![\"Ukrainian](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/869.jpg\")
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, meets with French president Emmanuel Macron and held a joint phone call during their meeting at the \u00c9lys\u00e9e Palace in Paris, France. Photograph: Anadolu\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
Spiegel said it had obtained an English note summarising the call, featuring what it claims are direct quotes from some of the participants.<\/p>\n
The magazine claimed that Macron talked about the tense moment in the talks to be \u201ca big danger\u201d for Zelenskyy<\/strong>, with German chancellor Friedrich Merz adding that the Ukrainian leader \u2013 also on the call \u2013 needed to be \u201cvery careful.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cThey are playing games with both you and us,\u201d<\/strong> Merz was reported as saying, which the magazine concluded was a reference to Steve Witkoff\u2019s mission to Moscow.<\/p>\n The magazine said that other leaders also expressed their concerns, with Finland\u2019s Alexander Stubb<\/strong> reportedly saying \u201cwe must not leave Ukraine<\/a> and Volodymyr alone with these guys.\u201d<\/p>\n Even Nato secretary general, Mark Rutte<\/strong> \u2013 who in public is very complimentary of Trump \u2013 reportedly said that he agreed with Alexander \u201cthat we need to protect Volodymyr.\u201d<\/p>\n There is an obvious health warning here:<\/strong> there is no easy way of verifying this note\u2019s authenticity,<\/strong> and the Guardian has not been able to immediately confirm the report.<\/p>\n But Der Spiegel said that it spoke with \u201cseveral\u201d participants of the call<\/strong>, who confirmed it took place, and two of them reportedly said the quotes were \u201caccurately reproduced.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n A spokesperson for Zelenskyy declined to comment, as did the Merz\u2019s office, while the \u00c9lys\u00e9e Palace contested the quotes attributed to Macron.<\/strong><\/p>\n The full German story is here<\/a>, and Spiegel also separately published an English version here<\/a>, saying it contained original quotes from the note in English.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.21 EST<\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n Show key events only<\/p>\n Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n US envoy Witkoff to meet Ukraine’s Umerov for talks in Miami Russian affairs reporter<\/p>\n The US special envoy Steve Witkoff will meet Ukraine\u2019s national security council chief, Rustem Umerov, in Miami on Thursday as Washington steps up its diplomatic push to secure a pathway to peace in Ukraine<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n US president Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner attend a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia. Photograph: Kristina Kormilitsyna\/Reuters<\/p>\n Witkoff, accompanied by Donald Trump\u2019s son-in-law Jared Kushner, spent nearly five hours in talks with Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on Tuesday. Moscow later said the meeting had not brought the sides any closer to a peace agreement.<\/p>\n Trump on Wednesday described the discussions in Moscow as \u201creasonably good\u201d, though he acknowledged that the path ahead for Ukraine peace talks remained unclear.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n On Poland (14:01<\/a>), the country\u2019s deputy prime minister W\u0142adys\u0142aw Kosiniak-Kamysz has now clarified that the \u201curgent state security report\u201d to be discussed tomorrow does not relate to \u201chard military security,\u201d<\/strong> but \u201csecurity in practice\u201d (your guess as good as mine).<\/p>\n Private broadcaster TVN24 reported<\/a>, quoting government sources, that the PM\u2019s highly-confidential statement is expected to be on Russian links with cryptocurrencies used in Poland.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n One other potential story line we\u2019re following here is the meeting of national broadcasters involved in the Eurovision song contest as they consider the competition\u2019s rules and discuss whether Israel should be allowed to compete in the 2026 edition.<\/strong><\/p>\n Some countries, notably Ireland<\/strong> and Spain<\/strong>, suggested they could pull out of the event if Israel takes part. Others \u2013 for example Germany<\/strong> \u2013 said they would skip the competition if it doesn\u2019t take part.<\/p>\n One to watch.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Poland’s Tusk requests parliament to sit in private to share information on ‘state security’ I am also keeping an eye on Poland, where the country\u2019s prime minister Donald Tusk has requested that the first agenda point during tomorrow\u2019s sitting of the Polish parliament be held in private so he can make a statement on \u201cstate security.\u201d <\/strong><\/p>\n In a post on X, Tusk said<\/a> he has made a request to the Sejm speaker to sit in private as he wants to share \u201curgent information concerning state security.