes very important. Ukraine does not have its own nuclear weapons, it pays for its freedom with its blood,” he said.
But he stressed that Europeans should realise that “Ukraine is de facto defending not just the eastern border of Nato, but definitely the eastern border of Europe, which can become a confrontation line” in near future.
“The existence of independent Ukraine today is indeed one of the critical factors for you, for the European security and safety,” he said.
Speaking on his preferred scenario to end the war, he said “Ukraine should get very realistic security guarantees, and it can and should hope for the full recovery of Ukraine at the expense of the aggressor state that attacked Ukraine.”
Greek government under pressure over handling of deadly Tempe train crash
in Athens
Over in Greece the government continues to face immense pressure over its handling of the country’s deadliest ever train crash, which left 57 mostly young Greeks dead and scores injured two years ago.
With MPs debating a vote of no confidence in the centre right administration of Kyriakos Mitsotakis – filed by four leftwing opposition parties on Wednesday – protests are also continuing with thousands once again amassing in front of the parliament last night, before clashes erupted, amid mounting demands for the prime minister’s resignation.
Indicative of the tensions spurred by the 28 February 2023 crash in the valley of Tempe between a Thessaloniki-bound passenger train and a cargo train heading south, were the slogans protesters elected to chant: “We are the voices of all the dead, the crime in Tempe will not be covered up” and “State–murderer, rotten society, it was not an accident, it was murder.”
Inside the parliament the rhetoric was just as fiery as Mitsotakis accused the political opposition of “weaponising” the tragedy. “Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the government are dangerous,” fumed the Syriza party leader Sokratis Famellos. “You must listen to the universal demand of society and resign immediately. You are delegitimized.”
A GPO poll also released yesterday – and the first to be conducted since hundreds of thousands took to the streets on the second anniversary of the crash in the biggest demonstrations to be held in Greece in decades – showed 71.9% of respondents believed the government was involved “in a cover-up of responsibilities.”
Equally worrying for Mitsotakis was the growing demand for early elections – 52.5% told pollsters that elections should be held before the government’s term expires in 2027. Despite the vast majority also believing that opposition parties were exploiting the disaster the survey also reported a surge in support for anti-systemic parties on the left and right.
“There is a growing sense that this government is not telling the truth, that it has to go because it is dangerous,” said Panos Natsis, a hospital nurse who had joined last night’s protests. “This is not only about the train crash now but day by day is becoming a much bigger crisis because everything in Greece is sub-standard and people are simply tired. “
More protests are planned tomorrow ahead of the no confidence motion being voted. “The government will win the vote because it controls parliament but it can’t control what goes on outside,” said Natsis.
Updated
Zelenskyy meets Macron on sidelines of EU summit
Belgian prime minister Bart De Wever is not the only EU leader who separately met with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the EU summit.
Turns out French president Emmanuel Macron also sat down with the Ukrainian leader to go through the latest ideas and plans for Ukraine as they continue working on a proposal that could satisfy the US administration under Donald Trump and help achieve a just and lasting peace that European leaders call for.
Merz's plans for German emergency defence, infrastructure spending face hurdles - snap analysis
Berlin correspondent
Even as there appears to be growing domestic consensus over the plans of Germany’s chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz to massively boost spending on defence and infrastructure with a multi-billion Euro fund and relaxing Germany’s notorious debt brake, he faces considerable hurdles.
Merz will seek to push the legislation through the existing parliament this month, where his conservative alliance and the SPD, prospective coalition partners in the new government, still have the necessary two-thirds majority required, along with the Greens.
This is because under the new parliamentary constellation, a third of the seats will belong to the left and right-wing fringes, Die Linke and the AfD, whose support is either nigh-on impossible or far from guaranteed.
The far-right AfD have said they are looking into the legality of what Merz is attempting.
The far-left Die Linke has not excluded voting for the plans. Its co-leader, Jan van Aken said this morning it would consider doing so “under certain conditions”.
On the one hand the party is in favour of more money for Germany’s ailing infrastructure by relaxing the rules of Germany’s debt brake, but it is against the “incredibly high level of military build up” being proposed, he said.
