US-Ukraine peace talks begin after Moscow hit by ‘largest ever’ drone attack – Europe live
By Guardian-Jakub Krupa - Tue 11 Mar 2025 13.00 GMT
US-Ukraine talks begin in Saudi Arabia. US and Ukrainian delegation have started their meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine’s foreign ministry just said, posting a video of the Ukrainian delegation arriving for the talks. Meeting in Jeddah after Moscow authorities said one person was killed in a drone attack on the Russian capital
Updated at 09.36 GMT9m ago13.00 GMT
US-Ukraine talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - in pictures
1h ago12.14 GMT
'Don't rush to put rose-tinted spectacles,' Kremlin spokesperson warns Russians against Trump euphoria
The Kremlin warned Russians not to get carried away by what the administration of US president Donald Trump is doing over Ukraine even though its actions may sometimes look hopeful for Moscow and to always “prepare for the worst,” Reuters reported.
“Don’t rush to put on rose-tinted spectacles,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told an audience at Moscow’s Higher School of Economics on Tuesday, delivering a reality check to Russians excited by Trump’s apparently friendlier behaviour towards them, which has completely upended the policy of the previous U.S. administration.
“We always need to hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. And we must always be ready to defend our interests,” said Peskov.
His warning came as US and Ukrainian officials held talks in Saudi Arabia that are partly designed to determine whether Ukraine is willing to make material concessions to Russia to end the war. If the talks go well, Kyiv hopes Trump may resume military aid and full intelligence sharing, Reuters noted.
Share1h ago11.50 GMT
Poland wants to be able to train 100,000 people in 2027, prime minister Tusk says
Polish prime minister Donald Tusk has just offered more detail on his plans for voluntary large-scale military training of Poland’s adult population as the country scales up its preparedness in the context of continuing Russian aggression in the region and its invasion of Ukraine.
He said the government’s plans to expand existing training programmes as soon as possible, so that everyone who wants to take part can do so in 2026, and expanding the target to be able to train 100,000 people in 2027.
Anyone taking part in the month-long training gets a one-off salary of 6,000 Polish złoty (€1,431), Tusk said.
The scheme will be open to all adults between 18 and 60 years old. They will also get additional dual-use training opportunities, for example an expedited course to get a driving licence for larger transport vehicles.
Further details of the draft law implementing these plan are expected “by the end of March,” he said.
ShareUpdated at 12.02 GMT2h ago11.27 GMT
Time for Putin to wakeup to reality; Ukraine needs to be negotiate from position of strength, Dutch defence minister says
Back to Ukraine, Dutch defence minister Ruben Brekelmans also spoke at the Paris conference this morning, warning that “Europe is standing at the crossroads,” as “the treats imposed by Russia is only growing” and “we don’t have much time to get this right, we only have one shot.”
In a very pointed reference, Brekelmans alluded to Trump’s recent comments on Nato’s Article 5:
Nato was established in 1949 to prevent future wars through unified strength.
And nowadays, when we walk towards the entrance of the Nato headquarters, we pass a large piece of the Berlin Wall on the left side, it’s a symbol of the end of the Cold War, [and] to the right side, we see a twisted and mangled piece of steel from the twin towers, a reminder of 9/11 and a reminder of the impact of terrorism.
It’s also a reminder of our American allies asking for help, and a reminder of European allies answering that call.
In a stark reminder of what is at stake, he added:
I cannot help but wonder, what relics of war will come to stand next to these five to 10 years from now?
Will it be a piece of concrete from an apartment building in Kharkiv?
Will it be a section of a internet cable from the North Sea?
It’s impossible to predict, but what I do already know is that our actions in these coming days and coming weeks will be crucial in shaping the next five to 10 years.
On Ukraine specifically, Brekelmans said:
President Zelensky should not have to agree to a deal that would result in some sort of interbellum, with aggression constantly looming on the horizon.
He needs to negotiate from a position of strength.
He then directly warned about Russia’s president Vladimir Putin saying:
Putin has made very clear that Ukraine is not his final stop on his campaign to the imperial past.
He will continue his aggressive, aggressive efforts to increase the influence and the territory of the Russian Empire towards his dream to reestablish a Russkiy Mir, or a Russian world.
It’s a dream for Putin, and it’s a nightmare for the rest of Europe.
It’s time we let Putin wake up to the fact that his dreams do not match reality.
…
No matter how brutal this war has become, Ukrainians cannot be silenced. They can be forced into submission.
Ukrainians are fighting at the frontline of our freedom and security against Russian tyranny and aggression. It’s the frontline of the freedom and security of Europe.