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n He has not shared any further detail<\/strong> on what he wants to share.<\/p>\n Poland has faced growing pressure from Russia in recent months<\/strong>, with a drone attack in September<\/a>, and repeated sabotage attempts, including a rail sabotage attack last month, which Polish authorities called out as \u201cstate terrorism\u201d by Moscow.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.03 EST<\/p>\n Former EU foreign policy chief Mogherini resigns as College of Europe rector amid fraud probe<\/p>\n Yesterday we reported that the EU\u2019s former chief diplomat Federica Mogherini and two other people had been formally accused of fraud and corruption<\/strong>, the European prosecutor\u2019s office has said.<\/p>\n Well, she has now resigned from her post as rector of the prestigious College of Europe.<\/strong><\/p>\n Former EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini pictured at an EU summit in 2019 Photograph: Julien Warnand\/Reuters<\/p>\n \u201cIn line with the utmost rigour and fairness with which I always carried out my duties, today I decided to resign<\/strong>,\u201d Mogherini said in a statement.<\/a><\/p>\n She added she was sure \u201cthe college community across our three campuses will continue on the path to innovation and excellence,\u201d and said it was \u201can honour\u201d for her to serve in the post.<\/p>\n Her lawyer said the Italian denied any wrongdoing<\/strong> and was cooperating with the investigation.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>It’s ‘illusion’ to think Russia could lose Ukraine war, Belgian PM says, quoting Moscow’s warnings over assets seizure<\/p>\n Thinking again about the emergency dinner between Germany\u2019s Merz, EU\u2019s von der Leyen, and Belgium\u2019s de Wever <\/strong>tomorrow night, it\u2019s worth highlighting the Belgian prime minister\u2019s recent comments on the war, too, as they are revealing just how far apart the leaders are on this.<\/strong><\/p>\n Speaking at a La Libre event<\/a> on Monday, he said it was<\/strong> \u201ccomplete illusion\u201d to believe Russia would lose the war, <\/strong>and complained about \u201cincredible\u201d pressure around the issue.<\/p>\n In an edited transcript of the event, the paper quoted him<\/a> as saying that \u201cMoscow has let us know that \u2026 Belgium and I personally will feel the effect [of seizing Russian assets] for eternity,\u201d<\/strong> adding: \u201cThat seems like a pretty long time.\u201d<\/p>\n He also warned about potential Russian confiscation of western assets<\/strong>, including 16 billion of Euroclear\u2019s money in Russia<\/a>, or Belgian-owned factories in the country.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd what if Belarus and China also confiscated western assets? Have we considered all of this? No, we haven\u2019t,<\/strong>\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Share<\/a> The big question<\/strong> \u2013 like with the other high-profile leak on Witkoff last week \u2013 will be:<\/strong> who produced the note and (assuming it\u2019s genuine) how did it end up in the hands of journalists?<\/strong><\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.27 EST<\/p>\n Macron reportedly warned European leaders against potential US betrayal on Ukraine \u2014 media report<\/p>\n French president Emmanuel Macron has reportedly warned European leaders that \u201cthere is a chance that the US will betray Ukraine on territory without clarity on security guarantees,\u201d<\/strong> German magazine Der Spiegel<\/strong> reported<\/a>, quoting a leaked note from a recent call between the European leaders.<\/p>\n Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, meets with French president Emmanuel Macron and held a joint phone call during their meeting at the \u00c9lys\u00e9e Palace in Paris, France. Photograph: Anadolu\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Spiegel said it had obtained an English note summarising the call, featuring what it claims are direct quotes from some of the participants.<\/p>\n The magazine claimed that Macron talked about the tense moment in the talks to be \u201ca big danger\u201d for Zelenskyy<\/strong>, with German chancellor Friedrich Merz adding that the Ukrainian leader \u2013 also on the call \u2013 needed to be \u201cvery careful.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cThey are playing games with both you and us,\u201d<\/strong> Merz was reported as saying, which the magazine concluded was a reference to Steve Witkoff\u2019s mission to Moscow.<\/p>\n The magazine said that other leaders also expressed their concerns, with Finland\u2019s Alexander Stubb<\/strong> reportedly saying \u201cwe must not leave Ukraine<\/a> and Volodymyr alone with these guys.\u201d<\/p>\n Even Nato secretary general, Mark Rutte<\/strong> \u2013 who in public is very complimentary of Trump \u2013 reportedly said that he agreed with Alexander \u201cthat we need to protect Volodymyr.