The huge challenge Merz has set himself in trying to shoehorn the legislation into this tight time frame includes still having to win over the Greens to the plan. The party is due to go into opposition and some members are smarting at the brazen way in which they have been dealt with by the conservatives, who have often been disdainful towards them including ridiculing and blaming them for Germany’s current economic woes.
Britta Haßelmann, the party’s parliamentary leader has said it is far from certain whether Merz can rely on the Greens’ support for his multi-billion euro financial package, referring today to the “very complicated intervention in the Basic Law” that he is planning.
“How we vote is completely open, because there are still many questions in the room,” she said.
Noticeably missing so far from the cut and thrust of the debate, or it seems, even wanting to be seen to actively rally their party colleagues, are the Greens’ leading figureheads, and stalwart supporters of Ukraine, Annalena Baerbock and Robert Habeck, the current foreign and economics ministers respectively, both of whom have announced they are to step down from frontline politics.
As an indication as to how tight Merz’s timeline is: Germany’s new parliament is set to convene on 25 March.
The two special sessions of the existing Bundestag at which he hopes to get the required support for his deal are to take place on 13 and 18 March.
All smiles at UK-Ireland summit; Martin now off to Brussels
UK prime minister Keir Starmer has described the first annual British-Irish summit as “a really successful” meeting “where a huge amount of progress was made”.
His Irish counterpart Micheál Martin is now on his way to Brussels to join the EU emergency council meeting.
Hungary's Orbán says European nations, not EU, need to strengthen defence
Let’s hear more from Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán as his team just posted an update on his meetings in Paris, where he was before today’s summit and where he spoke with three political heavy-hitters: Emmanuel Macron, far-right leader Marine Le Pen, and former president Nicolas Sarkozy.
In a social media post, Orbán said:
My meetings in France confirmed that while we may disagree on the modalities of peace, we do agree that we must strengthen the defence capabilities of European nations, & these efforts should empower member states rather than Brussels bureaucrats.
He hailed “exceptionally close” cooperation with France, and said he expected French companies to be a “significant investor” in Hungary.
But, in a pointed endorsement, he also posted a picture with Le Pen, saying:
After meeting with both the former and current Presidents of France, it was a pleasure to meet with the future President. Thank you for the insightful discussion @MLP_officiel!
Updated
Ukrainian protest at US Embassy in Kyiv - in pictures
Protesters rallied outside the US embassy in Kyiv on Thursday to bring attention to the fate of Ukrainian prisoners of war and ensure their inclusion in any deal to stop the conflict with Russia.
The US had been Ukraine’s biggest backer until president Donald Trump initiated a complete shift in his country’s foreign policy and halted US support to Ukraine, Reuters noted.
Portugal faces government crisis with confidence vote next week
Madrid correspondent
Portugal is bracing for its third snap general election in four years after the country’s cabinet approved a motion of confidence called by the centre-right prime minister, Luis Montenegro, who is facing growing questions over his family’s business dealings.
Montenegro, who took office last year and heads a minority government, is likely to lose the vote – which is expected to be held next Tuesday, according to the state broadcaster, RTP – as the opposition socialist and the far-right Chega party have said they will not lend him their support.
That would trigger the collapse of Montenegro’s government and is likely to lead the president, Marcelo Rebelos de Sousa, to dissolve parliament and call a fresh election in May.
The current crisis has been prompted by allegations that a consultancy firm owned by the prime minister’s family has benefited from contracts with several private companies that rely on government concessions.
Montenegro, who has denied any conflict of interest, saw off a censure vote on Wednesday, but said the country needed “political clarification”.
“Having an early election would be a necessary evil ... to end the atmosphere of permanent insinuations and intrigues,” he told MPs.
Montenegro’s party has said he would lead it in any new election.
The main opposition Socialists and far-right party Chega, which together have 128 seats in the 230-seat house, said they would reject a motion of confidence.
Since the restoration of democracy in 1974, only one out of 11 such motions has been rejected by parliament, in 1977.
