Trump says he spoke with Putin and can begin peace talks on Ukraine ‘instantly’ – Europe stay | Ukraine

We’re stepping away from Healey’s press convention for a second to cowl breaking information…

He opens:

What we noticed at present is sort of 50 international locations making a transparent dedication to proceed stepping up their assist for Ukraine of their battle for his or her freedom, way forward for their nation, and our wider safety.

He says international locations concerned stay dedicated to maintain funding Ukraine to “improve strain on Putin, to assist pressure Putin to a negotiating desk, to convey nearer a sturdy peace.”

Responding to Hegseth’s feedback, he notes Europeans famous “the US’s continued committment to this group, to Ukraine’s pursuit of a long-lasting peace, and the significance of safety ensures past.”

We heard his name for European nations to step up. We’re and we are going to.

He notes that Nato allies pledged €40bn in army assist for Ukraine in 2024, and went on to ship €50bn. The bulk, practically 60% of that assist, got here from European nations, he says.

He says he’ll report again to the press on behalf of the 46 international locations concerned in talks at present.

Let’s hear what he’s acquired to say.

Denmark and US have ‘completely different views’ on Nato membership for Ukraine, Danish defence minister says

Miranda Bryant

Nordic correspondent

Talking after the assembly, the Danish defence minister, Troels Lund Poulsen, mentioned that Denmark and the US have completely different views on Nato membership for Ukraine.

“It’s the case that we have now determined to supply Ukraine Nato membership, however additionally it is clear that all of us must agree whether it is to occur,” he advised TV2. “So in that method you possibly can say that there’s a dialogue about what the longer term holds for Ukraine.”

Denmark, he added, will proceed to assist Ukraine and tackle “even larger accountability” within the coming yr.

“Each in relation to the battle they’re combating, however not least in relation to securing extra monetary assets and donations. It’s fairly clear to me that Europe must tackle a fair larger accountability to assist Ukraine in 2025,” he mentioned.

Jakub Krupa

Word that these feedback from Danish and Finnish ministers are from earlier than the session with US defence secretary Hegseth – let’s see what they must say afterwards, given the marked shift in tone from the US.

We are going to convey you the newest right here.

Finnish defence minister requires improve in assist for Ukraine

Miranda Bryant

Nordic correspondent

On his method into the assembly with Hegseth earlier, Finnish defence minister Antti Häkkänen mentioned now’s the time to extend assist for Ukraine and that the US performed a central position in that.

“Now could be the fitting time to extend assist for Ukraine,” he advised Helsingin Sanomat, including that European defence business manufacturing should be quickly elevated.

Requested about US dedication to Ukraine below Donald Trump, he replied: “We must always preserve our heads down.”

“After all the US performs a key position in Nato, for Nato’s credibility,” he mentioned.

Saying he was optimistic about continued assist for Ukraine by the US, he mentioned he had agreed to fulfill Hegseth at a bilateral assembly on Thursday the place they might have a “extra detailed dialogue on burden-sharing”.

However as we wait, let me convey you the information that the price of flights from France will rise subsequent month when the federal government greater than doubles its “solidarity tax” on tickets.

The French authorities has mentioned the will increase are truthful on ecological and financial grounds however critics say it should hit France’s capability to compete globally.

Airways are anticipated to go the price of the tax hike on to passengers however Air France has estimated it should value the corporate about €100m (£83m) at a time when the airline is recovering from Covid losses. Ryanair has threatened to scale back flights to and from the nation’s airports.

Kim Willsher in Paris has the story:

UK defence secretary John Healey, who chaired at present’s assembly of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group at which Hegseth spoke in regards to the new US administration’s view on Ukrainian and European defence, is predicted to handle the press quickly.

You’ll be able to watch the stay stream on the prime and under, however I’ll convey you the highest traces right here.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has simply mentioned that he had productive and constructive discussions with US Treasury secretary Scott Bessent and was given a primary draft of a possible settlement on pure assets, Reuters is reporting.

Zelenskyy was quoted as saying that Ukraine was now learning the draft, with hopes {that a} deal could possibly be reached on the Munich convention later this week.

He mentioned they didn’t focus on pure assets in Ukrainian territory occupied by Russia.

Danish defence minister to talk individually with US Hegseth on Arctic

Miranda Bryant

Nordic correspondent

Earlier this morning, the Danish defence minister, Troels Lund Poulsen, mentioned that Hegseth had requested a bilateral assembly with him earlier than the assembly Nato’s Ukraine Defence Contact Group.

“He has requested to fulfill with me, and I’ve agreed to that. It is not going to be an extended assembly, however a greeting assembly,” he advised TV2.

