He says that \u201call of this leaves no doubt \u2026 [that] Vladimir Putin does not want a ceasefire and does not want peace for Ukraine.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cSo today, we must focus on empowering Ukraine and bolstering its defence,<\/strong>\u201d he says.<\/p>\n \u201cOur goal is to see Ukraine enter into meaningful negotiations to achieve lasting peace, and for that, Ukraine must be strong. This is our responsibility as Europeans.<\/p>\n This is a task of our time.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n He also says:<\/p>\n \u201cWe must and we will do more for defence in Europe<\/a>.<\/strong> Nato must become more European in order to remain transatlantic. This is what it takes for our continent to be whole, free and at peace.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.08 EDT<\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n 7m ago<\/p>\n EU countries ‘had enough time’ to find alternative energy suppliers to Russia, EU defence commissioner says<\/p>\n <\/a><\/li>\n 23m ago<\/p>\n European leaders rush to congratulate Moldova ahead of European summit in Copenhagen this week<\/p>\n <\/a><\/li>\n 36m ago<\/p>\n ‘No doubt’ Putin doesn’t want to end war, and Europeans must ensure Ukraine remains strong, Germany’s Pistorius says<\/p>\n <\/a><\/li>\n 42m ago<\/p>\n ‘We will not be lured into Putin’s trap of continous escalation,’ Germany’s defence minister says<\/p>\n <\/a><\/li>\n 44m ago<\/p>\n ‘Russia wants Nato to react … without the US,’ Zelenskyy says in call for unity<\/p>\n <\/a><\/li>\n 53m ago<\/p>\n ‘Russia will not be drawing new borders in Ukraine,’ Zelenskyy says<\/p>\n <\/a><\/li>\n 1h ago<\/p>\n ‘Ukraine must join the EU and it will,’ Zelenskyy says<\/p>\n <\/a><\/li>\n 1h ago<\/p>\n ‘Russia is testing how far it can go,’ Zelenskyy says responding to recent Russian airspace violations<\/p>\n <\/a><\/li>\n 1h ago<\/p>\n Russia ‘failed to destabilise Moldova’ and its ‘subversive influence’ will not spread further, Zelenskyy says<\/p>\n <\/a><\/li>\n 1h ago<\/p>\n Poland’s Tusk soberly warns Europe faces ‘a new type’ of war<\/p>\n <\/a><\/li>\n 1h ago<\/p>\n ‘Fight is not over, … but today we celebrate,’ former Moldovan prime minister says<\/p>\n <\/a><\/li>\n 2h ago<\/p>\n Moldovans chose ‘democracy, reform and European future,’ EU’s Costa says<\/p>\n <\/a><\/li>\n 2h ago<\/p>\n ‘Tusk hails Moldova’s Sandu for ‘saving democracy and keeping European course’<\/p>\n <\/a><\/li>\n 2h ago<\/p>\n ‘The will of Moldovan people has prevailed,’ Macron says as he welcomes election result<\/p>\n <\/a><\/li>\n 2h ago<\/p>\n Morning opening: Moldova chooses Europe<\/p>\n <\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Show key events only<\/p>\n Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n The ministers get asked by former UK minister Tobias Ellwood<\/strong> about whether European countries should \u201cstand up to Putin\u201d and develop a \u201cno-fly zone\u201d over parts of Europe<\/a> to block any possible incursions.<\/p>\n Estonia\u2019s Pevkur<\/strong> says \u201cwe should have done that in 2022,\u201d but he also notes practical limitations and difficulties in shooting down all sorts of traffic, which he says \u201ceven the Ukrainians are not able to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou cannot put a curtain up to 10 kilometres,\u201d<\/strong> he says.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>EU countries ‘had enough time’ to find alternative energy suppliers to Russia, EU defence commissioner says<\/p>\n EU defence commissioner Andrius Kubilius <\/strong>now gets asked about continuing energy imports from Russia<\/a> (hello Hungary and Slovakia, in particular), much to the annoyance of US president Donald Trump.<\/p>\n He says that in his personal view \u201cthey had enough time to find alternative supplies, and perhaps they will do that,\u201d<\/strong> but also warns about Russia\u2019s shadow fleet \u201cgoing through the Baltic Sea, causing a lot of troubles.\u201d<\/p>\n He also suggests that Russia may have recently launched drones in Europe<\/a> from ships at sea.<\/p>\n He says \u201cUkraine is able to bring the war back to Russian territories with deep strikes,\u201d<\/strong> and suggests the EU \u201ccould support Ukrainian capabilities in that field much more.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Curiously, Germany\u2019s Pistorius<\/strong> says that the government in Berlin pushes for voluntary conscription and training of more people trained \u201cjust in case,\u201d but concedes that \u201cwe have problems\u201d with infrastructure.<\/p>\n He says more than 150 barracks were closed since 1990s, \u201cso we don\u2019t have the space for full-scale conscription.