Trump says he had ‘good and productive’ dialogue with Putin and claims there’s ‘good likelihood’ Ukraine warfare can finish – Europe reside | Europe
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Kremlin repeats Waltz’s line on ‘cautious optimism’ on ceasefire
The Kremlin mentioned there have been “causes to be cautiously optimistic” in dialogue on ceasefire, however “there’s nonetheless a lot to be carried out,” in additional discussions between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump.
Talking after final evening’s go to of US particular envoy Steve Witkoff, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov advised reporters that “when Mr Witkoff brings all the knowledge to President Trump, we’ll decide the timing of a dialog (between Trump and Putin).”
“There’s an understanding on all sides that such a dialog is required. There are causes to be cautiously optimistic,” Peskov added.
Peskov’s line repeats the identical language utilized by US nationwide safety adviser Mike Waltz in an in a single day interview with Fox.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy beforehand accused Russian president Vladimir Putin of “manipulative” response to the US proposal for a ceasefire, saying Putin pretended to simply accept it “in the intervening time he’s, actually, making ready to reject it.”
“Putin does this usually – he doesn’t say ‘no’ outright, however he drags issues out and makes cheap options not possible,” he mentioned.
Key occasions
We must await extra particulars on the dialog between the 2 leaders, however as our Russian affairs reporter Pjotr Sauer defined in his evaluation printed within the final hour:
By steering away from an outright rejection of Trump’s proposal, Putin seemed to be shopping for time – strolling a positive line between avoiding an open rebuff of Trump’s peace initiative and imposing his personal stringent situations, successfully prolonging the negotiations.
To his admirers, it was a masterclass in Putin’s diplomatic manoeuvring, flanked by seasoned overseas coverage veterans Sergei Lavrov and Yuri Ushakov – each with many years of expertise. …
For longtime observers, it was a well-recognized Russian tactic. Moscow has lengthy excelled at delaying negotiations, providing simply sufficient hope of progress to maintain talks alive whereas avoiding main concessions.
To decrypt indicators coming from the Kremlin, learn his insightful piece in full right here:
Trump hails ‘excellent and productive’ discussions with Putin
US president Donald Trump has simply revealed that he had a “excellent and productive” cellphone name with Russian president Vladimir Putin, claiming “there’s a excellent likelihood that this horrible, bloody warfare can lastly come to an finish.”
Trump additionally mentioned that he raised with Putin the problem of Ukrainian troops in Kursk, urging the Russian chief “that their lives be spared” after they had been reportedly surrounded by Russian troops.
Right here is his social media submit in full:
We had excellent and productive discussions with President Vladimir Putin of Russia yesterday, and there’s a excellent likelihood that this horrible, bloody warfare can lastly come to an finish
— BUT, AT THIS VERY MOMENT, THOUSANDS OF UKRAINIAN TROOPS ARE COMPLETELY SURROUNDED BY THE RUSSIAN MILITARY, AND IN A VERY BAD AND VULNERABLE POSITION.
I’ve strongly requested to President Putin that their lives be spared. This may be a horrible bloodbath, one not seen since World Battle II. God bless all of them!!!
Germany making ready to launch €3bn in help for Ukraine
As a part of the press convention, Friedrich Merz additionally mentioned that Germany was making ready to ship €3bn in quick help to Ukraine within the subsequent bundle, set to be launched later this month.
The help, accepted by parliament and by the outgoing chancellor Olaf Scholz, needs to be formally launched as soon as the proposed adjustments to guidelines on defence spending will cross the parliament.
German events attain settlement on spending, debt reform plans
Because it’s now confirmed: the three German events concerned in discussions on creating a brand new €500bn euros fund boosting public spending and enjoyable the constitutional debt break have agreed on the ultimate form of the proposal, presumed chancellor Friedrich Merz confirmed.
The conservative CDU/CSU social gathering, which gained final month’s parliamentary elections, have agreed with the social democratic SPD, it’s possible subsequent coalition associate, and the Greens, shifting again to the opposition, on the construction of the proposal.
Because of strain from the Greens, who threatened to withhold their help and probably derail the method, the Local weather and Transformation Fund shall be doubled from the initially proposed 50bn to €100bn. All new spending may also be topic to the additionality clause, that means it won’t be out there for already current tasks.
