EU summit about ‘finalising first stage of maybe most vital European venture in a long time,’ Tusk says
Polish prime minister Donald Tusk spoke with reporters in Warsaw early morning, earlier than leaving for Brussels, saying the EU summit might be about “finalising the primary stage of maybe crucial European venture in final a long time: making Europe protected, armed, and united towards the Russian menace.”
“You could keep in mind how oftentimes we have been alone in warning different European companions towards the Russian menace … and now are about to see Europe unite round the exact same drawback that usually noticed Poland stand alone,” he mentioned.
Tusk additionally urged Poland’s president Andrzej Duda to signal into regulation the invoice on migration and asylum regulation modifications, giving the federal government’s the best to briefly droop asylum purposes from irregular migrants.
He mentioned the transfer was wanted to counter “the stress on our border with Belarus … which is rising” as he accused Alexander Lukashenko and Russia’s Vladimir Putin of encouraging irregular migration to place stress on the EU’s exterior borders, waging “a de facto battle – they name it hybrid [war], but it surely’s one thing extra critical than hybrid battle” towards Poland.
Key occasions
Dutch prime minister Dick Schoof is among the first European leaders to reach on the European Council summit.
In a (very) intensive Q&A with the Dutch media he was principally requested concerning the defence spending and funding points, in addition to whether or not he trusts Vladimir Putin on any future ceasefire.
He mentioned the Russian president “has proven his intentions” with the battle on Ukraine, and confused the necessity for “very agency” peace settlement that might be enforced.
He additionally rejected Russia’s demand that Europe cease providing army help to Ukraine, saying it was “not an choice,” and pointing to on-going talks between Europe, the UK, Canada and Turkey a couple of broader function they’ll play in Ukraine.
Requested once more concerning the funding aspect of the bundle in English, he mentioned that the Netherlands was supporting EU proposals and remained “constructive”, however continued to emphasize that “sustainable debt is vital,” which is why it retains opposing eurobonds.
He additionally hinted on the Dutch curiosity in “direct funding within the Ukrainian defence trade” to make use of its capability and pace up the ammunition manufacturing in Ukraine.
Russian air assaults on Ukraine proceed, with two reported useless and dozens injured
Ukraine reported 171 Russian drone assaults in a single day, of which its air defence programs shot 71 down, and 63 have been downed by digital jamming programs or have been misplaced, AFP mentioned.
Russian assaults reportedly killed two individuals in Sumy and Kharkiv areas, with “a number of others” wounded after assaults within the border areas. A separate assault within the metropolis of Kropyvnytskyi wounded 10, together with 4 kids, Reuters mentioned.
Russia in the meantime mentioned its air defence items had shot down 132 Ukrainian drones in a number of areas throughout the nation.
EU summit about ‘finalising first stage of maybe most vital European venture in a long time,’ Tusk says
Polish prime minister Donald Tusk spoke with reporters in Warsaw early morning, earlier than leaving for Brussels, saying the EU summit might be about “finalising the primary stage of maybe crucial European venture in final a long time: making Europe protected, armed, and united towards the Russian menace.”
“You could keep in mind how oftentimes we have been alone in warning different European companions towards the Russian menace … and now are about to see Europe unite round the exact same drawback that usually noticed Poland stand alone,” he mentioned.
Tusk additionally urged Poland’s president Andrzej Duda to signal into regulation the invoice on migration and asylum regulation modifications, giving the federal government’s the best to briefly droop asylum purposes from irregular migrants.
He mentioned the transfer was wanted to counter “the stress on our border with Belarus … which is rising” as he accused Alexander Lukashenko and Russia’s Vladimir Putin of encouraging irregular migration to place stress on the EU’s exterior borders, waging “a de facto battle – they name it hybrid [war], but it surely’s one thing extra critical than hybrid battle” towards Poland.
‘That was Macron, I’ll name him again,’ Zelenskyy briefs journalists on ‘fruitful, maybe most fruitful we had’ dialog with Trump
Shaun Walker
in Kyiv
In a Zoom name with journalists late on Wednesday, Zelenskyy mentioned he had “felt no stress” from Trump, including: “It was a fruitful dialog, maybe probably the most fruitful we’ve had, the temper was constructive.
“We’ve got acquired indicators from the US that we’re speaking concerning the ceasefire on vitality amenities, so to not assault vitality infrastructure, and we’re additionally speaking concerning the civilian infrastructure amenities.”
Zelenskyy mentioned his crew would draw up a listing of the type of amenities they felt might be included and would current them to the Individuals at upcoming negotiations.
The Ukrainian chief additionally mentioned that he and Trump had mentioned the US proposal to take possession of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear energy plant in south Ukraine.
“We talked solely about one energy plant, which is beneath Russian occupation,” he mentioned.
In an indication that European leaders are intently watching the discussions between Trump, Putin and Zelenskyy, the Ukraine president answered a cellphone name whereas talking with reporters on Wednesday night and promised to name again.
Returning to the briefing, he mentioned: “That was President Macron, we’ve a dialog on common as soon as a day, he’s serving to so much. I’ll name him again.”
Morning opening: Europe rallies to assist Ukraine
Jakub Krupa
It’s one other busy day in European diplomacy.
European leaders are assembly in Brussels this morning to debate Ukraine, Center East, competitiveness, and European defence, constructing on a current extraordinary summit.
Dangling the carrot of multibillion funding in European industries, António Costa, European Council president, wrote to leaders:
Our continued assist to Ukraine, the necessity to put money into our defence and our competitiveness are intently interlinked. A extra aggressive Union might be a stronger Union, higher in a position to shield its residents, its pursuits and its values on the worldwide stage.
In the middle of the morning, the leaders will right here from Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, getting an unfiltered view of his cellphone name with US president Donald Trump.
Particularly, they are going to be in all probability eager to listen to extra concerning the plans for a restricted – however step by step increasing, if potential – ceasefire, and Trump’s uncommon promise to “work with him to search out what was accessible, significantly in Europe” to assist Ukrainian air defence, which might be seen as an oblique rejection of the Russian demand to cease arming Ukraine.
Over lunch, they may also communicate with UN secretary basic António Guterres; ECB president Christine Lagarde and Eurogroup president Paschal Donohoe may also be part of for a bit.
Their talks are doubtless to enter late night, however our consideration will shift to Britain in late afternoon, as UK prime minister Keir Starmer hosts over 30 military chiefs and planners to debate his plans for the “coalition of the prepared”.
We should always hear from him in some unspecified time in the future, too, however in a present of simply how critical he’s about defence, he made a uncommon go to to a nuclear-armed submarine HMS Vanguard – a primary such go to by a serving prime minister in additional than a decade.
However his coalition faces a problem even earlier than it got here into existence as Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, has made clear he wouldn’t settle for western army help flowing to Ukraine and Nato forces on Ukrainian soil beneath any peace settlement. Regardless of this, there are not any indicators that his phrases in any method affected the persevering with planning. Finally, that’s what “peace by way of energy” is supposed to be about.
Heaps to cowl – ranging from European leaders’ arrivals in Brussels within the subsequent hour or so. I’ll deliver you all the newest right here.
It’s Thursday, 20 March 2025, and that is Europe stay. It’s Jakub Krupa right here.
Good morning.
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