US โ€˜backstopโ€™ vital to deter future Russian attacks on Ukraine, says Starmer

British prime minister says force would need protections such as air cover that only US can provide Keir Starmer has urged Donald Trump to provide a US โ€œbackstopโ€ to a European peacekeeping force in Ukraine, saying it is the only way to deter Russia fr…

Europeโ€™s leaders find no quick response to Trumpโ€™s bombshell on Ukraine

Top European leaders could not find common ground on issues including sending peacekeepers in Ukraine.

US ‘wants to please Putin’: Zelensky

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview broadcast Monday that the US is trying to “please” Moscow after a shock policy shift on the Ukraine war under President Donald Trump. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called Europe’s cu…

European leaders hold emergency talks, fearing that Trump has abandoned age-old allies

European leaders sought to form a united front Monday at emergency talks in Paris, called after a U.S. diplomatic blitz on Ukraine which has thrown a once-solid alliance into turmoil and left the Europeans questioning the reliability of their key tran…

The death of NATO? Europe in crisis over Trump-Putin talks

European leaders are meeting in Paris for an emergency summit on Ukraine, following last weekโ€™s call between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. With NATOโ€™s most powerful member sidelining its allies in talks with Russia, is the U.S. still a reliable par…

Germanyโ€™s Scholz: Itโ€™s โ€˜inappropriateโ€™ to discuss sending peacekeeping troops to Ukraine

Ukraine doesn’t have to accept whatever peace plan Russia and the United States present, Scholz added.

Europe tries to shore up fragile unity as it realises it cannot rely on US

Leaders arrive at Paris summit for urgent talks on Ukraine after week that showed how far values have divergedEurope live โ€“ latest updatesThey came smiling, but the task was immense. After dozens of summits at which a hesitant and discordant EU had fai…

Syrian delivery driver who rammed car into attacker hailed as hero in Austria

Villach mayor praises Alaaeddin al-Halabi, who intervened in knife attack that killed 14-year-old and injured five othersA Syrian migrant living in Austria has been hailed as a hero after he rammed his car into an attacker, bringing down a radicalised …

British MPs already want a vote on sending troops to Ukraine

Labour MPs โ€” and opposition lawmakers too โ€” are asking for a parliamentary say on any British escalation.

Poland to Europe: Donโ€™t play games with Trump, spend more on defense

The Polish PM is adamant that Europe must not break ties with the U.S.

Macron and Trump have โ€˜frank conversationโ€™ minutes before European meeting on Ukraine

The call came before the French president welcomed a group of European leaders in Paris.

UKโ€™s Starmer to meet Trump next week

Prime minister heads to Washington to meet with US president as European capitals fret over Ukraine’s future.

Zelenskyy: I want to show Trumpโ€™s Ukraine-Russia envoy the front line

Keith Kellogg will be in Ukraine for two days this week.

Ukraine will not participate in Russia-US talks, Zelenskyy says from UAE

The Ukrainian leader said he will be in Turkey while Russia and the US speak in Riyadh.

EU top brass plans Kyiv visit amid US-Russia talks

The trip will take place in a show of solidarity as Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine hits the three-year mark, one EU official said.

โ€˜Freezingโ€™ Ukraine war would allow Russia to threaten NATO, Latvian intelligence warns

Pausing hostilities, which U.S. President Trump has vowed to do, would free up Kremlin resources to threaten countries across the alliance, the report says.

Marco Rubio arrives in Riyadh, Zelenskyy jets into UAE, as Ukraine talks expected to begin

U.S. secretary of state lands in Saudi Arabia as EU leaders prepare for crisis summit in Paris.

As the US retreats, Europe must look out for itself โ€“ so is Macronโ€™s nuclear offer the answer? | Simon Tisdall

Development of a joint defence shield would be politically explosive for Keir Starmer. But itโ€™s an idea whose time has comeThe startling contempt for Europeโ€™s intensifying security concerns displayed by Donald Trump and his henchmen has brought an old,…

Angry farmers push Poland away from Ukraine

After nearly three years of war in Ukraine, protests by Polish farmers are opening up social and political fractures in a once-unshakeable alliance.

