Zelenskyi: Näyttää siltä, että Naton vaikutusvaltaisin jäsen on Putin
Zelenskyin mukaan Ukraina ei ole luopunut Nato-jäsenyyden tavoittelemisesta.
Hänen mukaansa Ukrainalla tulisi kuitenkin olla edellytykset rakentaa ”toinen Nato Ukrainaan”, mikäli maa ei pääse Naton jäseneksi. Zelenskyi sanoo, että Naton vaikutusvaltaisin jäsen vaikuttaa tällä hetkellä olevan Venäjän presidentti Vladimir Putin.
Ukrainan presidentti myös kommentoi mahdollisia tulevia rauhanneuvotteluja sanoen, että olisi vaarallista, mikäli Yhdysvaltain presidentti Donald Trump tapasi Putinin ennen häntä.
– Emme voi hyväksyä aselepoa ilman todellisia turvatakuita, hän lisäsi.
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Russia is relishing a series of contradictory White House messages on Ukraine
The split screen is horrifying. On one side, a White House whose policy is in turns strident, revisionist, and then – it seems, sometimes - in urgent need of clarification. On the other, Ukraine, where President Volodymyr Zelensky is outside, looking in, on peace talks, while hundreds die daily on frontlines where Moscow is winning, and children are frequently pulled from the rubble of Russian airstrikes.
As Ukraine’s brutal war nears its third year, the two visions risk becoming irreconcilable.
The White House’s contradictory positions will be partly to blame here. We have seen a startling week in which the US Secretary of Defence Peter Hegseth said Ukraine could not join NATO or get its pre-2014 borders back. He either broadcast a key plank of US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s secret peace deal inadvertently or gave away a key part of Ukraine’s diplomatic negotiating hand to the shock of Europe.
Ukraine’s allies may have all known that, in reality, it would not join NATO soon, or get its borders back to when the east and Crimea were in its hands, but had kept that as a concession to make to Russia during, not before, negotiations.
It keeps coming.
US Vice President JD Vance told the Wall Street Journal, apparently, the US might send troops to Ukraine, in extremis – that it would use “tools of leverage” both military and economic. Did he really unveil the polar opposite of Hegseth’s comments in Brussels that no American soldiers would go to Ukraine? Why did he not mention Russia at all, when addressing European allies in Munich about largely fictional totalitarianism in western democracies? Also, did Trump misspeak when he said there would be “high-level people” from Russia, Ukraine, and the US in Munich for a key security conference – or did he mean Saudi Arabia?
Moscow and Kyiv didn’t seem to think anyone of that level is going to Munich for those kind of talks. Or are there secret talks happening that Trump cannot keep quiet?
During this short period of whiplash, by the worst battlefield estimates, up to 5,000 troops have been killed or injured on the frontlines in Ukraine. Romania and Moldova have complained of Russian drones interfering in their airspace. At least 13 civilians have died and 72 been injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine. A Russian drone has been fired at Chernobyl nuclear plant, Ukraine said Friday.
A war is happening – and Russia is winning it, at huge cost for Ukraine – while the White House seems to work out what it really thinks in public.
Behind these vacillating positions on NATO membership, Ukraine’s borders and and US troops in Ukraine, lies the darker truth that we simply do not know what Trump and Putin have spoken about, in what Trump has said was more than one call since he came to the White House.
Firstly, it is important to reflect on the precedent here: Trump has swept away three years of isolation of the Kremlin from the West without concessions. He got Marc Fogel released – in exchange, it seems, for Alexander Vinnik, accused of running a multibillion-dollar cryptocurrency exchange, gifting Moscow a moment of staggeringly warm rehabilitation for an American television audience. But there have been no concessions so far, in public, from Russia to Ukraine.
Instead, we had the bizarre revisionism of Trump suggesting Russia invaded because Ukraine was about to join NATO.
To repeat, three exhausting years in, Russia invaded Ukraine unprovoked in 2022 out of some strategic sense of concern it needed to project strength along its borders, and mistakenly thinking the invasion would take a matter of weeks, and be welcomed with open arms.
Ukraine wanted warmer relations with the European Union and dreamed of perhaps joining NATO one day, but in the same way Zelensky probably dreamed one day as a young boy of joining the Beatles. Neither was going to happen any time soon.
The revisionist notion that Russia acted to stop Ukraine’s NATO membership is a Kremlin talking point. And it is clear now Trump has spent more time talking to Putin than Zelensky. He even suggested that Zelensky’s time in office might soon end, as he needs to eventually hold elections, and his poll numbers are “not particularly great, to put it mildly”.