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Dutch defence minister Ruben Brekelmans <\/strong>jokes that with the country\u2019s parliamentary election set to take place next month, he doesn\u2019t feel it\u2019s a good moment to talk about hypothethical conscription in response to future conflicts.<\/p>\n But he says that there is \u201ca broad majority in favour of having this growth path\u201d for defence spending as agreed at Nato\u2019s summit in the Hague earlier this year, which he insists is a major milestone for the alliance, even if \u201cone of the key questions now in our election campaign is how to fund this.\u201d<\/p>\n He says he is confident that a future coalition government will \u201cfind a path in order to fund that.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>European leaders rush to congratulate Moldova ahead of European summit in Copenhagen this week in Brussels<\/p>\n Congratulations from European leaders are flooding in to Moldova<\/a>,<\/strong> after the ruling pro-EU party won a convincing majority in parliamentary elections.<\/p>\n EU leaders will likely have a chance to address them personally to Moldova\u2019s president Maia Sandu,<\/strong> who is expected to attend a European summit on Thursday.<\/p>\n Moldova election result<\/a><\/p>\n Leaders from across the continents, barring Russia<\/a> and Belarus, are invited to attend the European Political Community summit in Copenhagen on Thursday<\/strong>, which falls the day after an EU summit.<\/p>\n The EPC, the brainchild of French president Emmanuel Macron, functions as political speed dating for the leaders who attend, with multiple bilaterals and mini meetings taking place on the margins of the summit. It is likely many will want to meet Moldova\u2019s leader to express their political support for the country\u2019s European integration goals.<\/strong><\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.27 EDT<\/p>\n German defence minister Boris Pistorius<\/strong> concedes that as many countries in eastern and northern Europe \u201cwoke up\u201d to the threat coming from Russia<\/a> after its invaded Crimea in 2014, large parts of Europe \u201cpushed the snooze button \u2026 and turned around to take another nap.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe are \u2026 late to explain to our population, our people, wiat is going on the eastern flank and in Russia,\u201d<\/strong> he says.<\/p>\n Pressed on this, he acknowledges the rise of the far-right Alternative f\u00fcr Deutschland, but he insists there is still a clear majority in Germany for supporting Ukraine and increasing defence spending.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Dutch defence minister Ruben Brekelmans<\/strong> also stresses the unprecedented threat faced by Nato, as he says the recent Russian drone incursion in to Poland was in that sense \u201chistoric\u201d.<\/p>\n He says there are lots of lessons to be learned about what are the most effective systems to counter drones so European countries don\u2019t use their most expensive weapons to take out \u201ccheap drones\u201d and to react quicker.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n EU\u2019s defence commissioner Andrius Kubilius <\/strong>also warns that while it\u2019s for Nato to decide whether it should shoot down any aircraft that violates its airspace, it is important to face the reality that \u201cRussian provications or testing of European defence capabilities are increasing.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n He stresses the need to ramp up European infrastructure against drones,<\/strong> and he says there is a lot the bloc could learn from Ukraine; similar lines to what he said on Friday after the meeting on the so-called drone wall.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Estonian defence minister Hanno Pevkur<\/strong> is now speaking, as part of a broader panel of EU defence ministers.<\/p>\n He stresses how \u201cunprecedented\u201d the Russian incursion into Estonian airspace was, even as he stresses it wasn\u2019t a surprise.<\/p>\n \u201cThey knew perfectly where they are. They knew perfectly that they are in Nato\u2019s airspace, and they didn\u2019t do anything to leave voluntarily,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n He outright says that Russia \u201clied\u201d when it denied its involvement at the UN security council meeting.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>‘No doubt’ Putin doesn’t want to end war, and Europeans must ensure Ukraine remains strong, Germany’s Pistorius says<\/p>\n Pistorius <\/strong>also warns that continued talks about peace deals remains mostly \u201cwishful thinking,\u201d as \u201cdiplomatic efforts fail to bring about any meaningful breakthrough\u201d in the war.<\/p>\n He says that \u201call of this leaves no doubt \u2026 [that] Vladimir Putin does not want a ceasefire and does not want peace for Ukraine.