In step with earlier proposals, defence spending above 1% GDP shall be exempt from the debt brake, however the definition of defence expanded to cowl extra areas, together with the German military, civil safety, intelligence providers, knowledge and knowledge safety, and – crucially – help for different states attacked underneath worldwide regulation, like Ukraine.
The prospect ought to allow Germany to rapidly ramp up it defence spending from the present stage of two.12% GDP.
Or, as Merz put it, “this settlement is a message to our pals and opponents, the enemies of freedom: we’re able to defence, we’re absolutely ready …, there shall be no scarcity of sources to defend freedom and peace on our continent.”
“Germany is again,” he added.
The proposal additionally consists of some fiscal flexibility for German states, amounting to 0.35% of GDP.
The co-leader of SPD, Lars Klingbeil, mentioned the agreed plan marked “a robust enhance” for Europe’s largest economic system.
“We have now laid the inspiration for Germany to get again on its ft and shield itself,” he mentioned.
The Inexperienced social gathering is anticipated to host is press convention a bit later, and we’ll deliver you the important thing strains from their briefing then.
The Bundestag will vote on the plan on Tuesday.
G7 warn Russia of additional sanctions if no ceasefire agreed
G7 nations emphasised the necessity for sturdy “safety preparations” to make sure a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, warning Moscow to comply with Kyiv in agreeing a ceasefire or face additional sanctions, based on a closing draft assertion.
“G7 members referred to as for Russia to reciprocate by agreeing to a ceasefire on equal phrases and implementing it absolutely,” the G7 nations, comprising Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the US, mentioned in a closing draft assertion seen by Reuters.
The draft, accepted by senior diplomats, nonetheless wants a inexperienced gentle from ministers, G7 officers mentioned.
Germany probably near breakthrough on debt break
Germany is near unlocking the way in which to an enormous enhance in state borrowing and reforming the constitutional debt break as three main events are reportedly about to succeed in an settlement on the proposed adjustments.
The controversial proposal is a key a part of the presumed subsequent chancellor Friedrich Merz’s plan for Germany.
Regardless of a rocky session of the Bundestag on Thursday, as reported on Europe Dwell, the conservative CDU/CSU, the social democrats of the SPD, and the Greens are inside a touching distance of reaching a consensus on the problem, based on German media.
German financial day by day Handelsblatt and the RND went additional, reporting that the three have already discovered an settlement.
In a extremely uncommon and apparently coordinated transfer, all three events referred to as conferences of their parliamentary golf equipment for 1pm (12 GMT) immediately to debate subsequent steps, so we’re prone to hear extra about it this afternoon.
The transfer comes a day after a tough session within the German parliament, with the CDU/CSU and the SPD leaders overtly interesting to the Greens to again their proposals.
Time is of the essence right here, because the transfer must be handed by the previous Bundestag at a gathering on Tuesday, earlier than the brand new composition of parliament probably creates a method for critics to dam the plan.
EU’s defence plans take form – evaluation
Jennifer Rankin
Brussels correspondent
The EU govt might play a job in joint buy of missiles, drones and different army gear, based on a draft doc on the way forward for European defence.
The European Fee might “act as a central buying physique” on behalf of EU member states upon their request, states a leaked white paper. The doc, attributable to be launched subsequent Wednesday forward of a summit of EU leaders, reveals how quickly the EU is evolving following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and Donald Trump’s return to the White Home.
“Europe can’t take the US safety ensures with no consideration and most considerably step up its contribution to protect Nato sturdy,” states the draft seen by the Guardian, which additionally states that “a revanchist Russia is the quick army risk to the EU”.
“Over reliance on US safety has impaired Europe’s potential to defend itself and its autonomy to behave in its personal neighbourhood”. The Fee requires Europe to beat this dependency by growing “the mandatory capabilities by way of joint European functionality tasks”.
Following talks with EU international locations, the fee has recognized seven functionality gaps, together with air and missile defences, artillery techniques, ammunition and missiles, drones and counter drone techniques, higher roads, airports and ports to advertise army mobility, AI and cyber warfare capabilities and “strategic enablers”, equivalent to fortified defences on the EU’s jap border.
Impressed by the pandemic expertise of joint buying of vaccines, the EU, through member states and the Brussels-based European Defence Company, has already carried out joint buying of ammunition for Ukraine. Now the fee suggests it might do extra – if member states wished that.
The paper additionally requires an “pressing enhance in army help to Ukraine”, by offering an extra 1.5m rounds of ammunition, air defence techniques and EU coaching for Ukrainian forces.