\u201d<\/p>\n There is an obvious health warning here:<\/strong> there is no easy way of verifying this note\u2019s authenticity,<\/strong> and the Guardian has not been able to immediately confirm the report.<\/p>\n But Der Spiegel said that it spoke with \u201cseveral\u201d participants of the call<\/strong>, who confirmed it took place, and two of them reportedly said the quotes were \u201caccurately reproduced.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n A spokesperson for Zelenskyy declined to comment, as did the Merz\u2019s office, while the \u00c9lys\u00e9e Palace contested the quotes attributed to Macron.<\/strong><\/p>\n The full German story is here<\/a>, and Spiegel also separately published an English version here<\/a>, saying it contained original quotes from the note in English.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.21 EST<\/p>\n Merz cancels Norway trip to travel to Belgium for talks<\/p>\n But on a more serious note, we are hearing that German chancellor Friedrich Merz has postponed his planned visit to Norway scheduled for Friday and will travel to Brussels instead.<\/strong><\/p>\n Federal chancellor Friedrich Merz on his inaugural visit to the Red Town Hall in Berlin. Photograph: snapshot\/Future Image\/B Elmenthaler\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n Merz will travel to Belgium for a private dinner with Belgian prime minister Bart De Wever and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen,<\/strong> his spokesperson said in comments reported by Reuters.<\/p>\n The meeting <\/strong>obviously<\/strong> comes amid a heated debate about the use of frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine,<\/strong> with Belgium continuing to express its opposition to the proposal for the so-called reparations loan (9:44<\/a>), so we can safely assume this will be a prominent topic of their conversation.<\/strong><\/p>\n Share<\/a>German sitcom character Stromberg revived for Merz era European culture editor<\/p>\n He\u2019s the middle-manager who talks as if he\u2019s the CEO, a beacon of workplace inclusivity in his own head but a bigoted chauvinist as soon as he opens his mouth.<\/strong> And listening to him creates a mix of familiarity and embarrassment-by-proxy that turns out to be surprisingly pleasurable.<\/p>\n A German newspaper has even run a quiz: \u2018Who said it: Merz or Stromberg?\u2019 Composite: Brainpool TV, AP<\/p>\n Ricky Gervais\u2019s cringe-making general manager of a soul-destroyingly dull Slough-based paper merchant stopped being a regular presence on British TV over two decades ago, but the many comedic characters that he spawned across the globe have outlived him.<\/strong><\/p>\n In Germany<\/strong>, where a feature film<\/a> based on a German sitcom inspired by The Office opens in cinemas on Thursday, some are even starting to suspect that their own David Brent is now leading the country.<\/strong><\/p>\n The mockumentary sitcom Stromberg launched on German TV in 2004, three years after the start of the British series; its makers denied it was based on the British show until the BBC threatened legal action<\/a>.<\/strong> It ran for eight years, and the self-aggrandising wisdom of its titular character, Bernd \u201cLet papa sort it\u201d Stromberg, has proven inescapable on social media.<\/p>\n German federal elections at the start of this year gave Stromberg meme culture a new lease of life<\/strong>, and not just because the slender physique and partial baldness of the chancellor, Friedrich Merz, resembles that<\/a> of the office authoritarian played by the comedian Christoph Maria Herbst.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cThey are both boomers to the core and seem to lack any sensitivity to social cues,<\/strong>\u201d said Lukas Lohmer<\/strong>, a German comedy writer for television. \u201cThe only difference is that Stromberg realises when he makes a faux pas and often corrects himself.\u201d<\/p>\n In recent weeks, Merz elicited <\/strong>fremdsch\u00e4men <\/strong>(\u201cvicarious embarrassment\u201d), especially among younger Germans,<\/strong> when proclaiming during a trip to Angola how much he missed German bread<\/a>, or when he asserted upon returning from Bel\u00e9m, Brazil, that \u201ceveryone was delighted to be back in Germany and to have left that place\u201d.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n And since we\u2019re on Germany, let\u2019s go to our European culture editor Philip Oltermann<\/strong>, who writes about growing comparisons between chancellor Merz and\u2026 the main character of the German TV series inspired by The Office, Bernd \u201cLet papa sort it\u201d Stromberg.<\/strong><\/p>\n Share<\/a>Bundestag passes resolution on memorial to Polish WW2 victims amid Polish-German tensions on history Earlier this week, the issue of historical rememberence caused some tensions between Poland\u2019s Donald Tusk and Germany\u2019s Friedrich Merz as they met in Berlin for the annual Polish-German summit.