Ukrainian officials have reacted with shock and confusion to the news that top Trump administration officials are traveling to Saudi Arabia to start peace talks with Russia — and that Ukrainians were also apparently coming.
Read the story.
Read the story.
POLITICO
The US said Ukraine would meet with Russia to discuss peace. That was news to Kyiv. – POLITICO
“I do not know what it is,” said Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
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Who will be Europe's security provider if the US military scales down its presence — or simply packs up and leaves? The Brits, French, and Germans all have their own ideas.
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Read the story.
POLITICO
As US recedes, NATO scrambles to find a new leader – POLITICO
The Brits, French, and Germans all have their own ideas about how to defend the continent with America’s plans in flux.
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The UK is "ready and willing" to put British peace-keeping troops on the ground in Ukraine, its Prime Minister Keir Starmer said.
Here's the story.
Here's the story.
POLITICO
UK ‘ready’ to send peace-keepers to Ukraine, PM Starmer says – POLITICO
Ahead of a crunch meeting in Paris on Monday, the U.K. leader commits to putting British troops in harm’s way to secure a lasting peace in Ukraine.
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After three years of war, the public mood in Poland is souring over economic sacrifices made for Ukraine and sympathy for the farmers is playing a significant role in that shift.
Here's the story.
Here's the story.
POLITICO
Angry farmers push Poland away from Ukraine – POLITICO
After nearly three years of war in Ukraine, protests by Polish farmers are opening up social and political fractures in a once-unshakeable alliance.
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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Saudi Arabia today, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to the United Arab Emirates late yesterday, both against the backdrop of expected peace talks on ending Russia's war against Ukraine.
Here's the story.
Here's the story.
POLITICO
US’s Rubio in Riyadh, Russia’s Lavrov en route, with Ukraine talks expected – POLITICO
Kremlin says U.S.-Russia meeting expected on Tuesday in Riyadh “will be devoted primarily to the restoration of the entire complex of Russian-American relations.”
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Just minutes before he met with European dignitaries today, as they scramble to come up with a unified response to the upheaval posed by the new US administration, French President Emmanuel Macron had a "frank conversation" with Donald Trump.
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POLITICO
Macron and Trump have ‘frank conversation’ minutes before European meeting on Ukraine – POLITICO
The call came before the French president welcomed a group of European leaders in Paris.
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🚨 BREAKING: Polish PM Donald Tusk piled pressure on other European leaders to massively ramp up defense spending and not clash with the US today as he flew to Paris for an emergency summit devoted to Ukraine's future and European rearmament.
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Read the story.
POLITICO
Poland to Europe: Don’t play games with Trump, spend more on defense – POLITICO
The Polish PM is adamant that Europe must not break ties with the U.S.
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Keir Starmer wants to send troops to Ukraine as a post-war peace-keeping force. But MPs from across the main parties told POLITICO they think parliament should be involved in any decision to deploy peacekeeping troops on the ground.
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Read the story.
POLITICO
British MPs already want a vote on sending troops to Ukraine – POLITICO
Labour MPs — and opposition lawmakers too — are asking for a parliamentary say on any British escalation.
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French President Emmanuel Macron’s mini-summit yesterday on the future of Ukraine shunned Brussels’ normal obsession with consensus as several EU member countries were not invited.
This is not the way EU politics is meant to be conducted, but it's a sign that patience is running thin with the bloc’s exasperating Council meetings, where countries often fail to agree on proposals.
Here's the story.
This is not the way EU politics is meant to be conducted, but it's a sign that patience is running thin with the bloc’s exasperating Council meetings, where countries often fail to agree on proposals.
Here's the story.
POLITICO
Europe’s big guns sideline the EU to get real on Ukraine – POLITICO
Macron’s mini-summit shunned Brussels’ normal obsession with consensus and revealed a new core with the region’s future in their hands.
