Give attention to Ukraine as international ministers meet and US’s Hegseth visits Brussels – Europe dwell

After yesterday’s assembly on synthetic intelligence, the main focus now swiftly strikes on to Ukraine.

Forward of the Munich Safety Convention beginning on Friday, European leaders appear to be more and more anxious about what’s subsequent for Ukraine forward of the third anniversary of full-scale aggression by Russia amid repeated recommendations that the brand new US administration needs to finish the struggle as quickly as potential.

US president Donald Trump as soon as once more steered in a single day that some progress is being made via backchannel negotiations.

Commenting on the discharge of Marc Fogel, the American trainer free of a Russian jail, he hinted that his return might advance negotiations to finish the struggle. “We have been handled very properly by Russia, truly. I hope that’s the start of a relationship the place we will finish that struggle,” he stated.

As my colleague Pjotr Sauer notes, Russia’s newest engagement with the US will set off alarm bells in Kyiv, the place the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, should navigate the brand new actuality of a US administration that has opened dialogue with Moscow whereas at occasions displaying open hostility towards Ukraine.

In an interview with Fox Information broadcast on Monday, Trump steered that Ukraine “could also be Russian some day”, simply days earlier than his vice-president JD Vance gears as much as meet Zelenskyy, later this week in Munich.

Talking to the Guardian, Zelenskyy warned that Europe can’t assure Ukraine’s safety with out America as he sought to make a enterprise case for serving to Kyiv by suggesting alternatives for US corporations within the reconstruction of postwar Ukraine and within the extraction of Ukrainian pure assets.

At this time, EU international ministers from France, Germany, Poland, Spain and Italy will meet in Paris to debate their plans and safety ensures for Kyiv forward of Munich. They are going to be joined by senior EU commissioners, Ukraine’s international minister Andrii Sybiha and UK’s David Lammy.

A separate high-level assembly will happen in Brussels within the so-called Rammstein format, attended by US defence secretary Pete Hegseth. Nato defence ministers are assembly tomorrow.

The scramble comes additionally after a brand new Danish intelligence report warned concerning the prospect of Russia launching a large-scale struggle towards European members of Nato inside 5 years, if the US now not provides its help. It’s two years earlier than it poses a reputable menace to a number of members within the Baltic sea area, it added.

In a single day, Ukraine was attacked by Russia, once more, with Zelenskyy posting on social media what can solely be learn on this context as a name for motion and unity:

This Russian terror towards Ukraine won’t cease by itself.

Putin just isn’t getting ready for peace – he continues to kill Ukrainians and destroy cities.

Solely sturdy actions and strain on Russia can put an finish to this terror. Proper now, we’d like the unity and help of all our companions within the struggle for a simply finish to this struggle.

It’s Wednesday, 12 February 2025, and that is Europe dwell. It’s Jakub Krupa right here.

Good morning.