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.
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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.
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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.”
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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.”
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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.
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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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