<\/strong><\/p>\n During a press conference after the meeting, their differences over the issue of reparation or compensation for the Nazi German crimes during the second world war were laid bare<\/strong> (as covered in detail on Europe Live<\/a>), with increasingly impatient Tusk urging Berlin to \u201churry up\u201d with a decision to support some 50,000 living Polish victims of the war.<\/p>\n Yesterday, the German parliament, Bundestag, passed a resolution calling for the works on the memorial site dedicated to the Polish victims of the war to be accelerated.<\/strong><\/p>\n The proposal<\/a> was adopted with overwhelming majority<\/strong> as both government parties and most opposition forces voted in favour, except for the far-right Alternative f\u00fcr Deutschland which either abstained or even voted against<\/strong> in some individual cases.<\/p>\n This could become significant at some point further down the line as the AfD leads<\/strong> \u2013 and widens its lead \u2013 in the German polls<\/strong>, with a 3pp lead over the ruling CDU\/CSU party of Friedrich Merz, according to the latest Ipsos poll.<\/a><\/p>\n Share<\/a>Macron’s China visit ‘balancing act’ between competing interests \u2014 snap analysis Emmanuel Macron\u2019s visit to Beijing is a three day balancing act between national and European interests and between engagement with Chinese business and safeguarding its economy.<\/strong><\/p>\n China’s President Xi Jinping (L) stands next to France’s President Emmanuel Macron during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Photograph: Sarah Meyssonnier\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/p>\n China has never condemned Russia for its 2022 invasion of Ukraine<\/a> and it is unlikely this will happen now. But French diplomats have said that Macron would be urging Beijing to \u201cconvince and influence Russia to move toward a ceasefire as soon as possible\u201d.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cNow, more than ever, dialogue between China and France is vital,\u201d<\/strong> Macron told his host during their Thursday meeting at Beijing\u2019s Great Hall of the People. \u201cI propose a positive threefold agenda for our relations, one of geopolitical stability, of economic rebalancing, and of environmental sustainability.\u201d<\/p>\n On the economic side, France like Germany and the EU as a whole, is in deficit with China,<\/strong> selling less (\u20ac30bn) to the country than the \u20ac66bn imports. Nuclear reactors and machinery, where both countries are global leaders, is France\u2019s second biggest export category.<\/p>\n But a hoped for deal on Airbus orders is unlikely to materialise during this visit amid escalating tensions with Europe<\/strong> as a whole, which has a centralised policy on trade with negotiations conducted through Brussels. A probe into cognac exports remains resolved.<\/p>\n Macron has recently called for the EU to reduce its dependence on China<\/strong> warning the bloc does not want to be a \u201cvassal\u201d to US and Chinese tech companies.<\/p>\n Yesterday Brussels launched a \u20ac3bn fund to reduce dependency on China warning it would force EU industries to do so through legislation, if they did not do so voluntarily.<\/p>\n Share<\/a> Let\u2019s go to Lisa O\u2019Carroll <\/strong>for a bit more context on Macron\u2019s visit to China (10:03<\/a>).<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Half of Europeans see Trump as enemy of Europe, survey finds Nearly half of Europeans see Donald Trump as \u201can enemy of Europe\u201d, rather more rate the risk of war with Russia as high and more than two-thirds believe their country would not be able to defend itself in the event of such a war, a survey has found.<\/strong><\/p>\n Activists from People vs Big Tech, WeMove Europe, Avaaz, and European Digital Rights (EDRi) demonstrate in front ofthe Berlaymont, the EU Commission headquarter in Brussels, Belgium. Photograph: Thierry Monasse\/Getty Images<\/p>\n The nine-country poll for the Paris-based European affairs debate platform Le Grand Continent<\/a> also found that nearly three-quarters of respondents wanted their country to stay in the EU<\/strong>, with almost as many saying leaving the union had harmed the UK.<\/p>\n Jean-Yves Dormagen, a political science professor and founder of the polling agency Cluster17, said: \u201cEurope is not only facing growing risks, it is also undergoing a transformation of its historical, geopolitical and political environment.<\/strong> The overall picture [of the survey] portrays a Europe<\/a> that is anxious, that is deeply aware of its vulnerabilities and that is struggling to project itself positively into the future.\u201d<\/p>\n The polling found that an average of 48% of people across the nine countries see Trump as an outright foe<\/strong> \u2013 ranging from highs of 62% in Belgium<\/a> and 57% in France to lows of 37% in Croatia and 19% in Poland.