Morning opening: What’s Europe’s place?
Jakub Krupa
EU international ministers are assembly this morning in Brussels to speak concerning the bloc’s place on Ukraine and Russia and the worsening disaster in the Center East.
The international affairs council kicks off what some dubbed a “super week” in European – and never solely – politics, with the Nato summit in The Hague and the European Council summit later this week.
And there’s loads to speak about.
Right this moment’s assembly begins with Ukraine, after one other night time of heavy Russian assaults with 352 drones and 16 missiles reported by the nation’s air power, principally concentrating on Kyiv. At the very least six had been killed, and over a dozen had been injured.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that “preliminary reports indicate that ballistic weapons from North Korea were also used.”
“Everyone in countries neighbouring Russia, Iran, and North Korea should be thinking carefully about whether they could protect lives if this coalition of murderers persists and continues spreading their terror,” he warned.
Zelenskyy might be in Britain at the moment for additional talks on “new and powerful steps to increase pressure on Russia for this war and to put an end to the strikes.”
The EU ministers will then flip to the Center East, doubtless calling for a return to negotiations and the necessity to keep away from additional escalation.
A giant dialogue can be anticipated on probably triggering a evaluate of the EU-Israel affiliation settlement, however will they wish to do that amid escalating and unsure state of affairs within the area?
Elsewhere, I might be checking on the newest within the buildup to the Nato summit, and different updates from Germany, Norway, Sweden and Romania amongst others.
It’s Monday, 23 June 2025, it’s Jakub Krupa right here, and that is Europe Reside.
Good morning.
Key occasions
EU desires a diplomatic resolution in Iran, retains concentrate on Ukraine
EU international coverage chief Kaja Kallas stated the leaders are “very much focused” on discovering a diplomatic resolution to the state of affairs with Iran with rising “concerns of retaliation and this war escalating.”
She stated that Iran’s determination to shut the Strait of Hormuz “is something that would be extremely dangerous and not good for anybody.”
She additionally stated the summit will talk about the affiliation settlement with Israel, with the EU’s evaluate prepared for dialogue, and Israel submitting its response.
On Ukraine, she stated:
“… while our eyes are on what is happening in Iran and the Middle East, there are people dying and in Kyiv, because Russia is keeping the bombs and bombing Ukraine every single day.”
She stated the main target was on agreeing additional navy and ammunition help for Ukraine and “pushing” for the 18th package deal of sanctions.
‘Putin is a warmaker,’ Ukrainian minister says after assaults on Kyiv
Ukrainian international minister Andrii Sybiha is collaborating on this morning’s EU international affairs council.
In his opening feedback, he frightened about “another sleepless night in Kyiv” with one other Russian “heavy missile attack on Ukrainian civilian targets.”
“That’s the real response of the Russian side to all peace efforts, all peace proposals,” he stated.
“Putin is a warmaker,” he warned, including it was the time “to engage all diplomatic instruments to raise the price for further Russian aggression” and “to force Russia to peace.”
Spain requires suspending EU-Israel affiliation settlement
Spain’s Albares additionally referred to as for a right away suspension of the EU-Israel affiliation settlement, saying “the times of words and declarations is behind” and including that “Palestinians in Gaza have no more time to lose.”
“If the affiliation settlement relies on human rights, it’s probably the most regular factor that we droop instantly at the moment that affiliation settlement and that we transfer ahead.
That’s why I’ll ask for the suspension of the affiliation settlement, an embargo of promoting weapons to Israel, and enlarging the listing of individuals which might be being sanctioned to everybody that desires to be a spoiler of the two-state resolution.”
The Spanish minister added that Europe “must show courage in favour of peace, of international law” and defend the values it’s meant to face up for.
Spain reaches settlement with Nato on 5% defence spending, minister says
Spanish international minister José Manuel Albares is among the many first to reach on the international affairs council in Brussels.
He says that over the weekend, Spain has reached an settlement with Nato on the proposed 5% defence spending dedication to be adopted at this week’s summit, after prime minister Pedro Sánchez harshly criticised it as “unreasonable” and “unproductive”.
By the sound of it, the repair depends on altering the wording to make it sound like Spain agrees with the ambition, however just isn’t certain by it.
Albares stated Spain remained “fully committed” on “unity and the European and Euro-Atlantic security,” with “a historic number of Spanish soldiers on the eastern flank” of Nato.
However, he stated, “we think that the debate must not be around percentage, but capabilities,” and that Spain can meet its obligations spending much less, round 2.1%.
Morning opening: What’s Europe’s place?
Jakub Krupa
EU international ministers are assembly this morning in Brussels to speak concerning the bloc’s place on Ukraine and Russia and the worsening disaster in the Center East.
The international affairs council kicks off what some dubbed a “super week” in European – and never solely – politics, with the Nato summit in The Hague and the European Council summit later this week.
And there’s loads to speak about.
Right this moment’s assembly begins with Ukraine, after one other night time of heavy Russian assaults with 352 drones and 16 missiles reported by the nation’s air power, principally concentrating on Kyiv. At the very least six had been killed, and over a dozen had been injured.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that “preliminary reports indicate that ballistic weapons from North Korea were also used.”
“Everyone in countries neighbouring Russia, Iran, and North Korea should be thinking carefully about whether they could protect lives if this coalition of murderers persists and continues spreading their terror,” he warned.
Zelenskyy might be in Britain at the moment for additional talks on “new and powerful steps to increase pressure on Russia for this war and to put an end to the strikes.”
The EU ministers will then flip to the Center East, doubtless calling for a return to negotiations and the necessity to keep away from additional escalation.
A giant dialogue can be anticipated on probably triggering a evaluate of the EU-Israel affiliation settlement, however will they wish to do that amid escalating and unsure state of affairs within the area?
Elsewhere, I might be checking on the newest within the buildup to the Nato summit, and different updates from Germany, Norway, Sweden and Romania amongst others.
It’s Monday, 23 June 2025, it’s Jakub Krupa right here, and that is Europe Reside.
Good morning.
