Key occasions
EU’s Kallas accusses Russia of ‘enjoying video games,’ hints at EU-UK defence deal subsequent week
And the EU’s overseas coverage chief Kaja Kallas is talking now, and he or she’s hanging a really comparable tone, pointedly referring to over 100 Russian drones reportedly focusing on Ukraine in a single day.
“We have to put pressure on Russia to really want peace and to sit down and to talk with Ukraine,” she says, accusing Moscow of “playing games.”
“If they are, if they are continuing bombing Ukraine all the time, if there’s no ceasefire, there can’t be talks under fire,” she tells reporters.
She additionally sounds optimistic on the prospect of a brand new EU-UK defence and safety cooperation deal, which may very well be signed on the first post-Brexit summit subsequent week.
She says the connection is “very important in this very turbulent time,” and that she hopes “we get this agreement signed” on the summit.
Requested about particular areas it might cowl, she factors to cybersecurity, disaster response and cooperation, and “different topics where we already exchange information, intelligence-sharing, and all these facts that make us both stronger.”
France’s Barrot requires ‘peace and negotiations,’ says Russia might face ‘huge sanctions’ if it does not have interaction
French overseas minister Jean-Noël Barrot mentioned France’s place was “very clear: we want peace, we want negotiations,” as he mentioned “an unconditional truce in air, sea, ground for 30 days” was wanted to unblock the talks.
“President Zelensky has shown time and time again, that he is open to negotiation that he wants diplomacy that he wants peace. … Meanwhile, Putin’s only response has been more bombing,” he mentioned.
Barrot mentioned that throughout the assembly, France will repeat its name “for diplomacy … and for massive sanctions if Russia once again refuses to engage seriously in diplomacy and continues its aggression … on the Ukrainian people.”
Germany ‘expects Russia to conform to ceasefire,’ new German overseas minister says
Arriving on the similar convention, Germany’s new overseas minister Johann Wadephul mentioned that Berlin “expects Russia to agree to a ceasefire and then be prepared to negotiate.”
Ought to talks fail, Germany was prepared to supply additional arms packages for Ukraine, Reuters reported.
Wadephul additionally warned Russia about potential additional penalties, together with tighter sanctions in opposition to Moscow.
Putin should ‘get critical’ about peace talks, Britain’s Lammy says
Talking forward of that assembly in London, Britain’s overseas secretary David Lammy mentioned Russian president Vladimir Putin should “get serious” about partaking in peace talks, PA reported.
Lammy counseled Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy for his “willingness to engage in talks,” and mentioned “this is the time for Vladimir Putin to get serious about peace in Europe, to get serious about a ceasefire, and to get serious about talks.”
He additionally repeated the present line that European leaders are “prepared if this is not the moment of seriousness from Putin,” PA mentioned.
Morning opening: The ceasefire that wasn’t
Jakub Krupa
Regardless of the renewed provide of a direct ceasefire, Ukraine mentioned Russia had fired over 100 drones in a single day, hitting residential buildings within the Odesa area, amongst others.
Within the meantime, we await a proper affirmation about potential direct assembly involving Ukraine and Russia in Turkey later this week, after US president Donald Trump and later Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged Russia’s Vladimir Putin to attend high-level talks.
Zelenskyy and Putin haven’t communicated immediately since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and there have been no publicly recognized talks between Moscow and Kyiv since March 2022, shortly after the conflict started.
Trump mentioned in a press release on his Fact Social platform that the 2 sides ought to “HAVE THE MEETING, NOW!!!”.
In the meantime, Ukraine’s European allies preserve elevating strain on Russia.
After the leaders’ go to in Kyiv over the weekend, overseas ministers from Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the EU assembly in London this morning to debate what’s subsequent for Ukraine and broader safety points.
I’ll deliver you all the important thing updates all through the day.
It’s Monday, 12 Could 2025, it’s Jakub Krupa right here, and that is Europe Stay.
Good morning.