It’s hard to understate the impact of the world’s most powerful man suggesting a wartime commander lacks a current mandate and might soon need to step aside. Perhaps this is part of the private plan – it is certainly what Putin wants, as elections would undoubtedly be a mess and produce a mandate that was questioned. It is, above all, potentially catastrophic to Ukrainian morale – soldiers must agree to continue to risk their lives for a president whose key financial backer considers a lame duck.
This is where the two split screens collide.
Trump’s world is one where off-the-cuff statements can be massaged, and his telegenic cabinet overturn the paradigms of global security hourly, without major consequence. Their echo chamber just reassuringly feeds back the corrected version of policy. On the other side of the screen, Ukrainians die, lose territory, see apartment blocks reduced to rubble, consider desertion, and watch the backbone of their western support dissolve.
This is all a symphony of chaos to the Kremlin. They know what their objectives are, which, simply put, amount to whatever they can get. And that is a lot when the key adversary they actually fear, the United States, is so publicly unsure what it wants, why it wants it, and what its red lines are.
Peace talks have started, but the sands are not just shifting for Ukraine, they risk becoming quicksand.
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Putin has waited for this moment for 3 years, as Zelensky is left in the cold
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We simply do not know the details of what Trump and Putin spoke about. But we can be sure the Kremlin head has waited for this moment for three years – yearning for the time when his grotesque tolerance of hundreds of Russian daily dead can be converted into a crack in Western unity, or NATO’s European members being told by their American guarantor they are on their own.
Trump and Putin set the tone it seems, and Zelensky got the post-brief. Trump even gloated that Putin had used his campaign slogan of “common sense,” suggesting the Kremlin head continues to study his adversary carefully to flatter. Trump ended his second post about his call with Zelensky with the remarkable switcheroo of “God bless the people of Russia and Ukraine!”
Hours earlier, Zelensky’s hopes over the key tenets of a peace deal had been torn up by new US Secretary of Defense Peter Hegseth. Ukraine will not be part of NATO. Ukraine will never return to its 2014 borders. Any peacekeeping forces between Russia and Ukraine will not be American, but European or non-European. Europe must look after itself. The first two points we knew – Ukraine having failed to retake territory in its 2023 counteroffensive, and likely being too chaotic in the coming decade to make the grade for the world’s most sophisticated military alliance.
But the makeup of any future peacekeeping forces was crucial. Zelensky had openly demanded – in a stream of interviews in the past week that had begun to seem like negotiating a peace deal in the media – that Americans be involved with peacekeeping, as security guarantees without America were “worthless.” Hegseth was swift to burst that bubble, fanciful as the notion was that the US would insert its men and women as prime targets in the most brutal battlefield on earth.
Instead, we are seeing the bones of a peace plan emerge in public that is close to one posited by retired Gen. Keith Kellogg back in April, when he was a private citizen and not presidential envoy to Ukraine and Russia. Kellogg suggested a peacekeeping force manned by Europeans. He said Ukraine should give up on NATO membership. He proposed a ceasefire (and has since in interviews suggested elections might then follow in Ukraine). And importantly, he said Ukrainian aid should be turned into loans that Kyiv would one day repay. Perhaps this formed part of Bessent’s proposal to Zelensky on Wednesday.
Rare earth minerals were discussed in Kyiv on Wednesday too, although this is not necessarily great news based on precedent. When Trump was briefly enticed to support Afghanistan in 2017 because of its purported trillion dollars’ worth of minerals, he regardless signed a deal with the Taliban to let them take over just over two years later.
There are reasons to hope Trump’s approach is based on more immutable principles and sophisticated groundwork. He and his team have clearly had confidential discussions, and seem to be articulating a plan Kellogg formulated a while ago. That takes some discipline. But it also takes application, guile and patience to see it through. Putin has this in droves, and victory in Ukraine will dictate both his personal survival, legacy, and the balance of powers globally for decades. For Trump, the war in Ukraine is the thing he thought he could fix in 24 hours after coming to power, that would never have started had he been in office in 2022.
It is not his priority. Zelensky is not either. The man on top of his call sheet is Putin. He is who he seeks to make a peace with, even though the United States is not technically at war in Ukraine. And that is, for now, all we need to know.