(with Reuters and AFP)
UK PM hails 'new era' in relations with Ireland, 'turning page' on turbulent Brexit years
UK prime minister Keir Starmer has said a “new era” is opening in Anglo-Irish relations after years of toxicity caused by Brexit as he opened a summit between the British and Irish governments in Liverpool.
He said the need for a strong relationship between the UK and Ireland “has never been greater” and in the current turbulent times there were “huge benefits” to friendship between the two countries.
The prime minister said he wanted to focus on three themes during the meeting: the UK and Ireland working together to achieve economic growth, domestic security, and the transition to net zero.
Today’s summit really marks a new era in the relationship between the UK and Ireland. I think we’ve reset our relationship, turned a page on the turbulent years if I may say in recent years.
As we sit here today, I think we would all agree that the world is more uncertain and unstable than it has been for a very long time and there are huge benefits to strengthening our friendship and working together on geopolitical challenges.
In turn the taoiseach Micheál Martin praised Starmer for taking on a new leadership role in Europe as the transatlantic relationship with the US ruptures under Donald Trump who in the last two days has paused military support and intelligence to Ukraine.
“You have borne the centre of gravity and stability to that situation which I think is appreciated, and I want you to know that,” Martin said addressing Starmer at the beginning of the summit.
Updated
As the leaders are now talking behind the closed doors, let’s quickly catch up on events elsewhere.
Belgium continues to support Ukraine, prime minister assures Zelenskyy
Before coming to the EU summit, Zelenskyy was welcomed in Brussels by the Belgian prime minister Bart De Wever, who reassured him in a bilateral meeting that Ukraine “can count on our continued support.”
He added that Belgium would not accept any decisions about Ukraine’s future made without Ukrainian leaders.
“Russia is the aggressor, Ukraine is the victim. We must never lose sight of that,” he said.
Ukrainian opposition leaders reject US suggestions of wartime election
Ukrainian opposition leaders have dismissed the idea of holding a wartime election, after a media report of contacts between them and US officials and in the wake of President Donald Trump calling his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy a “dictator” for not holding one, Reuters reports.
Former Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko said on Thursday his team was working with US “partners” to maintain support for Ukraine – but he added that he was opposed to a wartime election.
In a written statement published on Telegram, Poroshenko said elections should only happen after peace had been established. He added that a vote should take place no later than 180 days after the end of the war.
Yuliia Tymoshenko, another opposition leader, said her team “is talking with all our allies who can help in securing a just peace as soon as possible,” and said that elections should not take place before this had been achieved.
Politico reported on Wednesday that four senior members of Trump’s entourage had held discussions with some of Zelenskiy’s top political opponents.
The talks were held with Tymoshenko and senior members of the party of Poroshenko, who was president from 2014 to 2019, Politico reported, citing three Ukrainian lawmakers and a U.S. Republican foreign policy expert.
The discussions focused on whether Ukraine could have quick presidential elections, according to the report.
What is behind Hungary and Slovakia's opposition for further Ukraine help
Since concerns about Hungary and Slovakia keep coming up, let’s spend a second looking at why the two countries oppose further support for Ukraine.
Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán said earlier this week that “continuing the war in Ukraine is bad, dangerous, and a mistake,” insisting that Ukraine should instead agree to take part in US-led peace talks with Russia at the earliest opportunity.
Last week he wrote to European Council president António Costa that there were “strategic differences in our approach to Ukraine that cannot be bridged”.
In turn, Robert Fico – who faces major protests in the country over his increasingly pro-Russian position in foreign policy – told reporters that he would oppose increase in defence spending, and said he wanted a mention of reopening Russian gas transit through Ukraine – a major route of energy for Slovakia which Kyiv stopped this year – as part of summit conclusions, according to reports by SITA and Sme.
Repeating unfounded allegations of widespread corruption in Ukraine, he said he was not prepared to support sending more money to Kyiv “as half of it would get stolen.”
“Of course that Zelenskyy is interested in keeping the war going, because he does not have a mandate, and knows well that he would not be re-elected as president,” he said.
He insisted that Ukraine should agree to an immediate ceasefire and not demand it to be a part of a broader peace arrangement.