Macronโ€™s U-turn against EU green rules triggers internal revolt

The French president’s anti-regulation push has thrown his environmental legacy into doubt and angered many in his own party.

Victims of international crimes need justice โ€” and the ICC

We call on the EUโ€™s member countries and institutions to be the voice of human dignity globally, and to mobilize, defend and support the court.

The fight for Europe is on

At a time of intensifying great power competition, the EU has to choose between becoming a satrap of the U.S. or breaking free to steer its own course โ€” and it must decide quickly.

UK โ€˜readyโ€™ to send peace-keepers to Ukraine, PM Starmer says

Ahead of a crunch meeting in Paris on Monday, the U.K. leader commits to putting British troops in harm’s way to secure lasting peace.

Starmer ready to put British troops on the ground in Ukraine if peace deal reached

It is understood to be the first time the PM has been explicit about sending British peacekeepers to UkraineKeir Starmer has said he is prepared to put British troops on the ground in Ukraine if there is a deal to end the war with Russia, acknowledging…

Rubio says talks in Saudi Arabia meant to be opening step toward peace

โ€œOne phone call does not make peace,โ€ the secretary of State said.

The Guardian view on JD Vance in Munich: Europe must stand up for its values | Editorial

The vice-presidentโ€™s speech on Friday was another wake-up call for European leaders. On defence and in other areas, they need to chart their own courseIn 2007, Vladimir Putin delivered a speech to the Munich security conference that stunned western dip…

Ukraine recaptures frontline village amid signs of slowing Russian advance

Pischane in Donetsk back under Kyivโ€™s control as Zelenskyy renews call for fighting to end โ€˜with a just and lasting peaceโ€™Ukraine has recaptured a village on the frontline in the countryโ€™s east, amid signs Russiaโ€™s advance may be slowing down and as Pr…

Putin likely to strike NATO nations next, Ukraine leader warns

The Ukrainian president says he wonโ€™t accept a peace agreement if his country is iced out of talks.

Zelenskyy says Russia will โ€˜wage war on Natoโ€™ if US support for Ukraine wanes

Ukrainian president tells NBCโ€™s Meet the Press that Putinโ€™s next targets may be Poland and LithuaniaVolodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday predicted Russia would โ€œwage war against Natoโ€ if the US stepped back from its support of Ukraine โ€“ and that he had seen i…

Macron convenes European leaders for Ukraine summit amid tension with US

Paris meeting aims to retake initiative on talks about Ukraineโ€™s future as US and Russian delegates prepare to meetThe sudden transatlantic chasm over Ukraine will be laid bare on Monday when US officials start preliminary talks in Riyadh with Russian …

US and Israel have common strategy on Gaza, Netanyahu says

Israeli leader declares “full cooperation and coordination” with Washington as Marco Rubio starts Mideast tour.

As US recedes, NATO scrambles to find a new leader

The Brits, French, and Germans all have their own ideas about how to defend the continent with Americaโ€™s plans in flux.ย 

The US said Ukraine would meet with Russia to discuss peace. That was news to Kyiv.

โ€œI do not know what it is,โ€ said Ukraineโ€™s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

France confirms emergency European summit Monday in Paris

The “main European countries” will discuss the continent’s security, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noรซl Barrot said.

Austria stabbing that killed teenager was Islamist attack, minister says

Targeting of passersby in southern city of Villach had โ€˜IS connectionsโ€™, says interior ministerA stabbing that left a teenager dead and five others injured in southern Austria was an Islamist attack, Austriaโ€™s interior minister has said.โ€œIt is an Islam…

UK hopes to be a โ€˜bridgeโ€™ between Europe and Trumpโ€™s US, minister says

Jonathan Reynolds says Britain has not given up on persuading the US to allow Ukraine to join NatoEurope live โ€“ latest updatesThe UK hopes to act as a โ€œbridgeโ€ between Europe and Donald Trumpโ€™s US, the business secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, has said be…

UKโ€™s Starmer to attend emergency European summit in Paris

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noรซl Barrot said the “main European countries” would meet on Monday to discuss European security.