Share2h ago11.02 GMT
Europe should reject calls to demilitarise Ukraine, French armed forced minister says
Over in Paris, French armed forces minister Sébastien Lecornu has just opened the Paris Defence and Strategy Forum, which will see over 30 army chiefs coming together for a chat on what Europe and the west can offer in support of Ukraine as part of a peacedeal with Russia.
Lecornu said Europe was facing "a new period” in its history, distinctively different from both the cold war and “the period of peace dividends,” with multiple global powers fighting for influence.
In a pointed reference to the new US administration, he said that today’s discussions will look at how Nato and the west could defend the eastern flank “if tomorrow the contributions of certain countries – or one country in particular – were to decrease” their presence.
On Ukraine, he said that more planning was needed to back any potential ceasefire in Ukraine, knowing that Russia has a history of not respecting similar arrangements.
Crucially, the French minister said that France would “refuse any demilitarisation of the Ukrainian army,” considering it an important part of any future security architecture.
Share3h ago10.13 GMT
'Ceasefire never seemed closer,' top Ukraine president aide writes for the Guardian
Andriy Yermak, the most senior adviser to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has also written for the Guardian about today’s talks in Jeddah.
As I arrive in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, a ceasefire in the three-year war the Russian Federation has waged on my country has never seemed closer. …
A ceasefire in Ukraine will not come through diplomatic gestures alone. A number of conditions are crucial beforehand in order to ensure that peace – when it comes – is lasting. This includes putting political and financial pressure on Russia to raise the cost of renewed conflict. …
A stronger, safer and more resilient Europe – militarily, politically and economically – is our shared goal. Securing a meaningful ceasefire is the first step. This requires a Europe that is economically and politically resilient. Europe must be prepared to act to deliver its own security, and Russia must understand the political and economic cost of using force to achieve its ends.
Read his thoughts in full:
Share3h ago09.59 GMT
'Don't waste this chance, whole world is watching you,' Poland's Tusk tells US, Ukraine officials
Polish prime minister Donald Tusk has just posted a social media update, stressing the importance of today’s US-Ukraine talks in Jeddah.
He said:
Dear Americans, dear Ukrainians, don’t waste this chance. The whole world is watching you in Jeddah today. Good luck!
Share3h ago09.54 GMT
'We need surge in European defence and need it now," EU commission chief tells lawmakers
As the talks in Jeddah take place behind the closed doors, let’s catch up with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen’s comments at the European Parliament in Strasbourg earlier this morning.
She told EU lawmakers that “the European security order is being shaken, and so many of our illusions are being shattered,” with increasingly aggressive posture from Russia and the shift in US defence policy.
“Some believed that Russia could be integrated in Europe’s economic and security architecture. Others hoped that we could rely indefinitely on America’s full protection. And so we lowered our guard. The time of illusions is over,” she said.
Von der Leyen argued that recent decisions by EU leaders were “unprecedented” and previously “completely unthinkable,” showing new urgency to act and rearm Europe.
“We need a surge in European defence, and we need it now,” she said.
She explained that the first priority was “the urgent need to fill the gaps in Ukraine’s military supplies and to provide Ukraine with solid security guarantees,” but Europe also needs to go beyond that.
“Putin has proven time and again that he is a hostile neighbour. He cannot be trusted. He can only be deterred,” she said.
Share3h ago09.42 GMT
Ukraine 'ready to do everything to achieve peace,' top Zelenskyy adviser says
Ukraine wants peace and is ready to negotiate to end the war, a top adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said as he entered talks with US counterparts in Saudi Arabia.
“We are ready to do everything to achieve peace,” Ukrainian presidency chief of staff Andriy Yermak told reporters, AFP reported.
Share4h ago09.34 GMT
US-Ukraine talks underway
We are now getting a first glimpse of inside the negotiating room thanks to a video posted by the Ukrainian foreign ministry on their social media channels.
Share4h ago09.24 GMT
We are still waiting for first pictures from the US-Ukraine talks in Jeddah, but for now have this snap showing the preparations for the summit…
Share4h ago09.06 GMT
US-Ukraine talks begin in Saudi Arabia
US and Ukrainian delegation have started their meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine’s foreign ministry just said, posting a video of the Ukrainian delegation arriving for the talks.
ShareUpdated at 09.36 GMT4h ago09.02 GMT
Kremlin expects US readout from Ukraine talks
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Moscow expects that the United States will inform Russia about US talks with Ukraine taking place on Tuesday in Saudi Arabia, Russian state news agency TASS reported.
President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff plans to visit Moscow this week to meet president Vladimir Putin, sources told Reuters on Monday.
Peskov said the Kremlin would provide timely information on any contacts with Witkoff.