Fico also said that Slovak representatives would not take part in next week’s Paris meeting, organised by president Macron, as he does not want Slovakia to be a part of any talks on expanding the French nuclear deterrent.
No dictated peace for Ukraine, Germany's Scholz says, as he welcomes German defence spending plans
German outgoing chancellor Olaf Scholz says today’s meeting is about ensuring continued support for Ukraine, but also pointedly stresses the importance of maintaining good relations with the US.
Scholz also acknowledges plans put forward by the presumed future chancellor Friedrich Merz to boost its defence spending, “including by changing the constitution,” and he says there appears to be a growing domestic consensus on this issue.
He says the EU needs to change its rules along similar lines to ensure it can meet the challenge, but keeping an eye on “long-term solutions.”
Asked about Macron’s proposals on nuclear deterrence, he says that Europe should not give up on the US involvement. His long-standing criticism on this point relates to fears that any extension of the French programme would allow the US to disengage with European security further.
Scholz also once again rejects the idea of common European defence bonds.
Asked about any peace talks, he says “it is very important that we ensure that Ukraine does not have to accept a dictated peace, but that we have a fair, just peace that guarantees Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence.”
Day when everything changes for Europe's determination to face Russian challenge, Poland's Tusk says
Polish prime minister Donald Tusk says “it is a day when everything can change and probably will change, when it comes to Europe’s determination when it comes to rearming [Europe] and the defence industry and our readiness to face this Russian challenge to the world.”
“Europe as a whole is truly capable of winning any military, financial, economic confrontation with Russia - we are simply stronger,” he says.
He compares the situation to the cold war, saying he is confident “Russia will lose this arm race, just like the Soviet Union did 40 years ago.”
He says the French proposal on nuclear deterrence is “worth considering,” and should form a part of a wider move to coordinate European defence efforts.
We need to move to strengthen defence even if one, two countries disagree, Luxembourg's PM says
Luxembourg’s prime minister Luc Frieden told reporters that more European defence was needed and today’s Council should take decisions even if some countries disagree with what is being proposed.
“We need more European defence and if one or two countries do not want to share that view, I think that the others should go ahead as much as they can. And that is what I am advocating for,” he said.
'About damn time,' European Parliament president Metsola says
European Parliament president Roberta Metsola said it was “about damn time” for European leaders to “say that we are ready to put finally our money where our mouth is on Ukraine.”
This is something that we have been asking for a long time: that the European Union, that Europe is capable of standing up on its own two feet.
That’s why we’ve been saying we need to scale up. We need to be prepared. We need to produce and we need to protect.
That is essentially what our citizens are asking from us.
'It's great we are not alone,' Zelenskyy says as he arrives at EU summit
On his arrival, Zelenskyy thanks European leaders for their “strong support” which he says he has seen “from the very beginning of the war and … during all this period and last week, you stay[ed] with us.”
We are very thankful that we are not alone.
And these are not just words. We feel it.
It’s very important you [sent] a strong signal to Ukrainian people, to Ukrainian warriors, to civilians, to all our families.
And it’s great that we are not alone.
Updated
Ukraine's Zelenskyy arrives at EU summit
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy is here, flanked by European Council president António Costa and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen on his arrival.
Costa says European leaders need to “make decisions and deliver” on their promises as they face the seriousness of the situation.
“We are here to support Ukraine to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace,” he says.
Turning to Zelenskyy, he pointedly says “we are with you, we will continue with you now and in the future,” as he says he sees Ukraine as a “future member state.”
Von der Leyen says it is “a watershed” moment for Europe and Ukraine as the continent “faces a clear and present danger.”
She goes through the details of the EU’s plan to rearm Europe.
Updated
EU summit arrivals - live stream
You can watch leaders’ arrivals with us here:
We need swift actions to help Ukraine secure peace through strength, Latvia's Siliņa says
Latvian prime minister Evika Siliņa says she hopes for “swift actions and really clear decisions” at today’s summit, so the bloc can focus on “boosting up our military industry.”
