Moscow hit by ‘largest ever’ drone assault as US and Ukraine officers meet for peace talks – Europe stay

We’re nonetheless ready for first footage from the US-Ukraine talks in Jeddah, however for now have this snap exhibiting the preparations for the summit…

US and Ukrainian delegation have began their assembly in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine’s overseas ministry simply mentioned, posting a video of the Ukrainian delegation arriving for the talks.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov mentioned Moscow expects that the USA will inform Russia about US talks with Ukraine happening on Tuesday in Saudi Arabia, Russian state information company TASS reported.

President Donald Trump’s particular envoy Steve Witkoff plans to go to Moscow this week to fulfill president Vladimir Putin, sources advised Reuters on Monday.

Peskov mentioned the Kremlin would offer well timed info on any contacts with Witkoff.

Former Italian prime minister Enrico Letta, who now leads the French Jacques Delors Institut, is likely one of the main voices within the European debate on safety and defence in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

In a remark for Le Monde this morning, he known as for a brand new European Frequent Defence System comprising of the 27 EU member states (undecided pro-Russian Hungary shall be that eager, although), the UK, Norway, Iceland, and the three Balkan candidate states: Albania, Montenegro, and North Macedonia.

He praised current selections on elevating EU defence spending as “going in the right direction,” however known as for deeper integration “beyond the sole dimension of defence [as] security is a much broader objective than defensive military effectiveness,” pointing to vitality independence, connectivity, and European autonomy when it comes to monetary and financial constructions.

He mentioned that a extra coordinated response was wanted to reply to “openly hostile to the EU” administration within the US, and overcome “dramatic weakeness of the EU” in its fragmentation.

Individually, senior military representatives from over 30 nations are assembly in Paris to debate creating a world drive to discourage future Russian aggression as soon as a ceasefire is established.

AP notes that the Paris assembly is essentially the most vital fruits up to now of French and British efforts to rally nations underneath a so-called “coalition of the willing” to safeguard Ukraine by establishing a reassurance and deterrence drive to dissuade Russia from invading once more.

The checklist of collaborating nations consists of nearly all Nato member states – notably, with out the US, as it’s meant to be a Europe-led mission – in addition to some Commonwealth nations and Asian powers comparable to Japan and South Korea.

The primary assembly, a part of the Paris Defence Discussion board, will happen in late afternoon, with a keynote speech framing the duty forward by French president Emmanuel Macron.

And simply hours earlier than the talks have been as a result of get underneath approach, Ukraine focused Moscow in what authorities mentioned was its largest ever drone assault on the Russian capital, killing at the very least one particular person, sparking fires and forcing the suspension of flights and prepare journey.

The Russian defence ministry mentioned 337 drones have been launched at Russia over Monday night time, with 91 of them focusing on the Moscow area. The Moscow metropolis mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, mentioned it was the most important Ukrainian drone assault on the town.

Russia’s aviation watchdog mentioned flights have been suspended in any respect 4 of Moscow’s airports. Two different airports, within the Yaroslavl and Nizhny Novgorod areas east of Moscow, have been additionally closed.

US and Ukrainian officers are assembly in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, at this time to see if they’ll discover a approach ahead for Donald Trump’s push to convey the Russian invasion of Ukraine to an finish.

The important thing constructing block appears to be the minerals deal, which the US facet anticipated to be signed both at Keith Kellogg’s go to to Kyiv final month, or the now notorious go to of Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the White Home.

Kellogg mentioned final week that he was now anticipating the deal to be agreed by US state secretary Marco Rubio and his Ukrainian equal, and it simply so occurs that the 2 participate in at this time’s talks.

Requested on Fox Information if he thought Ukraine may signal the minerals deal this week, Trump Center East aide Steve Witkoff mentioned: “I am really hopeful. All the signs are very, very positive.” May this lastly occur at this time, third time fortunate?

However we all know that either side are eager to debate the broader ramification of any deal and what’s subsequent, together with the Ukrainian proposal – first floated by French president Emmanuel Macron – for a restricted ceasefire in air and at seas to permit for different talks to progress.

Ukraine’s Zelenskyy additionally repeatedly talked in regards to the significance of exchanging hostages, and of his demand for Russia to return kidnapped Ukrainian youngsters. Let’s see if he could make progress on these points.

Final night time, the Ukrainian president met with Saudi leaders, who’re eager to play a mediating position within the course of. In a social media submit after the assembly, he mentioned he mentioned these concepts, and pointedly added that “a significant part of the discussion was dedicated to the formats of security guarantees.”

Rubio, however, mentioned “both sides need to come to an understanding that there’s no military solution to this situation.”

He added: “I’m not going to set any conditions on what they have to or need to do. I think we want to listen to see how far they’re willing to go and then compare that to what the Russians want and see how far apart we truly are.”

“The most important thing that we have to leave here with is a strong sense that Ukraine is prepared to do difficult things, like the Russians are going to have to do difficult things, to end this conflict or at least pause it in some way, shape or form,” he mentioned.

Let’s see if they’ll make progress at this time. I’ll convey you all the newest all through the day.

Elsewhere, we shall be retaining one eye on the historic elections in Greenland, the vote of no confidence within the Portuguese authorities, and different tales throughout Europe, however our foremost focus is firmly on Ukraine at this time.

It’s Tuesday, 11 March 2025, and that is Europe stay. It’s Jakub Krupa right here.

Good morning.