Petteri Orpo: Suomella vastuu Pohjolan rauhasta, USA:n rauhanturvaajia saatava Ukrainaan
Pääministeri Petteri Orpo on juuri palannut Münchenin turvallisuuskokouksesta. Hänen mukaansa Yhdysvaltojen linja Ukrainan suhteen on oikea, vaikka viestintä onkin ristiriitaista.
J. D. Vancen puhe Münchenin turvallisuuskokouksessa on herättänyt keskustelua ja kummastusta.
Vance arvosteli kärkevästi EU-maita ja syytti niitä sananvapauden rajoittamisesta ja äänestäjien pelkäämisestä.
Ukrainan tukemisesta ja sodan lopettamisesta varapresidentti Vance ei juurikaan puhunut.
Pääministeri Petteri Orpon (kok.) mukaan Yhdysvalloista tulee paljon erilaisia ja osin ristiriitaisia viestejä.
– Mutta kun syvemmin katsoo, niin isot perusasiat ovat oikeassa suunnassa, Orpo luonnehtii Yhdysvaltojen linjaa.
Hän on juuri palannut eilen alkaneesta 61. kertaa järjestettävästä Münchenin turvallisuuskonferenssista. Orpon mukaan Donald Trumpin toinen presidenttikausi on ollut juuri sellaista mitä osattiin odottaa.
– Nyt kun se kaikki on tässä, se hämmentää. Mutta meidän pitää ottaa rauhallisesti ja keskittyä olennaiseen eli rauhaan Ukrainaan ja Euroopan turvallisuusjärjestelyihin, eikä juosta jokaisen Yhdysvalloista tulevan kommentin perässä.
Trumppilainen toimintatapa pitää ottaa rauhallisesti
Esimerkiksi Euroopan komission varapresidentti Kaja Kallas sanoo, että Vancen puhe tuntui siltä, kuin Yhdysvallat yrittäisi ”haastaa riitaa” Euroopan kanssa.
– Tämä on uusi yhdysvaltalainen tapa toimia, trumppilainen tapa, Orpo luonnehtii.
Hänen mukaansa Trumpin tapa toimia on ollut hämmentävää. Positiivista kuitenkin Orpon mielestä on, että rauhan hakeminen Ukrainaan ja Eurooppaan on alkanut. Hänen mukaansa Yhdysvallat on hakemassa rauhaa, jossa Venäjä pakotetaan rauhanneuveotteluihin ja jossa pidetään huoli Ukrainan vahvemmastasta asemata neuvotteluissa.
Kuuden suuren eurooppalaisen maan ja EU:n yhdessä muodostama Weimar+:ksi nimetty ryhmä on julkaissut yhteisen lausunnon, jossa vakuutetaan, että tuki Ukrainalle jatkuu. Weimar+ -ryhmään kuuluu Ranska, Saksa, Puola, Italia, Espanja ja Britannia.
Lausunnossa korostettiin myös, että Euroopan on oltava mukana päätöksenteossa Ukrainan rauhasta. Lausunto tuli sen jälkeen, kun Trump kertoi keskustelleensa Venäjän presidentti Vladimir Putinin kanssa.
Orpon mielestä erilaisten ryhmien muodostuminen kertoo heräämisestä uuteen tilanteeseen. Myös Pohjoismaat ja Baltia ovat tehneet tiivistä yhteistyötä. EU-komission on Orpon mielestä koordinoitava, että Eurooppaan ei muodostu jakolinjoja.
– Eurooppaa edustavat tahot on pystyttävä valtuuttamaan yhdessä, Orpo sanoo.
USA rauhaa turvaamaan, Suomi pysyy Pohjolassa
Orpo muistutti, että Venäjän tavoite alistaa Ukraina kolmessa päivässä ei toteutunut. Sen sijaan runsaan viikon kuluttua sota on tullut jatkuneeksi kolme vuotta.
Rauhansopimuksessa Ukrainan itsenäisyys on taattava ja lisäksi Orpo korosti, että Ukrainan mahdollisuus hakea sekä EU:n että Naton jäsenyyttä on taattava. EU:n pitäisi Orpon mielestä nopeuttaa Ukrainan jäsenyysprosessia.
Ukrainalle on annettava tukea niin rintamalle, kuin neuvotteluihin sekä Venäjän että Yhdysvaltojen kanssa. Suomi juuri päättänyt Ukrainalle annettavasta 26. tukipaketista. Yhteensä sotilaallista tukea on annettu 2,5 miljardia euroa.
Kuitenkin mahdollisen tulitauon ja rauhan turvaamisessa Ukrainassa Suomen rooli on jäämässä rajalliseksi.
