Putin and Trump ‘trust each other’, says Kremlin as Zelenskyy accuses Russia of breaking partial ceasefire – live | Europe
Putin's words on halting infrastructure, energy attacks 'very different from reality' of overnight attacks, Zelenskyy says
We can now bring you further lines from Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and his opening statement at the press conference with Finland’s Alex Stubb.
Discussing overnight attacks on Ukraine, including transport, hospitals and “ordinary urban infrastructure,” Zelenskyy said that “Putin’s words are very different from reality.”
He said the developments overnight stressed the need for further “defence support and air support” to defend itself.
Zelenskyy said that unity and joint efforts to exert further pressure on Russia were “absolutely necessary prerequisites for peace.”
The Ukrainian president also talked about the importance of bilateral cooperation with Finland on ramping up defence production, coordinating procurements, and joint work on civil protection.
Finland's President Alexander Stubb (R) shakes hands with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) during a joint press conference following their talks as part of the latter's official visit to Helsinki, Finland. Photograph: Kimmo Brandt/EPA
Key events
Putin's words 'at odds with reality,' says Zelenskyy - video
EU presents more details of its defence spending plans
Britain's support for Ukraine to continue unaffected despite Russian demands - sources
Putin's words on halting infrastructure, energy attacks 'very different from reality' of overnight attacks, Zelenskyy says
Kremlin accuses Ukraine of 'sabotage' of ceasefire discussions as it praises reset in US relations
Nothing accidental about Stubb's determined backing of Zelenskyy with comments aimed at Trump - snap analysis
Zelenskyy appears to confirm plans for call with Trump
We want US to know we want to end war as quickly as possible, Zelenskyy says
Ukraine's right to self-determination key red line for talks, leaders say
Zelenskyy appears to suggest Russia violated limited energy, infrastructure ceasefire
Finland's Stubb calls to form European negotiating team on Ukraine
'No compromises' in military, intelligence aid for Ukraine, Zelenskyy says, as he rejects Russian demand for halt in support
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Zelenskyy says he will reach out to Trump today to discuss call with Putin
We hope America will continue to pressure Russia, Zelenskyy says
Need to increase support for Ukraine and ratchet up pressure on Russia, Stubb says
Ukraine has 'undeniable right' to defend itself, which 'cannot be restricted,' Finland's Stubb says
Russia poses 'threat for all European nations,' EU's Costa says
Ukraine's Zelenskyy meeting with Finland's Stubb
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Morning opening: The (Russian) art of the deal
Zelenskyy’s comments are mostly in Ukrainian, but he briefly switches to English, after the host asks him if she understood him correctly to be striking a slightly positive note, or if it was just a mistranslation.
Smiling, he responds in English:
We have to be positive because of our people, because of our heroic soldiers, and because of such our friends.
He then goes back to speaking in Ukrainian again.
Zelenskyy also offers his take on sanctions, saying that they were “important” to compel Putin to consider ceasefire and abandon his policy of intimidation of Ukrainians through attacks.
But he says that, on sanctions, their “quality” was more important then “quantity,” including how water-tight and strictly enforced they are.
He calls out some countries for “helping out” with circumventing sanctions, and so it is more important to make sure they are properly implemented.
Zelenskyy also gets asked about his upcoming call with Trump, and once again says he would rather speak about it after the call happened.
But says it is an important opportunity to once again reiterate that Ukraine wants peace, as he backs Trump’s initiative for as expansive ceasefire as possible.
He also repeated an earlier line that Ukrainians were ready for further talks in Saudi Arabia if needed.
Stubb joins in to make a point differentiating the initial ceasefire and the broader peace settlement further down the line.
Making a hockey reference, he says that as Ukraine, Finland, Europe and the US all want peace and a ceasefire, “the puck is in the Russian zone.”
“We have to remember that Ukraine has approved the ceasefire without any kind of conditions, and yesterday’s conversation proved that Putin would not be willing to do that. His ceasefire is very partial,” he says.
He says he hopes Trump and the US will “continue to put pressure on Russia,” mentioning sanctions and the use of frozen Russian assets.
Stubb also reveales he spoke with the Republican US senator Lindsey Graham “who is pushing through a bill in the Senate to maximise the pressure” on Russia.
In his opening comments, Zelenskyy thanks Finland for continuing support as it tells Russia that “Ukraine is not alone, Russia is alone, it is the aggressor.”
He notes that Russian invasion of Ukraine led to a shift in public opinion on Nato in Fnland and Sweden.
He also stresses that “our fight for independence of Ukraine is ultimately a war for the freedom of all of Europe.”
Zelenskyy is again appearing with Finland’s Stubb, this time in front of students at the University of Helsinki, talking about “Europe alongside Ukraine.”
Stubb opens the event saying that Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 “shattered” the post-1989 world order, putting europe “at an inflection point” similar to 1918, 1945 and 1989.