The paper is prone to disappoint some member states, equivalent to Italy and Spain, which are searching for radical methods to extend army spending, equivalent to frequent borrowing to fund EU grants to pay for defence tasks.
The European Fee final week outlined an €800bn plan to assist member states enhance defence spending by taking out EU-backed loans and growing nationwide money owed with out breaking the EU’s fiscal guidelines. Whereas member states backed the rules, the headline determine is very theoretical, as many governments don’t need to tackle extra money owed.
Kremlin repeats Waltz’s line on ‘cautious optimism’ on ceasefire
The Kremlin mentioned there have been “causes to be cautiously optimistic” in dialogue on ceasefire, however “there’s nonetheless a lot to be carried out,” in additional discussions between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump.
Talking after final evening’s go to of US particular envoy Steve Witkoff, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov advised reporters that “when Mr Witkoff brings all the knowledge to President Trump, we’ll decide the timing of a dialog (between Trump and Putin).”
“There’s an understanding on all sides that such a dialog is required. There are causes to be cautiously optimistic,” Peskov added.
Peskov’s line repeats the identical language utilized by US nationwide safety adviser Mike Waltz in an in a single day interview with Fox.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy beforehand accused Russian president Vladimir Putin of “manipulative” response to the US proposal for a ceasefire, saying Putin pretended to simply accept it “in the intervening time he’s, actually, making ready to reject it.”
“Putin does this usually – he doesn’t say ‘no’ outright, however he drags issues out and makes cheap options not possible,” he mentioned.
We’re getting extra particulars through Reuters on the 4 names faraway from the EU sanctions record:
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They’re Gulbakhor Ismailova, who’s the sister of distinguished businessman Alisher Usmanov,
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Businessman Viatcheslav Moshe Kantor, and
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Russian sports activities minister Mikhail Degtyarev.
Reuters say the fourth individual, businessman Vladimir Rashevsky, was eliminated attributable to a weak authorized case slightly than strain from Hungary.
Greenland ‘not open to annexation,’ Danish overseas minister responds to Trump
Danish overseas minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen rejected US president Donald Trump’s newest remarks about annexing Greenland, saying the Danish autonomous island couldn’t be taken over by one other nation, AFP reported.
“For those who have a look at the Nato treaty, the UN constitution or worldwide regulation, Greenland is just not open to annexation,” he advised reporters.
Portugal’s snap election date set for 18 Could
Portuguese president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has introduced a snap election for 18 Could, the third in three years, after the autumn of Luis Montenegro’s authorities.
The president mentioned he wished to maneuver rapidly to keep away from extended instability, including in a televised tackle that 18 Could was “the popular date for almost all of events”.
Rebelo de Sousa had met with social gathering leaders on Wednesday, and earlier on Thursday referred to as a gathering of the State Council, which is primarily made up of political leaders, for consultations earlier than dissolving parliament.
“These elections, no one was anticipating them, nor wanting them” at a time of tense worldwide conflicts, he mentioned, urging events to focus their campaigns on issues “that fear the Portuguese of their day by day lives” such because the economic system and healthcare.
Montenegro stepped down on Tuesday after his minority centre-right authorities misplaced a confidence vote. The Social Democratic Celebration (PSD) chief had been battling assaults over authorities contracts held by his household’s corporations, AFP famous.
EU sanctions in opposition to Russia renewed with minor adjustments after Hungary hold-up
Jennifer Rankin
Brussels correspondent
Senior EU diplomats have agreed on Friday morning to prolong for six months sanctions in opposition to round 2,000 Russians, together with Vladimir Putin and many senior politicians and enterprise individuals.
The sanctions, which need to be renewed unanimously each six months, stay in place till 15 September 2025.
Following a risk by Hungary to veto the record, 4 individuals have been eliminated in addition to three individuals who just lately died, EU sources mentioned.
The banking and power tycoon Mikhail Fridman – who gained a partial victory in opposition to EU sanctions final April – stays on the record, sources mentioned.
EU international locations comply with renew Russia sanctions
We’re simply getting early reviews from Brussels that EU ambassadors have agreed to resume Russia sanctions on over 2,400 people and entities, which had been set to run out tomorrow.
Reuters famous that they reportedly agreed to take away three particular person from the record. Hungary beforehand prompt it wished to see some revisions to the record, threatening to veto it if their calls for should not met.
