![\"Jakub](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1752663012_70_Jakub_Krupa.png\")
Jakub Krupa<\/p>\nMorning opening: No, do not bomb MoscowJakub Krupa<\/p>\n
US president Donald Trump <\/strong>clarified overnight that, contrary to reports, he does not want Ukraine to target Moscow with long-range missiles: \u201cNo, he should not target Moscow.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n But he reminded Russian president Vladimir Putin<\/strong> of the 50 days deadline to reach a peace settlement over Ukraine. \u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s a long time,\u201d<\/strong> he warned.<\/p>\n Asked what options he was expecting to have if Russia<\/a> doesn\u2019t respond to the ultimatum, he said:<\/p>\n \u201cA lot of opinions change very rapidly.<\/strong> Might not be 50 days, might be much sooner than 50 days.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Trump also confirmed that first Patriot deliveries for Ukraine<\/a>, via Germany, are \u201calready being shipped.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n But Russia appears to be undeterred in its attacks, with Ukraine\u2019s air force reporting this morning that 400 drones and one ballistic missile were launched, mostly targeting three cities of Kharkiv<\/strong>, Zelenskyy\u2019s hometown of Kryvyi Rih<\/strong> and Vinnytsia<\/strong>.<\/p>\n At least two people were reported dead, with at least 12 injured.<\/p>\n Separately, we will be looking at the fallout from the French budget presentation<\/strong> last night, and ahead to the European Commission\u2019s announcement of its plans for the EU\u2019s budget 2028-2034<\/strong> later today.<\/p>\n I will bring you all the latest here.<\/p>\n It\u2019s Wednesday, 16 July 2025<\/strong>, it\u2019s Jakub Krupa<\/strong> here, and this is Europe Live.<\/strong><\/p>\n Good morning.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a003.46 EDT<\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n Show key events only<\/p>\n Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n EU-US talks turn political as \u0160ef\u010dovi\u010d flies to Washington – snap analysis Here\u2019s our snap analysis<\/strong> on the news that European trade commissioner Maro\u0161 \u0160ef\u010dovi\u010d<\/strong> will fly to Washington this afternoon for separate in-person meetings with commerce secretary Howard Lutnick<\/strong> and US trade representative Jamieson Greer.<\/strong><\/p>\n EU trade chief Maro\u0161 \u0160ef\u010dovi\u010d attends a joint press conference in Brussels. Photograph: Xinhua\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n The meetings come after Trump blew up an agreement in principle both parties had come to last week.<\/strong><\/p>\n After starting last week praising the EU for turning from \u201cnasty\u201d to \u201cnice\u201d expectations were high that he would sign off on the three page framework deal.<\/p>\n But on Saturday he announced the 10% tariffs he has currently imposed on EU imports would jump to 30% after 1 August<\/strong> if it didn\u2019t concede more.<\/p>\n The EU had worked on the assumption<\/strong>, that just as UK prime minister Keir Starmer had done, it would be able to concede a Trump-term 10% tariff rate<\/strong> (up from an average of 2.5%) in exchange for relief from punitive tariffs on cars and steel.<\/p>\n Overnight Trump has once again threatened to impose tariffs on pharma imports<\/strong>, warning he would likely introduce a low tariff at the end of the month to encourage US multinationals operating abroad including Ireland to repatriate manufacturing.<\/p>\n Ireland\u2019s finance minister last night reportedly received a \u201cgrim\u201d briefing on the future of the economy, factoring in a reduction in foreign investment in future.<\/p>\n Lutnick\u2019s role is to help the president shape tariffs on sectors Trump is threatening to target including pharma, semiconductors and lumber.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Polish-owned company in Ukraine confirms Russian attack left two injured We also just got an update on the Russian attack on a Polish-owned factory in central Ukraine<\/strong>, first reported by the Polish foreign minister Rados\u0142aw Sikorski earlier today (10:40<\/a>).