Netherlands says economic stability a must for EU defence push

The frugal country’s defence minister told Euractiv he would “need to look at the details” of a proposal to loosen EU fiscal rules to allow more military spending.

Europeans are right to be angry with Donald Trump, but they should also be furious with themselves | Andrew Rawnsley

The betrayal of Ukraine is a final warning to the UK and its continental allies to put a lot more energy and money into rebuilding their defencesIt was, Sir Keir Starmer told members of his inner circle, one of his most meaningful visits abroad. In the…

Thousands demonstrate the Munich Security Conference pleading officials to prioritise peace over war

Thousands demonstrated in Germany at the site of the Munich Security Conference protesting against NATO, the arms industry and further weapons deliveries to Ukraine as a counter pro-Ukraine protest also took place.

Trump team to start Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Saudi Arabia

Negotiators from Kyiv will be joining the talks that launch in the coming days.

Trumpโ€™s betrayal of Ukraine has emboldened Putin and pulled the rug from under Nato allies | Simon Tisdall

The ramifications of the presidentโ€™s appeasement of Russia will be felt widely, not least in the alliance he recklessly underminedIn Graham Greeneโ€™s 1955 novel, The Quiet American, Alden Pyle, a CIA agent, reckons he has all the answers to conflict in …

Macron calls emergency European summit on Trump, Polish minister says

It was not immediately clear which European leaders would be invited to the emergency meeting.

Germanyโ€™s Merz โ€˜openโ€™ to more defence spending

The election frontrunner said he would consider a “debate on resources” as Germany and Europe scramble to find more cash for defence.

JD Vanceโ€™s Munich speech laid bare the collapse of the transatlantic alliance

The US vice-president was hypocritical and insensitive, but bracingly clear in his resetting of relationshipsโ€ข Europe live โ€“ latest updatesSince 1963, the Munich Security Conference has seen many consequential speeches, notably Vladimir Putin announcin…

Scholz calls for reform of German debt brake right after election

The chancellor, who is trailing in the polls ahead of the Feb. 23 snap election, expressed confidence that Germany will have a parliamentary majority to loosen the debt brake.

โ€˜No space and place for complacencyโ€™ over European defence, Latvian defence minister tells Euronews

EU leaders are trying to come up with solutions to boost joint financing in defence with the Commission estimating the bloc needs to invest โ‚ฌ500 billion over the coming decade.

Rutte: NATO spending target will be โ€˜considerably more than 3 percentโ€™

“The U.S. is rightly asking for a rebalancing of that,” said Rutte. “It’s totally logical.”

Graham: Ukraine should automatically join NATO if Russia invades again

Republican senator says US should continue to send weapons to Ukraine.

Republicans struggle with unified response to Trumpโ€™s plan for Ukraine peace talks

Lawmakersโ€™ reactions underscore the challenge Republicans face as they try to make sense of the administrationโ€™s efforts to end the Ukraine war.

Trump asks Zelenskyy for half of Ukraineโ€™s rare earths: NBC News

U.S. officials told NBC that handing over half of its valuable minerals would be a way for Kyiv to reimburse the U.S. for the billions of dollars in weapons and support.

Zelenskyy: โ€˜The time has comeโ€™ for a European army

Despite talk of a peace agreement, Russia is continuing to wage war against Ukraine.

Ukraine probably canโ€™t survive without US help, Zelenskyy says

The grim prognosis comes as the conflict appears to be entering a new phase.

Is this the end of NATO?

โ€œWeโ€™ve now got an alliance between a Russian president who wants to destroy Europe and an American president who also wants to destroy Europe,” one diplomat said.

