3 h. ago Belgian PM meets Starmer in London as debate continues on using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine – Europe live

Bart De Wever will also discuss migration, security and economy ahead of coalition of the willing meeting and EU summit next weekRussia’s central bank said it was suing the Belgium-based Euroclear financial group, which holds Moscow’s frozen international reserves, as the EU moves closer to using the funds to support Ukraine, AFP reported.The bank said it was filing “a lawsuit against Euroclear in the Moscow Arbitration Court” due to what it called “the illegal actions” of the institution. Continue reading...

Politics

3 h. ago EU prepares to use £185 BILLION of frozen Russian assets to fund huge loan to Ukraine

The move would allow EU leaders to work out at a summit next week how to use the tens of billions of euros in Russian Central Bank assets to underwrite a huge loan to help Ukraine in the war.

Economics

9 h. ago Belgian PM meets Starmer in London as debate continues on using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine – as it happened

Belgian PM meets Starmer in London as debate continues on using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine – as it happened  The Guardian

Politics

26 h. ago US pushing Ukraine to withdraw from Donbas and create ‘free economic zone’, says Zelenskyy – Europe live

Ukrainian leader says Washington has suggested that Russian troops would stay in region, but not advance furtherNato’s Rutte largely sticks to usual pleasantries, but says the clear political signal from Germany and other European partners is that “Europe is ready to take on more responsibility,” and “a signal that burden sharing is not just a slogan.”In his opening remarks, Merz says that Nato plays “a key role in a time of great geopolitical upheaval,” as he recalls his numerous meetings with Rutte in recent months. Continue reading...

Economics

29 h. ago ‘We are Russia’s next target’, warns Nato chief on Berlin visit – Europe live

Mark Rutte says ‘we are already in harm’s way’Nato’s Rutte largely sticks to usual pleasantries, but says the clear political signal from Germany and other European partners is that “Europe is ready to take on more responsibility,” and “a signal that burden sharing is not just a slogan.”In his opening remarks, Merz says that Nato plays “a key role in a time of great geopolitical upheaval,” as he recalls his numerous meetings with Rutte in recent months. Continue reading...

Events

30 h. ago Merz says European leaders had ‘constructive’ call with Trump as he plays down tensions with US – Europe live

German chancellor says conversation focused on ‘what territorial concessions Ukraine is prepared to make’Nato’s Rutte largely sticks to usual pleasantries, but says the clear political signal from Germany and other European partners is that “Europe is ready to take on more responsibility,” and “a signal that burden sharing is not just a slogan.”In his opening remarks, Merz says that Nato plays “a key role in a time of great geopolitical upheaval,” as he recalls his numerous meetings with Rutte in recent months. Continue reading...

Politics

32 h. ago ‘I am hopeful Venezuela will be free’: Nobel peace prize winner speaks after secret journey to Oslo – Europe live

Opposition politician María Corina Machado thanks people who ‘risked their lives’ to get her to Norwegian capitalNato’s Rutte largely sticks to usual pleasantries, but says the clear political signal from Germany and other European partners is that “Europe is ready to take on more responsibility,” and “a signal that burden sharing is not just a slogan.”In his opening remarks, Merz says that Nato plays “a key role in a time of great geopolitical upheaval,” as he recalls his numerous meetings with Rutte in recent months. Continue reading...

Society

50 h. ago Starmer, Merz and Macron take phone call with Trump on Ukraine peace talks – Europe live

European leaders confirm that they spoke with the US president earlier today about ‘the state of talks’ Jørgen Watne Frydnes, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, is now delivering his opening speech.It’s a damning verdict on Maduro’s authoritarian rule in Venezuela, as he talks about a number of figures facing repression and torture from the regime.“As we sit here in Oslo City Hall, innocent people are locked away in dark cells in Venezuela. They cannot hear the speeches given today – only the screams of prisoners being tortured.”Venezuela has evolved into a brutal, authoritarian state facing a deep humanitarian and economic crisis. Meanwhile, a small elite at the top – shielded by political power, weapons and legal impunity – enriches itself.“A quarter of the population has already fled the country – one of the world’s largest refugee crises.Those who remain live under a regime that systematically silences, harasses and attacks the opposition.”“Venezuela is not alone in this da...

Politics

53 h. ago Nobel peace prize winner misses ceremony but is ‘safe’ and due in Oslo in ‘just a few hours’, says daughter – Europe live

Winner María Corina Machado has been seen only once in public since going into hiding in August last yearJørgen Watne Frydnes, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, is now delivering his opening speech.It’s a damning verdict on Maduro’s authoritarian rule in Venezuela, as he talks about a number of figures facing repression and torture from the regime.“As we sit here in Oslo City Hall, innocent people are locked away in dark cells in Venezuela. They cannot hear the speeches given today – only the screams of prisoners being tortured.”Venezuela has evolved into a brutal, authoritarian state facing a deep humanitarian and economic crisis. Meanwhile, a small elite at the top – shielded by political power, weapons and legal impunity – enriches itself.“A quarter of the population has already fled the country – one of the world’s largest refugee crises.Those who remain live under a regime that systematically silences, harasses and attacks the opposition.”“Venezuela is not alone in this d...