<\/p>\n The factory\u2019s owner, the layered wood floor producer Barlinek Group<\/strong>, told the Guardian in a statement that two people were injured in the attack.<\/strong><\/p>\n They added:<\/p>\n \u201cAt the moment, we do not anticipate that production will resume any earlier than in 6 months.<\/strong> The losses are significant<\/strong> and are still being assessed.<\/p>\n For safety reasons, we have decided not to provide more detailed information.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The Polish ministry of foreign affairs told Gazeta Wyborcza<\/a> newspaper that eight people were injured, including two seriously.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.17 EDT<\/p>\n EU’s \u0160ef\u010dovi\u010d travels to Washington for US trade talks on tariffs<\/p>\n Separately, the European Commission has just confirmed that EU trade commissioner Maro\u0161 \u0160ef\u010dovi\u010d will travel to Washington DC today<\/strong> for talks with US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick<\/strong> and US trade representative Jamieson Greer.<\/strong><\/p>\n The meetings come as part of the EU\u2019s push to get an agreement with the US on tariffs before 1 August.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>French opposition parties threaten to topple PM Bayrou over budget plans – analysis in Paris<\/p>\n France\u2019s opposition parties have reacted furiously to the austerity budget outlined by prime minister Fran\u00e7ois Bayrou<\/strong>, threatening to topple his minority government at the first opportunity this autumn unless he revises his proposals.<\/p>\n French prime minister Fran\u00e7ois Bayrou presents the main lines of the 2026 budget during a press conference in Paris. Photograph: Stefano Lorusso\/ZUMA Press Wire\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n \u201cThe only possible prospect is a vote of no confidence,<\/strong>\u201d said the Socialist party (PS) leader, Olivier Faure<\/strong>, denouncing \u201ca series of violent measures\u201d that amounted \u201cnot to a recovery plan but to the outright destruction of France\u2019s social model\u201d.<\/strong><\/p>\n Marine Le Pen<\/strong> of the far-right National Rally (RN), the largest single party in parliament, said the government \u201cprefers to turn on the French people rather than tackle waste.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n If Fran\u00e7ois Bayrou does not correct his work, we will vote him down.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u00c9ric Coquerel<\/strong> of the radical left LFI described the proposals as \u201ca social and economic catastrophe\u201d<\/strong>, while his party colleague Manuel Bompard<\/strong> said the author of such an act of \u201cunprecedented brutality against the people\u201d would \u201cof course be censured\u201d.<\/strong><\/p>\n The general secretary of the CGT trades union deferation, Sophie Binet,<\/strong> called on Wednesday for a \u201cmass mobilisation by all unions\u201d<\/strong> from September against a budget that was \u201cnot only deeply unfair to workers but dangerous for the country\u201d.<\/p>\n Even Laurent Wauquiez of the centre-right Les R\u00e9publicains<\/strong> (LR), who mostly back the government, criticised budget \u201cshortcomings\u201d \u2013 including insufficent spending cuts \u2013 which he said the party would address in talks with Bayrou over the summer.<\/p>\n President Emmanuel Macron\u2019s<\/strong> decision to call a snap election last year delivered a hung parliament in which Bayrou does not have the votes to pass his budget, expected to be presented to parliament in October, without opposition support.<\/p>\n Bayrou has three short months in which to try to win his opponents over.<\/strong><\/p>\n But as things stand, it looks likely that he will face a no-confidence motion<\/strong> just like the one that last December toppled his predecessor, Michel Barnier.<\/strong><\/p>\n If the RN in particular votes against him, as it has promised to do, he will suffer the same fate.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>French PM may scrap two public holidays to reduce country\u2019s crippling debt in Paris<\/p>\n France\u2019s prime minister,<\/strong> Fran\u00e7ois Bayrou, has proposed scrapping two public holidays as part of radical measures aimed at reducing the country\u2019s ballooning deficit<\/strong>, boosting its economy and preventing it being \u201ccrushed\u201d by debt.