Share4h ago08.53 GMT
Create new defence format with EU and close partners, former Italian PM Letta says
Former Italian prime minister Enrico Letta, who now leads the French Jacques Delors Institut, is one of the leading voices in the European debate on security and defence in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
In a comment for Le Monde this morning, he called for a new European Common Defence System comprising of the 27 EU member states (not sure pro-Russian Hungary will be that keen, though), the UK, Norway, Iceland, and the three Balkan candidate states: Albania, Montenegro, and North Macedonia.
He praised recent decisions on raising EU defence spending as “going in the right direction,” but called for deeper integration “beyond the sole dimension of defence [as] security is a much broader objective than defensive military effectiveness,” pointing to energy independence, connectivity, and European autonomy in terms of financial and economic structures.
He said that a more coordinated response was needed to respond to “openly hostile to the EU” administration in the US, and overcome “dramatic weakeness of the EU” in its fragmentation.
Share5h ago08.29 GMT
Over 30 nations to talk about their support for Ukraine in Paris
Separately, senior army representatives from over 30 countries are meeting in Paris to discuss creating an international force to deter future Russian aggression once a ceasefire is established.
AP notes that the Paris meeting is the most significant culmination so far of French and British efforts to rally nations under a so-called “coalition of the willing” to safeguard Ukraine by establishing a reassurance and deterrence force to dissuade Russia from invading again.
The list of participating countries includes almost all Nato member states – notably, without the US, as it is meant to be a Europe-led mission – as well as some Commonwealth countries and Asian powers such as Japan and South Korea.
The main meeting, part of the Paris Defence Forum, will take place in late afternoon, with a keynote speech framing the task ahead by French president Emmanuel Macron.
Share5h ago08.03 GMT
Ukraine launched 'largest ever' drone attack on Moscow
And just hours before the talks were due to get under way, Ukraine targeted Moscow in what authorities said was its largest ever drone attack on the Russian capital, killing at least one person, sparking fires and forcing the suspension of flights and train travel.
The Russian defence ministry said 337 drones were launched at Russia over Monday night, with 91 of them targeting the Moscow region. The Moscow city mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, said it was the largest Ukrainian drone attack on the city.
Russia’s aviation watchdog said flights were suspended at all four of Moscow’s airports. Two other airports, in the Yaroslavl and Nizhny Novgorod regions east of Moscow, were also closed.
Three reportedly killed in Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow as peace talks beginRead more
ShareUpdated at 11.46 GMT5h ago08.03 GMT
Morning opening: Crunch time
Jakub Krupa
US and Ukrainian officials are meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, today to see if they can find a way forward for Donald Trump’s push to bring the Russian invasion of Ukraine to an end.
The key building block seems to be the minerals deal, which the US side expected to be signed either at Keith Kellogg’s visit to Kyiv last month, or the now infamous visit of Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the White House.
Kellogg said last week that he was now expecting the deal to be agreed by US state secretary Marco Rubio and his Ukrainian equivalent, and it just so happens that the two take part in today’s talks.
Asked on Fox News if he thought Ukraine could sign the minerals deal this week, Trump Middle East aide Steve Witkoff said: “I am really hopeful. All the signs are very, very positive.” Could this finally happen today, third time lucky?
But we know that both sides are keen to discuss the broader ramification of any deal and what’s next, including the Ukrainian proposal – first floated by French president Emmanuel Macron – for a limited ceasefire in air and at seas to allow for other talks to progress.
Ukraine’s Zelenskyy also repeatedly talked about the importance of exchanging hostages, and of his demand for Russia to return abducted Ukrainian children. Let’s see if he can make progress on these issues.
Last night, the Ukrainian president met with Saudi leaders, who are keen to play a mediating role in the process. In a social media post after the meeting, he said he discussed these ideas, and pointedly added that “a significant part of the discussion was dedicated to the formats of security guarantees.”
Rubio, on the other hand, said “both sides need to come to an understanding that there’s no military solution to this situation.”
He added: “I’m not going to set any conditions on what they have to or need to do. I think we want to listen to see how far they’re willing to go and then compare that to what the Russians want and see how far apart we truly are.”
“The most important thing that we have to leave here with is a strong sense that Ukraine is prepared to do difficult things, like the Russians are going to have to do difficult things, to end this conflict or at least pause it in some way, shape or form,” he said.
Let’s see if they can make progress today. I will bring you all the latest throughout the day.
Elsewhere, we will be keeping one eye on the historic elections in Greenland, the vote of no confidence in the Portuguese government, and other stories across Europe, but our main focus is firmly on Ukraine today.
It’s Tuesday, 11 March 2025, and this is Europe live. It’s Jakub Krupa here.
Good morning.
Europe live with Jakub Krupa
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