“In the past three years, the world has changed more than in the past 30 years together,” he says.
“We can get it more or less right, or we can even sort of just try to let it happen.
For me, the choice is very simple.
We either have a multi lateral world with rules and strong international institutions, and an order, or we have a multi polar world, which is disorderly and based on transactions and deals.”
He warns that “if we do not end up with a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, we will end up in a very disorderly and transactional world.”
Putin's words 'at odds with reality,' says Zelenskyy - video
Zelenskyy says Putin's words are 'at odds with reality' after strikes on Ukraine – video
Kallas and Kubilius were also asked by an FT reporter about the paper’s story (£) on exclusion of most non-EU partners, except for the likes of Norway and Ukraine, from the scheme, potentially closing the path for the US, the UK, and Turkey to be involved.
They both appeared to signal some flexibility with “partnership agreements” and with third-country entities through companies “established in the European Union.”
“Nobody is excluded,” Kubilius insisted.
Kallas, who visited the UK yesterday, addressed the UK example in detail, saying that there were talks about a defence and security partnership with the UK, and she was hoping “to have results” in time by the EU-UK summit in May.
“But of course, like you know, it is related to member states and also different worries,” she added.
The talks were previously held up by disagreements in other areas.
Kallas stressed that maintaining EU unity was central to the proposal.
A number of countries – most notably, France – are understood to have been pushing for excluding non-EU countries in a bid to maximise the use of funds on spending with EU companies.
In his comments, Kubilius talked about the EU’s need to respond to rising threat from Russia, as a number of intelligence services from EU member states raised concerns about Moscow’s plans to test the Article 5 of Nato “before 2030.”
“That is why we need to have a road map for readiness by 2030, because we need to act big,” he said.
He said the EU wanted to close its capability gaps “not only having in mind wars of today, but also … of tomorrow.”
But he stressed that the key element was to implement the proposals.
“Putin will not be deterred if we … read the white paper to him. He will be deterred if we … turn the white paper into action and if we … use it to build very real drones, tanks, artillery for our defence,” he said.
Discussing the proposals, Kallas spoke about the need to close “capability gaps” and “ramp up production capacity,” while also making it more synchronised among member states to support them “where they cannot do it alone, because it is too expensive or too complex,” while ensuring interoperability between different systems.
“Ukraine should be part of this work too. We have a lot to learn from Ukraine’s battlefield experience. We should also be in the position to develop defence systems for Ukraine, but also with Ukraine,” she said.
Specifically on support for Ukraine, Kallas said that the white paper advances proposals to increase ammunition production to “at least two million rounds per year,” and air defence, drones, training and equipping of Ukrainian brigades.
She said:
“Russia’s economy is in a full war mode. 40% of the federal budget on the military is more than Russia spends on education, healthcare and social policies combined.
Regardless of the ongoing negotiations for peace in Ukraine, this is a long term investment in a long term plan of aggression.
Ukraine must be armed to avoid any future attacks, and we need a long term plan to stand up to do this.”
She was also asked about what she believed would be the appropriate defence funding level for European countries.
She said she agreed it was “higher than 2%,” the current Nato target, as “it is clear that we are in a totally new area, [where] new international order is being shaped.”
She said that drawing on the cold war experiences, Europe needs to acknowledge “we have a hot war …, and the threat is existential, as real as it can get.”
“So yes, we need to do more,” she said, but refused to commit to a specific number.
EU presents more details of its defence spending plans
High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and vice-president of the European Commission Kaja Kallas (left) and European Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius (right) look on as they present the white paper on the future of European defence, in Brussels, Belgium. Photograph: Yves Herman/Reuters
The European Union has just published a document spelling out its plans to rearm the bloc, White Paper for European Defence – Readiness 2030, aimed to respond to “the short-term urgency of supporting Ukraine, but also to address the pressing long-term need to boost Europe’s security and defence.”
The plan is based on proposals to mobilise up to €800bn in defence funding. We covered it in more detail on this blog last week with insight from our Brussels correspondent Jennifer Rankin, or you can alternatively read a summary of what it involves here (in a handy ‘factsheet’) or here, from their press release just out now:
To effectively address these challenges, the White Paper outlines a number of key lines of action:
Closing capability gaps, with a focus on critical capabilities identified by Member States.
Supporting the European defence industry through aggregated demand and increased collaborative procurement.
Supporting Ukraine through increased military assistance and deeper integration of the European and Ukrainian defence industries.
Deepening the EU-wide defence market including through simplifying regulations.
Accelerating the transformation of defence through disruptive innovations such as AI and quantum technology.
Enhancing European readiness for worst-case scenarios, by improving military mobility, stockpiling and strengthening external borders, notably the land border with Russia and Belarus.
Strengthening partnership with like-minded countries around the world.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and EU defence commissioner Andrius Kubilius are addressing reporters now, and I will bring you some of the key lines from their presentation.