He mentioned he didn’t plan to debate Greenland with him, however did count on to speak in regards to the Arctic total. “I feel we are going to contact on the whole state of affairs in and across the Arctic, the place we share the priority expressed by the People,” he mentioned.

US now not ‘primarily centered’ on Europe’s safety, says Pete Hegseth – first report

Dan Sabbagh

Defence and safety editor

Donald Trump’s newly appointed defence secretary advised allies on his first worldwide journey that the US was now not “primarily centered” on European safety and that Europe must take the lead in defending Ukraine.

Pete Hegseth, chatting with defence ministers at a lunchtime assembly in Brussels, mentioned Europe had to offer “the overwhelming share” of future army assist to Kyiv – and recognise that restoring Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders was unrealistic.

The Pentagon chief mentioned he was “right here at present to straight and unambiguously specific that stark strategic realities stop the USA of America from being primarily centered on the safety of Europe” – although the language was notably toned down from a draft briefed prematurely to the press.

Our first story:

We are going to return to Hegseth’s feedback quickly, however let’s briefly check out occasions elsewhere as talks to kind Austria’s first coalition authorities led by the far-right Freedom Celebration (FPÖ) collapsed on Wednesday after negotiations with the conservative Individuals’s Celebration (OVP) had already floor to a halt, with either side blaming the opposite, Reuters reported.

The Eurosceptic, Russia-friendly FPÖ had been looking for to guide a authorities for the primary time because it was based within the Fifties below a pacesetter who had been a outstanding Nazi.

The FPÖ got here first in September’s parliamentary election with about 29% of vote, however was solely tasked with forming a authorities final month as soon as a centrist try to take action with out it failed. The OVP was its solely potential coalition accomplice.

“Simply now, FPÖ chief … Herbert Kickl knowledgeable President Alexander Van der Bellen that the coalition talks with the OVP have failed,” the FPÖ mentioned in an announcement moments after Kickl met Van der Bellen within the president’s workplace.

Reuters notes that the ball is now in Van der Bellen’s courtroom. More than likely both a centrist try and kind a authorities will probably be revived or the Alpine republic will head in the direction of a snap election with polls suggesting the FPÖ’s lead over different events would develop.

US defence secretary Pete Hegseth has simply addressed the Ukraine Defence Contact Group at a gathering in Brussels, and here’s a abstract:

• “Bloodshed should cease, this warfare should finish,” he insisted (14:42).

• He warned that returning to pre-2014 Ukraine borders was “unrealistic,” and “chasing this illusionary objective will solely delay the warfare and trigger extra struggling” (14:43).

• He mentioned that “the US doesn’t consider that Nato membership for Ukraine is a sensible consequence of a negotiated settlement” with Russia.

• He dominated out any US deployment to Ukraine or masking peacekeeping forces there with Article 5 Nato ensures, saying it will be as much as European and non-European troops to organise the forces (14:47).

• He urged Europeans to “present the overwhelming share” of assist to Ukraine and stage with their residents “about the menace going through Europe” (14:48).

• In a stark warning, he mentioned that “stark strategic realities stop the US from being primarily centered on the safety of Europe” because it seems at “threats to our homeland,” together with from China (14:50).

• He acknowledged some motion taken by European allies, name-checking Sweden and Poland, however mentioned “extra should nonetheless be accomplished” (14:51).

• He insisted that the US stays dedicated to Nato, however “will now not tolerate an imbalanced relationship which inspires dependency” (14:52).

UK defence secretary John Healey responds on behalf of European Nato international locations and the broader Ukraine Defence Contact Group:

We hear you, your dedication to Nato, to Article 5, to a sovereign Ukraine, and to your defence partnership with Europe.

We additionally hear your considerations.

On stepping up for Ukraine, we’re and we are going to.

On stepping up for European safety, we’re and we are going to.

You’ve simply spoken about peace by energy. We’re 50 nations-strong right here, all decided to place an finish to Putin’s warfare, and to take action collectively.

Closing his speech, Hegseth insists that the US stays dedicated to Nato and to partnership with Europe, “full cease.”

However the USA will now not tolerate an imbalanced relationship which inspires dependency.

Moderately, our relationship will prioritise empowering Europe to personal accountability for its personal safety.

Honesty will probably be our coverage going ahead, however solely within the spirit of solidarity.

He ends his speech right here.

US defence secretary then goes on to say that in his first week he has seen “promising indicators that Europe sees the menace, understands what must be accomplished, and is stepping as much as the duty,” pointedly praising Sweden and Poland.

“However these are simply the primary steps. Extra should nonetheless be accomplished,” he says, asking Europeans to “step up fulfilling the commitments you will have made.”

Our transatlantic alliance has endured for many years, and we absolutely count on will probably be sustained for the generations to return. However this received’t simply occur.

It would require our European allies to step into the world and take possession of typical safety on the continent.