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

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 referred to as for a brand new European Widespread Defence System comprising of the 27 EU member states (unsure pro-Russian Hungary will likely be that eager, although), the UK, Norway, Iceland, and the three Balkan candidate states: Albania, Montenegro, and North Macedonia.

He praised latest selections on elevating EU defence spending as “moving into the suitable path,” however referred to as for deeper integration “past the only real dimension of defence [as] safety is a much wider goal than defensive army effectiveness,” pointing to vitality independence, connectivity, and European autonomy by way of monetary and financial buildings.

He mentioned that a extra coordinated response was wanted to reply to “brazenly 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 international locations are assembly in Paris to debate creating a global power to discourage future Russian aggression as soon as a ceasefire is established.

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

The checklist of collaborating international locations consists of virtually all Nato member states – notably, with out the US, as it’s meant to be a Europe-led mission – in addition to some Commonwealth international locations and Asian powers akin 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 consequence of get below means, 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 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, as we speak to see if they will discover a means ahead for Donald Trump’s push to deliver 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 as we speak’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’m actually hopeful. All of the indicators are very, very constructive.” May this lastly occur as we speak, 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 kids. 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 function within the course of. In a social media publish after the assembly, he mentioned he mentioned these concepts, and pointedly added that “a major a part of the dialogue was devoted to the codecs of safety ensures.”

Rubio, however, mentioned “either side want to return to an understanding that there’s no army resolution to this example.”

He added: “I’m not going to set any situations on what they need to or must do. I feel we need to hearken to see how far they’re prepared to go after which examine that to what the Russians need and see how far aside we really are.”

“Crucial factor that we’ve got to depart right here with is a powerful sense that Ukraine is ready to do tough issues, just like the Russians are going to need to do tough issues, to finish this battle or at the very least pause it indirectly, form or type,” he mentioned.

Let’s see if they will make progress as we speak. I’ll deliver you all the newest all through the day.

Elsewhere, we will likely 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 important focus is firmly on Ukraine as we speak.

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

Good morning.