<\/p>\n \u201cAcross the continent, Trumpism is clearly considered a hostile force<\/strong>,\u201d Dormagen said, adding that this perception was hardening<\/a>, with fewer people than in December 2024 describing Trump as \u201cneither friend nor foe\u201d and more as definitely hostile.<\/p>\n However, Europeans still view the relationship with the US as strategically important<\/strong>: when asked what position the EU should adopt towards the US government, the most popular option (48%) was compromise.<\/p>\n The survey in France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Croatia, Belgium<\/strong> and the Netherlands<\/strong> also found a relative majority (51%) felt the risk of open war with Russia<\/a> in the coming years was high<\/strong>, and 18% considered it very high.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Norway signs defence deal with UK to ‘hunt Russian submarines’ and protect undersea infrastructure<\/p>\n I will also keep an eye on the visit of the Norwegian prime minister, Jonas Gahr St\u00f8re, to London,<\/strong> to sign a major defence deal between Norway and the UK <\/strong>\u201cto hunt Russian submarines\u201d and protect critical undersea infrastructure.<\/p>\n Norway\u2019s defence minister Tore O. Sandvik<\/strong> met with the UK\u2019s defence secretary John Healey<\/strong> earlier today to sign the deal, and St\u00f8re <\/strong>has just been welcomed by UK\u2019s Keir Starmer outside the iconic black doors to 10 Downing Street.<\/p>\n British prime minister Keir Starmer shakes hands with Norway\u2019s prime minister Jonas Gahr St\u00f8re, at Downing Street, in London, Britain. Photograph: Hannah McKay\/Reuters<\/p>\n Here\u2019s the UK press release with all details,<\/a> and here\u2019s the Norwegian side of the story<\/a>, which also helpfully explains the fascinating history behind the deal\u2019s name, Lunna House,<\/strong> comemmorating a clandestine operation to transfer men and materials between Shetland and Nazi-occupied Norway during the second world war.<\/p>\n Norway\u2019s Minister of Defence Tore O. Sandvik (L) and Britain\u2019s secretary of state for Defence John Healey (R) during the signing of a Strategic Defence Agreement at Downing Street. Photograph: Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a004.34 EST<\/p>\n France’s Macron sees China’s Xi to discuss Ukraine, geopolitics, economy<\/p>\n Meanwhile, as we were sleeping, France\u2019s Emmanuel Macron has met with China\u2019s Xi Jinping, urging him to \u201cwork together\u201d on ending the war in Ukraine<\/a> and broader geopolitical and economic issues.<\/strong><\/p>\n France\u2019s president Emmanuel Macron gestures towards children next to China\u2019s president Xi Jinping (L) during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Photograph: Adek Berry\/Reuters<\/p>\n \u201cNow, more than ever, dialogue between China and France is vital,<\/strong>\u201d Macron told his host during their Thursday meeting at Beijing\u2019s Great Hall of the People, Reuters reported.<\/p>\n \u201cI propose a positive threefold agenda for our relations,<\/strong> one of geopolitical stability, of economic rebalancing, and of environmental sustainability,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Reuters noted that the French president seeks to bolster his foreign policy credentials and secure commercial deals for French industry in a bid to revitalise his political legacy<\/strong> in the final years of his term after a tumultuous summer, and ahead of the 2027 presidential election.<\/p>\n China<\/strong>, for its part, wants to ease trade frictions with the 27-strong EU over its heavily subsidised electric vehicle industry,<\/strong> while presenting itself as a reliable trading partner and an alternative market to the US<\/strong> as global economies face recession risks resulting from President Donald Trump\u2019s<\/strong> tariffs.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Morning opening: So, what’s next? Russian president Vladimir Putin has described this week\u2019s Ukraine<\/a> peace talks as \u201cnecessary,\u201d \u201cuseful,\u201d and \u201cdifficult work,\u201d<\/strong> stressing that some of the proposals were unacceptable to Moscow.<\/p>\n He also continued his attacks on Europeans, saying they should get involved to help a deal, rather than hinder it. (Erm.)<\/p>\n But US president Donald Trump insisted that Putin would like to agree a deal,<\/strong> describing the talks as \u201creasonably good.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"Pjotr](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Pjotr_Sauer_.png\")
Pjotr Sauer<\/p>\n![\"Jakub](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1764859763_959_Jakub_Krupa.png\")
Jakub Krupa<\/p>\nJakub Krupa<\/p>\n![\"Philip](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Philip_Oltermann,_L.png\")
Philip Oltermann<\/p>\nJakub Krupa<\/p>\n![\"Lisa](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Lisa-OCarroll-byline-004.jpg\")
Lisa O\u2019Carroll<\/p>\nJakub Krupa<\/p>\n![\"Jon](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Jon_Henley,_L.png\")
Jon Henley<\/p>\nJakub Krupa<\/p>\n