<\/p>\n Nice, France. Photograph: Maremagnum\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Outlining the 2026 budget on Tuesday, Bayrou suggested Easter<\/a> Monday and 8 May, when France commemorates Victory Day, marking the end of the second world war,<\/strong> although he said he was open to other options.<\/p>\n The centrist prime minister said: \u201cThe entire nation has to work more<\/strong> so that the activity of the country as a whole increases, and so that France\u2019s situation improves. Everyone will have to contribute to the effort.\u201d<\/p>\n France is under pressure to bring its public deficit<\/strong>, running at 5.8% of GDP, under the 3% figure required by EU rules, and to rein in \u20ac3.3tn of public debt \u2013 on which the annual interest, of \u20ac60bn, could soon become its biggest budget outlay.<\/p>\n The debt mountain represented a \u201cmortal danger\u201d for a country \u201con a cliff edge\u201d<\/strong> and \u201cstill addicted to public spending\u201d, Bayrou said, outlining steps he said would cut \u20ac43.8bn from the budget, reducing the deficit to 4.6% next year and 3% by 2029.<\/p>\n Other measures would include an across-the-board freeze on government spending except for debt servicing and the defence sector,<\/strong> which president Emmanuel Macron<\/strong> demanded should be increased by \u20ac3.5bn next year and more in 2027.<\/p>\n The move to scrap public holidays is likely to meet strong resistance, although France has previously discussed combining VE Day<\/a> with Armistice Day on 11 November, creating a single memorial day for the victims of the first and second world wars.<\/p>\n Without an agreement, the veteran prime minister is likely to face a no-confidence motion similar to the one that toppled his predecessor, Michel Barnier<\/strong>, as early as October, when his detailed budget bill is due to go before to parliament.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.54 EDT<\/p>\n I promised we would take a look at the situation in France<\/strong> after last night\u2019s budget announcement by the country\u2019s prime minister Fran\u00e7ois Bayrou.<\/strong><\/p>\n So, let\u2019s first catch up with what he said<\/strong>, and then \u2013 with reactions to his plans.<\/strong><\/p>\n Over to Jon Henley<\/strong> in Paris.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Man arrested in Ukraine over bomb threats against Czech, Slovak schools<\/p>\n A joint Czech, Slovak and Ukrainian police operation arrested a Ukrainian man who was allegedly sending bomb threats against \u201chundreds\u201d of Czech and Slovak schools<\/strong>, the forces confirmed.<\/p>\n The arrest took place in the Dnipro region of Ukraine<\/strong> as a result of the forces\u2019 joint investigation into multiple emailed bomb threats that started in September last year.<\/p>\n Czech media outlet iDnes.cz reported<\/a> that the threats were emailed to hundreds of schools, and were investigated by the Slovak police at the time as potential terrorism incident.<\/p>\n The Slovak police said in a statement<\/a> that the forces also conducted a number of house searches<\/strong>, seizing computers and mobile telecommunications equipment.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a004.59 EDT<\/p>\n Patriot-owning countries to meet to coordinate aid for Ukraine next week – reports<\/p>\n Separately, Reuters reported that a meeting of Patriot owner nations and Ukraine<\/a> donors, aiming to find additional Patriot air defence batteries for Kyiv<\/strong> and chaired by Nato\u2019s top military commander could take place Wednesday next week.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Polish factory in Ukraine targeted by Russian attacks overnight, Polish minister says<\/p>\n Polish foreign minister Rados\u0142aw Sikorski<\/strong> has just said<\/a> that overnight Russian drone attacks on Ukraine \u201cdeliberately\u201d targeted a Polish company\u2019s factory in Vinnytsia <\/strong>with strikes \u201cfrom three sides.