Andriy Yermak, head of Zelenskyy’s office, just posted his update on Ukrainian diplomatic efforts:
Our work continues. Protecting Ukraine’s interests, ensuring a just and lasting peace, and maintaining a clear strategy for further actions with our partners. We keep working.
Britain's support for Ukraine to continue unaffected despite Russian demands - sources
Dan Sabbagh
Defence and security editor
Ukrainian soldiers take part in a training exercise at an undisclosed location in southern Britain in 2024. Photograph: Neil Hall/EPA
British defence sources indicated on Wednesday morning that UK arms and training to Ukraine would continue unaffected, despite the Kremlin’s demand that peace could only be achieved if all foreign military aid were halted.
The UK did not initially respond to a Kremlin statement on Tuesday night following a call between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, summarising the position the Russian president was said to have taken during the discussion.
But on Wednesday morning the UK emphasised there was no change in its position and the flow of military aid – worth £4.5bn this year – would not stop simply because the Kremlin was demanding it.
The briefing comes after the leaders of France and Germany said at a press conference on Tuesday they would continue to stand by Ukraine – in response to a Kremlin demand that experts said would leave Kyiv militarily isolated.
The Kremlin had said that “the key condition for preventing the escalation of the conflict” was “the complete cessation of foreign military aid and the provision of intelligence information to Kyiv”.
Putin's words on halting infrastructure, energy attacks 'very different from reality' of overnight attacks, Zelenskyy says
We can now bring you further lines from Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and his opening statement at the press conference with Finland’s Alex Stubb.
Discussing overnight attacks on Ukraine, including transport, hospitals and “ordinary urban infrastructure,” Zelenskyy said that “Putin’s words are very different from reality.”
He said the developments overnight stressed the need for further “defence support and air support” to defend itself.
Zelenskyy said that unity and joint efforts to exert further pressure on Russia were “absolutely necessary prerequisites for peace.”
The Ukrainian president also talked about the importance of bilateral cooperation with Finland on ramping up defence production, coordinating procurements, and joint work on civil protection.
Finland's President Alexander Stubb (R) shakes hands with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) during a joint press conference following their talks as part of the latter's official visit to Helsinki, Finland. Photograph: Kimmo Brandt/EPA
Kremlin accuses Ukraine of 'sabotage' of ceasefire discussions as it praises reset in US relations
Meanwhile, we are also getting first lines from the Kremlin’s briefing today, with Russia:
saying “unwillingness of Ukrainian leadership to agree a deal is obvious and a cause for concern”
criticising alleged overnight attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, saying they show “Kyiv’s lack of will to reach a deal” and “sabotage of agreement”
praising plans to “normalise ties, step-by-step” with the US with “enormous potential” in joint commercial projects
saying that Putin and Trump “understand each other well and trust each other”
confirming there are plans for further contacts, which are to be confirmed “today and tomorrow”
Nothing accidental about Stubb's determined backing of Zelenskyy with comments aimed at Trump - snap analysis
Jakub Krupa
There was nothing accidential about this press conference: Finland’s Alex Stubb is believed to be very closely involved in coordinating the European response to the war and its plans to support Ukraine in case of a ceasefire.
Appearing together the morning after Trump-Putin call, the Finnish president appeared to be determined to show his unconditional backing of Zelenskyy, and his intention to bring about a just and lasting peace, pointedly criticising Russia’s ambivalent position.
“There are only two ways to respond to the proposal of the President of the United States. It’s a yes or a no. No buts, no conditions,” he said.
Stubb, who previously served as Finland’s foreign and Europe minister, used his diplomatic acumen to hit all the right tones on the US role in the talks, going out of his way to praise Donald Trump’s initiative and reassure him – indirectly – that Ukraine and Europe are on the same page with him, unlike Russia.
It was meant as a show of unity and backing for Zelenskyy, before what appears to be plans for the Ukrainian presidents to have a call with Trump later today.
It’s also worth noting Zelenskyy’s comments pointedly suggesting he believes Russia has violated the half on energy infrastructure attacks discussed in yesterday’s call between Trump and Putin. Expect for that to come up again in his Trump call, if it happens.
And that concludes their press conference.
Zelenskyy appears to confirm plans for call with Trump
At the end of the press conference, Zelenskyy is asked to clarify his earlier comments on a potential call with Donald Trump later today.
Smiling, he says “there will be a call, and I will be very brief on this.”
“Everything else will come after the call,” he adds.
We want US to know we want to end war as quickly as possible, Zelenskyy says
Zelenskyy is now asked about the risk of the US turning its back on Ukraine, and he plays its down, saying he is reassured by the restoration of aid after a brief crisis in relations between the two countries.
He says he wants to be “transparent” in Ukrainian diplomacy “so that president Trump and his team, and most importantly, the people of America, could really see and could really know that it is important for us to finish this war as quickly as possible.”
He also thanks Finland to its support throughout the war.