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cSo today, we must focus on empowering Ukraine and bolstering its defence,<\/strong>\u201d he says.<\/p>\n \u201cOur goal is to see Ukraine enter into meaningful negotiations to achieve lasting peace, and for that, Ukraine must be strong. This is our responsibility as Europeans.<\/p>\n This is a task of our time.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n He also says:<\/p>\n \u201cWe must and we will do more for defence in Europe<\/a>.<\/strong> Nato must become more European in order to remain transatlantic. This is what it takes for our continent to be whole, free and at peace.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.08 EDT<\/p>\n ‘We will not be lured into Putin’s trap of continous escalation,’ Germany’s defence minister says<\/p>\n German foreign minister Boris Pistorius <\/strong>is speaking next at the Warsaw Security Forum, where he warns that Russia\u2019s Vlaidmir Putin \u201cseeks to provoke Nato member states.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cHe won\u2019t succeed. The alliance has responded to Russia\u2019s provocations with clarity, unity, resolve and prudence. We will not be lured into Putin\u2019s trap of continuous escalation,\u201d<\/strong> he says.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>‘Russia wants Nato to react … without the US,’ Zelenskyy says in call for unity<\/p>\n Zelenskyy<\/strong> also gets asked by BBC\u2019s Kasia Madera<\/strong> about his suggestions that Russia<\/a> could attack another European country.<\/p>\n He says:<\/p>\n \u201cWell, it\u2019s difficult to say. You saw that with Estonia, Poland, Denmark, Norway, <\/strong>and Sweden<\/strong>, there were certain signals.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n He says there\u2019s a bigger trend on display, with repeated violations of airspace and borders.<\/p>\n \u201cThis must get a reaction,\u201d he says, as he warns about a \u201ctheoretical Russian aggression.\u201d<\/p>\n He says that Russia wants Nato \u201cto react but only partially, without the US, so a united voice is desirable here.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n He also stresses the need to \u201cprotect former USSR countries as well as the countries where Russia is losing its clout,\u201d as he pointedly names Kazakhstan<\/strong>.<\/p>\n \u201cI cannot say what\u2019s there on Putin\u2019s mind, which is why I\u2019m saying that we must be prepared to defend ourselves and to look where Putin could go.<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n That ends his speech.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Asked about US president Trump\u2019s position on Ukraine, Zelenskyy <\/strong>says \u201cthe stance of president Trump is truly balanced, and it supports Ukraine\u2019s stance\u201d as he pursues peace.<\/p>\n Commenting on Trump\u2019s newly found seemingly hardline position towards Russia<\/a>, he says:<\/p>\n \u201cOur task today is to preserve the new attitude of the US towards this war and so that it corresponds to the attitude in Europe.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Share<\/a>‘Russia will not be drawing new borders in Ukraine,’ Zelenskyy says<\/p>\n Asked if he would be prepared to make territorial concessions to end the war, Zelenskyy<\/strong> repeats that Ukraine\u2019s borders are defined by its constitution.<\/p>\n He signals some openness to \u201cdiplomatic\u201d talks, but stresses \u201cRussia will not be drawing new borders in Ukraine.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n In Q&A, Zelenskyy says the main weapon needed by Ukraine is \u201cunity,\u201d<\/strong> as he warns about attempts to divide Europe<\/a>.<\/p>\n He adds that Ukraine needs more air defence systems and missiles to defend its skies<\/strong>, as he highlights the importance of Nato\u2019s Purl initiative for Ukraine.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>‘Ukraine must join the EU and it will,’ Zelenskyy says<\/p>\n Zelenskyy <\/strong>also speaks about the importance of Ukraine joining the EU<\/strong> in the foreseeable future, as he says \u201cUkraine must join the EU and it will.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe are doing everything required, and it is important that Ukraine\u2019s accession is not delayed by the national politics of this or that countries<\/strong>,\u201d he says in a heavy swipe at Hungary.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is not about what we have already gone through in history<\/strong>. It is about what we all must avoid, and what we must avoid is any dependence on Russia<\/a>,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n
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Jennifer Rankin<\/p>\n\n
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