We should always hear extra particulars quickly, and can deliver you the most recent.
‘Sufficient is sufficient,’ as Greenland and Denmark react to Trump’s feedback
Trump’s in a single day feedback on annexing Greenland – “I feel this can occur” – sparked fury on the island and in Denmark.
Outgoing Greenlandic prime minister Múte B. Egede, who holds the fort ready for the brand new coalition to emerge, has mentioned he “can’t settle for this,” and referred to as a gathering of all social gathering leaders to type a united entrance in opposition to Trump.
“This time we should sharpen our rejection of Trump. We should not proceed to be handled with disrespect. Sufficient is sufficient,” he mentioned.
His possible successor, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, has additionally rejected Donald Trump’s effort to take management of the island, saying Greenlanders should be allowed to determine their very own future because it strikes towards independence from Denmark.
Nielsen, whose centre-right Democrats gained a shock victory on this week’s legislative elections and now should type a coalition authorities, pushed again in opposition to Trump’s repeated claims that the US will annex the island.
“We don’t need to be People. No, we don’t need to be Danes. We need to be Greenlanders, and we wish our personal independence sooner or later,” Nielsen advised Sky Information. “And we need to construct our personal nation by ourselves.”
In a separate touch upon Fb, he referred to as Trump’s feedback “inappropriate.”
Over in Denmark, Jacob Kaarsbo, former chief analyst on the Danish Defence Intelligence Company, was quoted by Berlingske as telling TV2 Information that Trump’s feedback “ship chills down the spines of officers and politicians not simply in Denmark, however all Nato.”
Rasmus Jarlov, chair of the Danish parliament’s defence committee, put it in even starker phrases as he additionally took intention at Nato secretary basic Mark Rutte for not reacting to Trump’s feedback.
We don’t recognize the Secr. Gen. of NATO joking with Trump about Greenland like this.
It might imply warfare between two NATO international locations. Greenland has simply voted in opposition to quick independence from Denmark and doesn’t need to be American ever.
In case you puzzled what was the response from the US, former Trump aide and Republican political marketing consultant Roger Stone replied to Jarlov with this remark:
That is your sick demented repugnant, and baseless opinion. The issue is that you’re nobody and also you don’t communicate for the individuals of Greenland. Recover from your self nobody right here cares what you consider something. Asshole.
Morning opening: Decoding Vladimir Putin
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russian president Vladimir Putin of “manipulative” response to the US proposal for a ceasefire, saying Putin pretended to simply accept it “in the intervening time he’s, actually, making ready to reject it.”
“That’s why, in Moscow, they’re surrounding the ceasefire thought with such preconditions that it both fails or will get dragged out for so long as doable. Putin does this usually — he doesn’t say ‘no’ outright, however he drags issues out and makes cheap options not possible,” he mentioned.
US president Donald Trump additionally acknowledged that whereas Putin’s response was “promising,” it was additionally “incomplete.”
Attending to the underside of what Putin really needs and planning what to do subsequent in response would be the focus of the following few days.
US particular envoy Steve Witkoff was in Moscow final evening the place he was meant to fulfill with Vladimir Putin or senior Russian officers to debate the proposals. As of this morning, neither the Kremlin nor the White Home issued any readouts from their dialogue.
Talking on Fox Information in a single day, the US nationwide safety adviser Mike Waltz praised Ukrainians for “a really totally different method than you noticed … within the Oval Workplace,” and urged all sides to maneuver to ceasefire.
He declined to enter the small print of discussions Witkoff had in Moscow, however insisted there was “some cautious optimism,” because the US administration expects to listen to again from Witkoff “to guage and for the president to make selections on subsequent steps.”
When it was put to him that Ukraine not be allowed to enter Nato and would in all probability have to surrender some Russian-occupied territories in Donbas, Waltz mentioned “you aren’t flawed in any of that.”
“What’s necessary is that we’re discussing all of these issues with each side,” he mentioned.
Given public feedback from Ukrainian officers on the integrity of the Ukrainian territory, it’s troublesome to think about their enthusiasm for such proposal.
On Saturday, UK prime minister Keir Starmer will host a digital assembly of leaders concerned in his planning for “the coalition of the prepared,” a comply with up on his Lancaster Home summit earlier this month.
It’s Friday, 14 March 2025, and that is Europe reside. It’s Jakub Krupa right here.
Good morning.
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