She says Ukraine needs to secure peace “through strength, but without strength … there will be no lasting peace,” as Russia would only use this opportunity to “rearm and after some years, … step again to some other countries.”
She also gets asked about Macron’s proposals, saying that no decisions have been made on this, “probably to have some discussions in our country as well, because it is something new … so it is really too soon to give some real answers to that question.”
Updated
We need to rearm Europe and do not have lot of time, Denmark's Frederiksen says
Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen says that “the most important thing now is to rearm Europe.”
“I do not think we have a lot of time. So [we need to] rearm Europe: spend, spend, spend on defence and deterrence,” she says.
Asked about Macron’s proposal on nuclear deterrence, she says “we have to discuss everything now so all good ideas around the table have to be a part of our discussion.”
Updated
Ukraine is buying time for us with their blood, we need to act, Lithuanian president says
Lithuanian president Gitanas Nausėda is one of the first European leaders to stop and chat with journalists on the way into today’s European Council.
He says “there is no need to explain … how important this meeting is,” with “Ukraine buying the precious time for us every day, paying with their blood.”
“It would be highly irresponsible to waste this time and to have long hours discussions without the clear outcome,” he says.
He calls for “flexible” approach to defence spending in fiscal deficit rules, and more support for Ukraine.
Nausėda also pointedly says the EU needs to strenghten the Eastern flank to help it protect critical infrastructure from acts of sabotage, hybrid aggression, and other forms of undermining the border countries.
Asked about Macron’s idea of expanding the French nuclear umbrella would serve “as a really, very serious deterrence towards Russia.”
The Lithuanian president also said the EU needs to take decisions today regardless of potential opposition from Hungary or Slovakia, “because otherwise history will penalise us.”
“It’s lasting too long, our inability to take decisions. And now it’s the time [to act],” he said.
Updated
Russia accused France of wanting war to continue after Macron's 'extremely confrontational' comments
The Kremlin has offered its comments on last night’s address by the French president, Emmanuel Macron, in the last few minutes, saying that his words were “extremely confrontational.”
“The feeling is that France wants the war to continue,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claimed.
He also said Russian president Vladimir Putin agreed with US state secretary Marco Rubio’s view that the invasion of Ukraine was “a proxy war” between the US, helping Ukraine, and Russia, which “needs to come to an end.”
“We can and want to agree with it, and we agree with it. That’s the way it is. We have said this repeatedly. We have said that this is actually a conflict between Russia and the collective West. And the main country of the collective West is the United States of America,” Peskov said of Rubio’s remarks.
“So it is absolutely in line with the position that our president and foreign minister have repeatedly expressed. We have said this repeatedly, and yes, we agree that it is time to stop this conflict and this war,” he added.
Separately, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said that Macron’s comments on expanding the protection of France’s nuclear arsenal to other European countries posed a threat to Russia.
“If he considers us a threat, convenes a meeting of the chiefs of general staff of European countries and Britain, says it is necessary to use nuclear weapons, prepares to use nuclear weapons against Russia, this is, of course, a threat,” Lavrov was quoted by state news agency RIA as saying.
Lavrov also said that any presence of European peacekeeping forces in Ukraine would be seen as the official involvement of Nato forces in the war and Russia would “not allow this to happen.”
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Irish taoiseach Micheál Martin has said he won’t be asking Keir Starmer for tips on how to handle Donald Trump when he meets him in Washington next week.
“I won’t be seeking advice,” he told reporters in Liverpool reiterating his view that it is his job to work with people of all political hues.
“In respect of any other meetings I have this week or next week in the US and elsewhere, people come to the table with different perspectives.”
Ireland, Britain to work on facilitating closer trade ties despite Brexit
The Irish prime minister Micheál Martin has said he will do “anything” to facilitate greater trade ties between the UK and Ireland and the rest of the EU including a reduction of barriers caused by Brexit where possible.
He was speaking after a meeting with the British prime minister Keir Starmer on the way into a summit between the two countries in Liverpool this morning.
It’s an extremely important relationship for Ireland and when the UK economy does well, the Irish economy does well.