Ukraine could become the EUโ€™s โ€˜Afghanistan,โ€™ Viktor Orbรกn claims

The Hungarian leader repeated Kremlin talking points in an interview with Tucker Carlson.

โ€˜I fear free speech is in retreat,โ€™ JD Vance rebukes Europeโ€™s leaders โ€“ video

In a chastising speech on Friday that openly questioned whether current European values warranted defence by the US, the US vice-president painted a picture of European politics infected by media censorship, cancelled elections and political correctnes…

Meloni: Russia โ€˜offended the entire Italian nationโ€™ by rejecting Third Reich comparison

The Italian prime minister stood by her presidentโ€™s comparison of Russia to Nazi Germany.

Vance brings a wrecking ball to diplomatic gathering in Munich

The U.S. vice president roasted the continent’s way of governing itself.

โ€˜Thought crimeโ€™ and cancelled elections: how do JD Vanceโ€™s claims about Europe stand up?

US vice-president told litany of tales of Europeโ€™s rights infringements in speech to leaders at defence gatheringJD Vance stuns Munich conference with blistering attack on Europeโ€™s leadersIn JD Vanceโ€™s confrontational and pugnacious speech at the Munic…

Zelensky, Vance meet amid ‘preliminary posturing to establish parameters for peace negotiations’

A highly anticipated meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US Vice President JD Vance is underway at the Munich Security Conference. For in-depth analysis and a deeper perspective, FRANCE 24’s Erin Ogunkeye welcomes Dr Gavin Hall,…

New Geo-Political Challenges and the Past and Future of EU-Greenland Relations

  

Ulla Neergaard, Professor of EU Law, University of Copenhagen

Photo credit: Gordon Leggett, via Wikimedia Commons 

 

*This contribution draws upon Ulla
Neergaardโ€™s forthcoming work, โ€œโ€˜Eurarcticโ€™: Colonialism and EU-Greenland…

US Democrats slam Vance Munich speech as โ€˜hypocrisyโ€™

The U.S. vice president’s admonition of Europeโ€™s policies splits American lawmakers.

Zelenskyy: Trump told me Putin wants to end the war. I told him Putin is a liar.

“I donโ€™t want to go [down] in history as [the] president who helped Putin to occupy my country,โ€ says Ukrainian leader.

Boris Johnson: Europe acting like โ€˜headless chickensโ€™ on Ukraine

Former prime minister โ€” who has lobbied Donald Trump to back Ukraine โ€” says European nations should ‘man up and step up’ by increasing defense spending.

EU should give Ukraine ‘very strong security guarantees’: Finland’s former president Niinistรถ

Europe is facing increasingly hybrid threats, and it lacks a shared culture of preparedness, according to our guest. Sauli Niinistรถ was the president of Finland from 201HJYYUU2 to 2024 and is now a special advisor to the head of the European Commissio…

JD Vance attacks Europe over migration, free speech

JD Vance stunned the audience with his broadside on the way Europe is run.

EU plans to let states suspend fiscal rules to allow for defence investments

Activation of โ€˜escape clauseโ€™ will help countries โ€˜substantially increaseโ€™ military spending, Ursula von der Leyen says

Ah, hereโ€™s Trumpโ€™s peace plan for Ukraine โ€“ or rather, a plan to leave it in pieces | Marina Hyde

And despite having ample time to prepare for this moment, why do Europe and Britainโ€™s leaders seem so surprised?In the wake of Donald Trumpโ€™s decision to instigate his Ukraine โ€œpeace planโ€, itโ€™s great to hear from US defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, th…

EU Commission to activate fiscal escape clause to boost defence spending

The EU Commission will propose to activate the escape clause for defence investments, Ursula von der Leyen announced in Munich. “This will allow Member states to substantially increase their defence expenditure,” she said.

Von der Leyen demands trigger of emergency clause to massively boost defense spending

European Commission president announces plan at Munich Security Conference.