\u201d<\/p>\n The company is owned by the Barlinek Group<\/strong>, a major manufacturer of layered wood floors, Sikorski said. Vinnytsia is about 400-500 km away from the Polish border.<\/p>\n He said there was a number of injured, including two with serious burns.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cThe Ukrainian services are active, as is our consulate,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n He added:<\/p>\n Putin\u2019s criminal war is approaching our borders.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The attack comes hours before Sikorski<\/strong> is scheduled to meet with Ukrainian<\/strong> and Lithuanian<\/strong> foreign ministers in Lublin, Poland.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>EU court dismisses appeal on Jean-Marie Le Pen’s expenses<\/p>\n An EU court<\/strong> dismissed an appeal brought by Jean-Marie Le Pen\u2019s heirs against a European parliament decision demanding repayment for about \u20ac300,000<\/strong> the late French far-right leader unduly claimed in expenses<\/strong>, AFP reported.<\/p>\n Front National honorary president Jean-Marie Le Pen, who died in January 2025, is pictured next to a campaign poster of his daughter, the president of the party Marine Le Pen. Photograph: Mehdi Fedouach\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/p>\n The court\u2019s press release<\/a> said \u201caccording to the parliament, Mr Le Pen had improperly invoiced personal expenses under budget item 400<\/strong>, intended for MEPs\u2019 parliamentary expenses.\u201d<\/p>\n The court rejected the arguments made by Le Pen\u2019s three daughters<\/strong> \u2013 Marine, Marie-Caroline, and Yann \u2013 saying the parliament\u2019s procedure was \u201cnot contrary to the principles of legal certainty<\/strong> and the protection of legitimate expectations.\u201d<\/p>\n It added that Le Pen\u2019s right to a fair trial was also respected.<\/p>\n Le Pen, who died in January this year, was a member of the European parliament between 1984 and 2019.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Here\u2019s our Ukraine war briefing<\/strong> in full if you want to catch up on the latest.<\/p>\n A Russian drone attack hit Kharkiv, the second-largest city in Ukraine. Photograph: Patrick Muzart\/ZUMA Press Wire\/ShutterstockShare<\/a>Morning opening: No, do not bomb Moscow US president Donald Trump <\/strong>clarified overnight that, contrary to reports, he does not want Ukraine to target Moscow with long-range missiles: \u201cNo, he should not target Moscow.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n US president Donald Trump walks on the South Lawn of the White House after arriving on Marine One in Washington DC, US. Photograph: Shutterstock<\/p>\n But he reminded Russian president Vladimir Putin<\/strong> of the 50 days deadline to reach a peace settlement over Ukraine. \u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s a long time,\u201d<\/strong> he warned.<\/p>\n Asked what options he was expecting to have if Russia<\/a> doesn\u2019t respond to the ultimatum, he said:<\/p>\n \u201cA lot of opinions change very rapidly.<\/strong> Might not be 50 days, might be much sooner than 50 days.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n![\"US](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/2523.jpg\")
US president Donald Trump walks on the South Lawn of the White House after arriving on Marine One in Washington DC, US. Photograph: Shutterstock<\/p>\n\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/5568.jpg\")
A Russian drone attack hit Kharkiv, the second-largest city in Ukraine. Photograph: Patrick Muzart\/ZUMA Press Wire\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n![\"Lisa](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1752663013_386_Lisa-OCarroll-byline-004.jpg\")
Lisa O\u2019Carroll<\/p>\nJakub Krupa<\/p>\n\n
![\"Jon](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Jon_Henley,_L.png\")
Jon Henley<\/p>\n\n
Jon Henley<\/p>\nJakub Krupa<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/540.jpg\")
A handout photo, provided by the Slovak police on its Facebook, of the arrest of a Ukrainian citizen in Dnipro, Ukraine, who allegedly was involved in sending bomb threats against schools in Czech Republic and Slovakia. Photograph: Handout\/Pol\u00edcia Slovenskej republiky<\/p>\n\n
Jakub Krupa<\/p>\n\n