So as far as we are concerned this is a joint effort and endeavour and in that context, as I’ve said to the Prime Minister, anything we can do to facilitate greater harmony and access to the EU markets the better in terms of goods and services.
Or, to put it another way, reduce barriers if that’s possible.
Starmer said the “reset” of relations with Ireland and the rest of the EU was the “obvious and right thing to do” but stressed he remains opposed to rejoining the customs union and the single market.
The two met business leaders at a breakfast meeting this morning with Ireland announcing £185m new investments in the UK including a mushroom factory whose business selling into UK supermarkets was disrupted by Brexit.
UK-Irish summit gets under way in Liverpool
UK prime minister Keir Starmer and Irish prime minister Micheál Martin are meeting in Liverpool for the first of an annual British Irish summit established by the British premier in a bid to reset relations after the disastrous Brexit years.
The summit, which kicks off at 10am, and will involve delegations of ministers from both sides, and will focus on energy, education, migration and the reduction of Brexit trade barriers where possible.
But the wider crisis caused by Donald Trump in Ukraine and the threat of a trade war with the EU will be a major distraction with Martin heading to Brussels for a second summit, an emergency meeting of EU leaders to discuss Ukraine later today.
Martin meets Donald Trump next Wednesday as part of the St Patrick’s Day celebrations, a meeting yet to be afforded European Commission leader Ursula von der Leyen.
Speaking to reporters in Liverpool last night, he said he will be “respectful” at next week’s Oval Office meeting
“People come to the table with different perspectives. I respect people. I respect the offices that people hold,” he said.
Norway to look at increasing Ukraine aid, defence spending as it responds to 'most serious security situation' since WW2
Norwegian prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre has been speaking in the country’s parliament in the last few minutes, announcing plans to “significantly” increase spending to help Ukraine defend itself.
He warned that the country was facing “the most serious security situation … since the second world war.”
In a wide-ranging speech, he spoke of difficulties in engaging with the new US administration under Donald Trump, and associated uncertainty about its intentions – but inisted that he hoped to continue existing cooperation with Washington.
He was particularly concerned about “disheartening” scenes in the Oval Office last week, and any potential divide between European allies and the US.
Addressing the US administration, he said he shared their desire to reach a peace deal, and stressed that “no one wants peace more than Ukraine,” but warned against “naive” views of Russia.
Støre called the US pause in military aid for Ukraine “very regrettable,” and pointedly praised the UK and France for taking a leading role in European support for Ukraine.
He said he would meet with leaders of other parties later today to discuss the details, with a plan to propose broader changes by summer. But he already signalled his support for faster military procurement and production.
Norway has been facing growing criticism from allies over its support for Ukraine, much lower as a percentage of GDP than most countries in the region, according to the Kiel Institute’s Ukraine Support Tracker.
The prime minister also spoke about the need for the Norwegian society to be better prepared for any potential crises, repeating calls to strenghten civilian resilience.
Separately, Støre also spoke about his concerns about being caught up in a trade war between the US and the EU.
'Europe needs to show strength,’ Estonian prime minister says ahead of EU summit
Estonian prime minister Kristen Michal said that “to reach just and lasting peace, Europe needs to show strength.”
Posting before the EU summit today, he said in a social media update that “Ukrainians want Russia’s aggression to end, so does Europe.”
“We must step up military aid to Ukraine, increase pressure on Russia and strengthen European defence,” he added.
What to expect from today's EU summit - five things to watch out for
Brussels correspondent
EU leaders meeting for an emergency summit in Brussels are expected to largely endorse the €800bn “ReArm Europe” plan outlined by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen earlier this week.
“Europe must become more sovereign, more responsible for its own defence and better equipped to act and deal autonomously with immediate and future challenges and threats,” states the latest draft conclusions seen by the Guardian.
Von der Leyen proposed a €150bn loan scheme to help member states buy pan-European capabilities together, plus loosening EU fiscal rules that will help governments fund €650bn in potential extra defence spending without being penalised by the Commission, as well as other measures.
But that is not the only issue on the table.