Politics

55 h. ago María Corina Machado ‘safe’ and ‘will be’ in Oslo, Nobel committee says, but will miss peace prize ceremony – Europe live

Peace prize winner Machado has been seen only once in public since going into hiding in August last year Meanwhile, we are getting a line from France, with the government spokesperson confirming that the Coalition of the Willing will meet on Thursday virtually to discuss the next steps on Ukraine.The Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado is “safe” and “will be” in Oslo after “a journey in a situation of extreme danger,” although she will not attend the Nobel peace prize ceremony this afternoon, organisers have said. Continue reading...

Politics

2 d. ago The Guardian view on Trump and Europe: more an abusive relationship than an alliance | Editorial

The White House is aggressively seeking to weaken and dominate the United States’ traditional allies. European leaders must learn to fight back.Sir Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz have become adept at scrambling to deal with the latest bad news from Washington. Their meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Downing Street on Monday was so hastily arranged that Mr Macron needed to be back in Paris by late afternoon to meet Croatia’s prime minister, while Mr Merz was due on television for an end-of-year Q&A with the German public.But diplomatic improvisation alone cannot fully answer Donald Trump’s structural threat to European security. The US president and his emissaries are trying to bully Mr Zelenskyy into an unjust peace deal that suits American and Russian interests. In response, the summit helped ramp up support for the use of up to £100bn in frozen Russian assets as collateral for a “reparations loan” to Ukraine. European counter-proposals for a ceasefire will ...

Politics

3 d. ago Europe live: Parts of US national security strategy ‘unacceptable’ for Europe, says Merz

German leader says there is ‘no need for the Americans to want to save democracy in Europe’Oh, and a little warning shot from EU’s Kallas:“If we go into the fight [of] pointing fingers, I mean, we can also point a lot of fingers [on] what is wrong in America, but this is not the way we work, we are not going to meddle with the internal affairs of other countries.” Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago Europe live: Zelenskyy meets pope as he tours Europe to shore up support amid US pressure for Ukraine deal

Meeting with pontiff follows UK visit on Monday and comes ahead of talks with MeloniUkraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy has met with Pope Leo this morning, with the pair discussing the war in Ukraine, according to the Vatican readout.Pope Leo “reiterated the need for the continuation of dialogue and expressed his urgent desire that the current diplomatic initiatives bring about a just and lasting peace,” the statement read. Continue reading...

Society

3 d. ago Keir Starmer tells Zelensky the UK is ready to hand £8billion in frozen Russian assets to assist Ukraine's war effort

The move is part of a wider push that could give Kyiv access to holdings worth tens of billions of pounds locked in EU countries.

Economics

3 d. ago European leaders rally behind Ukraine in Downing Street talks

Hopes rise of a breakthrough in using £78bn of frozen Russian assets to bankroll KyivEuropean leaders rallied behind Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday night amid hopes they might finally achieve a breakthrough to allow Ukraine access to billions of pounds of frozen Russian assets.Despite vociferous support for the Ukrainian president, who has come under heavy pressure from Donald Trump to cede territory in order to bring the war to a speedy end, there was still no agreement on the thorny question of turning immobilised assets into a loan for Kyiv. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Allies discuss ‘positive progress’ to use frozen Russian assets in Ukraine talks

Sir Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron, Volodymyr Zelensky and Friedrich Merz met at No 10 on Monday.

Politics

3 d. ago Ukraine war live: Number 10 says Europe must ‘ramp up’ economic pressure on Russia after Zelenskyy meeting

Zelenskyy says talks with Starmer, Macron and Merz were a ‘small progress towards peace’See all our Ukraine war coverageMeanwhile, we are starting to look towards 10 Downing Street as the leaders should start arriving in the next hour. Last preparations are under way, and we have a live stream for you at the top of the page.In the last few minutes, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has just landed in the UK, Sky News has reported. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago Ukraine war live: Number 10 says Europe must ‘ramp up’ economic pressure on Russia after Zelenskyy meeting – as it happened

Ukraine war live: Number 10 says Europe must ‘ramp up’ economic pressure on Russia after Zelenskyy meeting – as it happened  The Guardian

Events

6 d. ago EU says US ‘still our biggest ally’ despite release of policy paper supporting Europe’s far

The Trump administration released a policy paper on Friday that made explicit Washington’s support for Europe’s nationalist far-right partiesOvernight Russian missile and drone strikes left parts of Ukraine without power on Saturday morning, Ukraine’s energy ministry said on Telegram.The strikes hit energy infrastructure in the Kyiv, Chernihiv, Lviv, Odesa, Zaporizhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv and Kharkiv regions, according to the ministry. Continue reading...

Events

6 d. ago Only Europe can save Ukraine from Putin and Trump – but will it? | Timothy Garton Ash

Whether using frozen Russian assets, ramping up defence production or deepening the relationship with the EU, it is up to us to secure Ukraine’s future – and our ownEurope, you have been warned. President Vladimir Putin has waged a full-scale war against Ukraine for nearly four years and this week threatened that Russia was “ready right now” for war with Europe if need be. President Donald Trump has demonstrated that the US is ready to sell out Ukraine for the sake of a dirty deal with Putin’s Russia. His new US National Security Strategy prescribes “cultivating resistance to Europe’s current trajectory within European nations”. How much more clarity do you need?Now it’s up to us Europeans to enable Ukraine to survive armed assault from Moscow and diplomatic betrayal from Washington. In doing so, we also defend ourselves. For a year now, people have been telling me that Trump will eventually get tough on Russia. It’s been the geopolitical version of Waiting for Godot. Then his perso...

Politics