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A French-led effort by European leaders to present a united front on Ukraine in the face of rising fear over US President Donald Trump's intentions fizzled yesterday as they failed to agree on sending troops to police a possible peace deal.
Here's the story.
Here's the story.
POLITICO
Europe’s leaders find no quick response to Trump’s bombshell on Ukraine – POLITICO
Common ground proves elusive, including on sending peacekeepers.
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Yesterday, the UK's Keir Starmer pledged British peacekeeping troops to support any future Ukraine-Russia peace deal.
But the prime minister’s projection of confidence belies what is recognized in Whitehall and among military chiefs: The British Army is a bit of a mess.
Here's the story.
But the prime minister’s projection of confidence belies what is recognized in Whitehall and among military chiefs: The British Army is a bit of a mess.
Here's the story.
POLITICO
Is Britain really ready to lead a Ukraine peacekeeping force? – POLITICO
Keir Starmer has made a big offer on European security, but the country’s army is hugely stretched.
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The EU must explore issuing common debt to finance increasing defense spending, Spanish Finance Minister Carlos Cuerpo told us.
Here's the story.
Here's the story.
POLITICO
EU-wide borrowing for defense a ‘no-brainer,’ says Spain’s finance minister – POLITICO
The bloc is grappling with a need to increase defense spending, amid U.S. President Donald Trump’s sudden move to end the war in Ukraine.
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OPINION: The Kremlin sees Donald Trump’s move as a correct response to Moscow’s demand to respect Vladimir Putin as an equal partner, as well as public recognition that Ukraine and Europe are to have a subordinate role in negotiations.
Read the op-ed.
Read the op-ed.
POLITICO
What Putin really wants – POLITICO
The Kremlin sees Trump’s move as a correct response to Moscow’s demand to respect the Russian president as an equal partner.
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European and other world leaders are planning to hold a second emergency summit in Paris today as pressure grows to forge a cohesive response to Donald Trump's divisive plan to end the war in Ukraine.
Read the full story.
Read the full story.
POLITICO
Second crisis Ukraine summit planned for Wednesday – POLITICO
More EU leaders, plus Norway and Canada, are expected to attend, 48 hours after previous talks.
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"Europe is finally faced with the opportunity to build a real European Defence Union amid US President Donald Trump’s disruptive return," write Guy Verhofstadt and Domènec Ruiz Devesa.
Read the full opinion.
Read the full opinion.
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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is facing fresh scrutiny over an explosive temper after allegedly branding critics of his Ukraine policy “anti-patriotic provincial assholes” during a private dinner with coalition budget lawmakers.
Here's the story.
Here's the story.
POLITICO
Germany’s Scholz calls rivals ‘anti-patriotic assholes’ – POLITICO
Beleaguered chancellor was said to be unhappy about criticism of his policy on aid to Ukraine.
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Donald Trump's statement that Kyiv "started" the war Russia launched on Ukraine has left Europeans dumbstruck, with one British government aide simply responding, "Jesus."
Here's the story.
Here's the story.
POLITICO
Trump blaming Ukraine for Putin’s war leaves Europe reeling – POLITICO
The U.S. president called out Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a diatribe against Kyiv.
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COMMENTARY: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has tested a variety of tactics to try and manage US President Donald Trump, from flattering him to offering a favorable deal on Ukraine’s critical minerals.
But nothing seems to be working.
Read the commentary.
But nothing seems to be working.
Read the commentary.
POLITICO
Ukrainian hopes fading as Trump and Putin embrace – POLITICO
Zelenskyy has tested a variety of tactics to try and manage the U.S. president — but nothing seems to be working.
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Champagne corks were popping in Moscow after US President Donald Trump verbally flogged Ukraine and its leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy yesterday.
Here's the story.
Here's the story.
POLITICO
Russia rejoices as Trump goes full Kremlin – POLITICO
“He understands our position,” beams Moscow’s top diplomat Sergey Lavrov.
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