Here are five interesting things to watch:
How many leaders call for common debt or joint borrowing that goes far beyond Von der Leyen’s financial package. As one senior EU official put it: “Is this [the von der Leyen package] the end of the story? No I don’t think so.”
What do EU leaders think about Emmanuel Macron’s proposal to extend France’s nuclear umbrella to other European nations? Germany’s likely next chancellor Friedrich Merz is also in town for meeting key players, although won’t be at the summit talks.
Support for Ukraine. When European Council President António Costa called the summit he promised “we will take decisions on our support for Ukraine”. Ahead of the summit EU officials have played down suggestions there will be a number for a military aid package for Ukraine for 2025 proposed by the EU high representative Kaja Kallas.
And on that subject… how difficult will Viktor Orbán be? Hungary is already threatening to veto conclusions on Ukraine that set out the EU’s position and push back against Donald Trump’s attempt to make a deal with Vladimir Putin that sidelines Europe, including Ukraine.
What the EU’s role in security guarantees for Ukraine might be. So far only France and the UK have said they would be ready to send troops to Ukraine, but EU leaders are expected to discuss what role the union could play if any. In theory this could be financial support, or setting up an EU mission.
Romania detains six people for alleged treason, conspiracy with Russia
Romanian authorities detained six people on an alleged organised criminal group accusing them of treason and plans to “undermine the sovereignty and independence of the Romanian state,” the country’s Directorate for the Investigation of Organized Crime and Terrorism Crimes, or DIICOT, said.
The group allegedly worked with “agents of a foreign power,” both on territory of Romania and Russia, and was formed in “a military-type structure” involving a retired major general.
The investigators believe they carried out secret discussions conspiring to lead to Romania’s exit from Nato and “the removal of the constitutional order,” as well as changes to the country’s name, flag, and anthem.
Two members of the group are alleged to have travelled to Moscow in January to seek Russia’s support for their aims.
Poland continues to logistically secure Ukraine, with hopes for peace talks, defence minister says
Polish defence minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said at a joint press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov that Poland will continue to logistically support Ukraine as it started delivering its 46th aid package, worth up to €200m.
He stressed the relevance of the logistics hub in Rzeszów-Jasionka and continuing work with Ukrainian soldiers, with nearly 28,000 trained in Poland.
“We continue to support Ukraine as we have from the first day of the war, it is incredibly important for us,” he said.
Kosiniak-Kamysz also said that a return to talks between Ukraine and US “gives hope for just peace,” as he said Poland was a strong supporter of both “transatlantic relations and increasing European [defence] capabilities.”
Four dead, 30 injured in overnight Russian attack on Kryvyi Rih hotel with foreign aid workers, Zelenskyy says
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that a number of foreign aid workers were at a hotel in his hometown Kryvyi Rih struck by a Russian missile overnight.
At least four people were dead and more than 30 injured in the attack, with 14 people rescued from rubble.
Zelenskyy said:
A ballistic missile struck an ordinary hotel. Just before the attack, volunteers from a humanitarian organisation – citizens of Ukraine, the United States, and the United Kingdom – had checked into the hotel. They survived because they managed to get down from their rooms in time.
Reporting on the attack, Zelenskyy insisted:
There must be no pause in the pressure on Russia to stop this war and terror against life.
France steps in to offer intelligence to Ukraine after US pause
France is offering intelligence to Ukraine, French defence minister Sébastien Lecornu said on Thursday, with Paris stepping in to help and fill the void left after the US suspended its intelligence sharing with Kyiv.
Speaking to France Inter radio, he also said that president Macron asked him to accelerate the French aid packages “to compensate” for the suspended US aid.
The Guardian’s view on Merz’s “bazooka” plans
If you wonder what The Guardian makes of Merz’s deficit plans, here’s our editorial setting our view:
In a famously cautious political culture, Mr Merz’s bid to bypass legal restrictions on government debt represents a seismic shift. It would permit a step-change in defence spending for years to come, putting Germany in a leadership position as Europe seeks strategic autonomy from the United States.
Mr Merz, a former investment banker, has been a deficit hawk and economic liberal throughout his career. It is an irony of fate that it should fall to him to challenge the debt-aversion that has hobbled Germany’s ability to react to new geopolitical realities. But the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader should be congratulated for having the political courage to read the signs of the times.