German defense minister blasts Trumpโ€™s โ€˜clumsyโ€™ Ukraine negotiating play

Boris Pistorius said it would have been better to talk about Kyivโ€™s NATO membership and territory โ€œat the negotiating table.โ€

American troops in Europe are not โ€˜forever,โ€™ US defense chief warns

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has a “stark” message for European allies.

Britain dances to JD Vanceโ€™s tune as it recasts AI security institute

After the U.S. VP blasted โ€œhand-wringing about safety,โ€ Britainโ€™s safety institute gets a new look. References to AI creating โ€œunequal outcomesโ€ are out.

Putin is capable of attacking NATO country โ€˜next year,โ€™ Zelenskyy warns

Ukrainian leader implores the West to “stop this crazy guy.”

Senior Republican senator โ€˜puzzled and disturbedโ€™ by Hegsethโ€™s Ukraine remarks

Senate Armed Services Chair Roger Wicker is breaking with the line from the Trump White House.

EU warns of โ€˜immediateโ€™ retaliation against Trumpโ€™s reciprocal tariffs

Brussels has strengthened its trade defense arsenal since a skirmish in U.S. President Donald Trumpโ€™s first term.

Ukraine on โ€˜irreversible pathโ€™ to Nato membership, Starmer tells Zelenskyy

Prime minister uses call with Ukraine president to restate UK support in face of Trump interventionsโ€ข Europe live โ€“ latest updatesUkraine remains on โ€œan irreversible pathโ€ towards Nato membership, Keir Starmer has told Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a phone ca…

Trumpโ€™s return is an โ€˜electroshockโ€™ for Europe, says Macron

Europe needs a change of mindset on the economy and defense, Macron tells the Financial Times.

Killer Russian drone strikes Chernobyl nuclear reactor cover, Ukraine says

“Radiation levels inside and outside remain normal and stable,” says International Atomic Energy Agency.

EU braces for turbulent diplomacy as US demands โ€˜rebalancingโ€™ of relations

Relations between the US and Europe entered uncharted territory after a week of diplomatic shocks that saw the Trump administration cutting Kyiv and Brussels out of bilateral US-Russia talks to end the Ukraine war and setting a hard line on NATO defen…

Vance to meet Zelenskyy as European leaders call for unity over Ukraine

Macron leads chorus of politicians demanding US adopt coordinated approach at security talks in MunichEurope live โ€“ latest updatesThe US vice-president, JD Vance, will face calls for greater consultation and coherence when he meets European leaders, in…

Trump’s call: Does direct overture to Putin betray Ukraine?

How about that phone call? The US president has gone over the heads of the Ukrainians and the Europeans by promising talks “immediately” with Vladimir Putin, this on the same day that his new defence secretary told NATO counterparts that returning to …

Security is the new safety

SNEAK PEEK โ€”ย ย The U.K. AISI drops โ€œsafetyโ€ for โ€œsecurityโ€ as it rebrands for the Trump era. โ€”ย DSIT and Anthropic ink a new partnership. โ€”ย Whatโ€™s happened to the porn review? Good morning and happy Friday, This is Tom, unable to find where Iโ€™ve hidden my wifeโ€™s Valentineโ€™s card. You can get in touch with your news, [โ€ฆ]

Trump has sold Ukraine down the river โ€“ and shown the UK what ‘America first’ means in practice | Gaby Hinsliff

A superpower that once built alliances across the west is dramatically reorienting itself โ€“ and so too must its former alliesWrapped in a flag and clutching a beer, Marc Fogel looked understandably overwhelmed. The 63-year-old teacher from Pennsylvania…

Live: Zelensky, Vance set to meet in Munich ahead of security conference

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US Vice President JD Vance are set to meet in Munich on Friday, days after US President Donald Trump announced he would hold bilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss ending the war in …

Daddy America is home and heโ€™s angry

After 48 tense hours, the Americans gave the Europeans no slackโ€”calling the shots on Ukraine and making demands.