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Politico EU

Politico EU

Newspaper | Belgium | Centre
www.politico.eu/

European political journalism covering EU policy, elections, and politics.

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Discussions from Politico EU

Geopolitics

What should Europe do to strengthen its role in global peace efforts?

DAVOS, Switzerland — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky began his address at Davos on Thursday with a stinging rebuke for European leaders over their reluctance to use hard power to punish Russia or defend the continent. Why it matters: European countries often see themselves as keeping Ukraine afloat while President Trump pulls back. But Zelensky made clear he thinks the Europeans are too risk-averse and slow to react — and that the wake-up call Trump has given the continent was long overdue. "If Europe is not seen as a global force, if its actions do not scare bad actors, Europe will always be reacting, catching up to new, dangerous attacks," he said.Zelensky called on the European leaders to use frozen Russian assets and take bold steps like seizing Russian tankers, as Trump has done over Venezuela. Driving the news: Zelensky made news in the Q&A portion following his speech, announcing U.S., Ukrainian and Russian officials will hold trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi on Friday and Saturday. His remarks came shortly after an hourlong meeting with President Trump.Trump's envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are heading to Moscow for a meeting with Putin, who has signaled no desire for a truce any time soon. State of play: The U.S. is close to agreement with Ukraine on the terms of a peace plan. While Putin hasn't outright rejected it, his public comments have been unenthusiastic. Meanwhile, Russia has been pummeling Ukraine's energy infrastructure at a time of brutal winter conditions. What he's saying: Zelensky said "every European leader" is currently wondering whether the U.S. would help them in the event of a conflict. "Europe must learn how to defend itself. Sending 14 or 40 soldiers to Greenland, what is that meant to achieve? What message does that send to Putin? To China? And perhaps most importantly, what message does it send to Denmark?""Europe looks lost trying to convince the U.S. president to change. But he will not change. President Trump loves who

Global
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Geopolitics

How should Europe balance its own defense strength with its relationship with the US?

BERLIN, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday called for a stronger NATO within Europe but said that it should also always extend the hand of cooperation to the United States. Speaking to the German parliament, Merz also said that Europe will not be cowed by tariff threats any longer. (Reporting by Sarah Marsh and Matthias Williams, Editing by Friederike Heine)

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Geopolitics

What are the possible benefits and challenges of peace talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the U.S.?

The Trilateral talks between U.S., Russia and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi were "positive" and "constructive," Ukrainian officials told Axios. Why it matters: The talks were a new phase in the U.S. mediation efforts aimed at ending the war. President Trump's advisers want to try and narrow the gaps on the key sticking point — the territorial control in eastern Ukraine. Driving the news: The talks took place as Russia launched another massive missile and drone attack against Kyiv and other cities overnight. Ukrainian President Zelensky said 370 attack drones and 21 missiles of various types were fired by the Russian military. "We must ensure full implementation of everything agreed with President Trump in Davos regarding air defense," he stressed. State of play: The talks started on Friday and continued on Saturday with U.S. mediators holding a joint meeting with Russian and Ukrainian negotiators and with the Russians and Ukrainians meeting directly without the Americans in the room, Ukrainian officials said. The U.S. delegation included Trump advisers Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner and Josh Gruenbaum, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and the commander of the U.S. military European command, Alexus Grynkewich.The Ukrainian team included Zelensky's chief of staff Kyrylo Budanov, national security adviser Rustem Umerov, Ukrainian military chief of staff General Andrii Hnatov and Zelensky's advisers Sergiy Kyslytsya and Davyd Arakhamia. Zoom in: The Russian team was led by the head of Russian military intelligence Admiral Igor Kostyukov. The negotiation teams also held a meeting with the President of the UAE Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, who hosted the talks. The UAE had mediated between Russia and Ukraine on the exchange of prisoners of war."The discussions on Friday and Saturday were conducted in a constructive and positive atmosphere and included direct engagement between Russian and Ukrainian representatives on outstanding elements of the U.S.-proposed peace framework, as well as conf

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