Across Europe, poorly performing economies and a lack of investment have fuelled distrust in mainstream politics, and contributed to the dangerous rise of the Trumpian far right. In Germany, the constitutional “debt brake” – in effect a legal requirement to balance budgets – was originally conceived as a means of protecting younger generations from the consequences of risky borrowing. In these tumultuous times, amid multiple costly challenges, it has instead become an obstacle to investing in their future.
Thursday’s EU summit in Brussels is expected to license greater national spending on defence. But for a new era characterised by threats at home and abroad, a sea change in the EU’s overall approach to debt and deficits, similar to that agreed by Mr Merz with the SPD, is needed.
Echoing the words of the former European Central Bank chief, Mario Draghi, during the eurozone crisis, Mr Merz pledged on Tuesday to do “whatever it takes” to protect freedom and peace. He will need the support of the Greens, as well as the SPD, to push his gamechanging proposals through.
It is in the overwhelming interests of Germany and Europe that he gets it.
Germany's likely next chancellor Merz meets with European Council's Costa
I told you he was keen to hit the ground running!
Germany’s presumed next chancellor Friedrich Merz is out of his bed early this morning and already in meetings, starting with European Council president António Costa, just hours before the emergency European Council meeting on Ukraine.
It’s a good opportunity for the two leaders to build rapport and develop work relationship before Merz gets into the Bundeskanzleramt and discuss what the presumed next German leader thinks of many of the ideas to be discussed by the EU leaders later today – and his proposed (massive) investment in defence and infrastructure.
Last night, Merz also met with the European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, the EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and with Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte.
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Morning opening: Five minutes to midnight
Four days after the London summit on Sunday, European leaders meet again – this time in Brussels and with a complete line-up, including both the (very keen) Baltics and the (very much not keen) Hungarians and Slovaks – to discuss what’s next for Ukraine.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy will join EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday for a summit to discuss an €800bn (£660bn) plan to bolster Europe’s defence industry, increase military capability and help provide urgent military support for Ukraine.
In a dramatic intervention on Wednesday evening, French president Emmanuel Macron warned in a TV address that Russian aggression would not stop at Ukraine and was a direct threat to France and Europe.
He further said said he had decided “to open the strategic debate on the protection of our allies on the European continent by our [nuclear] deterrent” but stressed any use of France’s nuclear weapons would remain only in the hands of the French president.
Macron said in his address: “I want to believe the US will stay by our side. But we have to be ready if that isn’t the case.
“Europe’s future should not be decided in Washington or Moscow, and yes the threat from the east is returning. And the innocence of these 30 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall is over.”
The French president’s move comes in response to a push by German election winner Friedrich Merz, who recently called for a discussion on “nuclear sharing” with France. He is not the German chancellor just yet, but will be in Brussels this morning too, joining informal talks with EU leaders. He is keen to hit the ground running, as proven by his major “bazooka” plan for German defence and infrastructure.
After Macron’s address, Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude to the French president, saying: “Peace must be real, not just a word – it cannot mean Ukraine’s capitulation or collapse. It must be just, reliable, and lasting, and this can only be achieved through strong and long-term security guarantees – for Ukraine, Europe, and the entire world.”
He will hope that they can engineer how this could work over a working lunch in Brussels.
European leaders are increasingly determined to act after Donald Trump ordered a pause on all critical US military aid for Ukraine against Russia, three years into the invasion, following an explosive public confrontation in the Oval Office last week with Zelenskyy.
There are some early signs that the two sides are back talking about next steps, with Zelenskyy saying last night that “the Ukrainian and American teams began working on an upcoming meeting,” and they “hope to see some results next week.”
But the EU is no longer happy to trust and support this process hope for the best. Not any more.
Despite it being one of the most annoying cliches in politics, this summit really does feel like five minutes to midnight.
We will bring you the latest here.
It’s Thursday, 6 March 2025, and this is Europe live. It’s Jakub Krupa here.
Good morning.
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