Orpo sanoo liittolaisten ymmärtävän, että Suomen pitkä raja Venäjän kanssa edellyttää sitä, että Suomi keskittyy Pohjalan turvallisuuteen.
Yhdysvallat on linjannut, että sen sotilaita ei lähetetä turvaamaan rauhaa Ukrainan maaperälle. Orpon mukaan asiasta olisi kuitenkin edelleen syytä neuvotella. Hänen olisi tärkeää, että Yhdysvallat osallituisi rauhanturvaamiseen.
Myös tasavallan presidentti Alexander Stubb osallistuu Münchenissä useisiin Euroopan turvallisuutta käsitteleviin keskusteluihin. Hänellä on kahdenkeskisiä tapaamisia.
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Finland issues guidelines for volunteer fighters, Russia reacts
Finland / 04 February 2025
The Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has published an online information package for citizens considering volunteering in the war in Ukraine. The document outlines risks, legal implications, and consular assistance for Finns who choose to fight.
The Ministry states that it does not encourage or endorse participation in the war but aims to provide practical guidance for volunteers and their families.
The webpage, available in Finnish and Swedish, covers issues such as signing service contracts, injuries, death, missing status, and prisoner-of-war situations. It also advises on personal arrangements in case of a delayed or permanent absence.
According to the Ministry, the information is based on experiences from Finland’s embassy in Kyiv and reflects the latest available understanding of the situation. However, it notes that conditions can change rapidly, and the details may not always remain current.
The guidance follows reports that Finnish citizens have been among the foreign volunteers fighting for Ukraine since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Finland has previously stated that its citizens have the right to join Ukraine’s armed forces, but they do so at their own risk.
Russia has strongly condemned Finland’s decision to issue the guidelines. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused Helsinki of endangering its own citizens.
“In my opinion, the authors of such ‘instructions’ were guided by nothing but hatred for their own citizens and disregard for their fate,” Zakharova told Russian state media. “Who in the Finnish government hates the Finns so much?”
Finnish officials have not yet responded to the criticism.
Photo essay: Royal Navy escorts Russian naval group close to the UK
In this photo and video essay we cover the RN’s recent operation escorting a group of Russian ships through the English Channel.
The RN has now released and imagery of escort tasking that saw three ships, HMS Iron Duke, HMS Tyne, together with RFA Tideforce deployed. The Russian group heading eastward comprised of the merchant ships Sparta, Sparta II and tanker General Skobelev accompanied by the assault ships RFS Aleksandr Otrakovskiy and RFS Ivan Gren.
Royal Navy keeps a close eye on Russian naval group
This is very much routine work for the RN but recent Russian maritime activity has increased tensions further, including sending spy ships into the Irish Sea and carrying out sabotage of undersea infrastructure. Although the threat posed by this group is almost nil, it is important to signal to NATO’s adversary that any naval activity will be closely watched at all times.
RFA Tideforce with RFS Ivan Gren beyond.
HMS Iron Duke makes a fine sight at speed. Her £103M refit (May 2019 – Jun 2023) did not include the PGMU engine upgrade received by some of the newer frigates.
Photos were taken from HMS Iron Duke’s embarked 815 NAS Wildcat helicopter.
The tanker MV General Skobelev is used to provide fuel for Russian military operations.
Sparta II and Sparta accompanied by HMS Tyne
After transiting English Channel, the ships are continuing into the North Sea. MV Sparta I and MV General Skobelev are expected to reach St Petersburg around 22nd February. Meanwhile, MV Sparta II is heading for the Russian naval base in Baltiysk before heading onward to Kaliningrad. As an international pariah, Russia lacks any friendly ports in the entirety of Europe, meaning that any mechanical failures must be dealt with independently while at sea. Reports have already emerged of technical difficulties affecting the Sparta during both its voyage to Tartus and on this return trip.
The RFS Aleksandr Otrakovskiy is real antique – a Ropucha-class tank landing ship built Poland in the 1970s. Sister ships RFS Caesar Kunikov have been sunk and RFS Olenegorsky Gornyak seriously damaged by Ukrainian forces in the Black Sea.
HMS Tyne and HMS Iron Duke.
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Donald Trump’s betrayal of Ukraine has emboldened Vladimir Putin and pulled the rug from under Nato allies
The ramifications of the president’s appeasement of Russia will be felt widely, not least in the alliance he recklessly undermined
In Graham Greene’s 1955 novel, The Quiet American, Alden Pyle, a CIA agent, reckons he has all the answers to conflict in colonial era Vietnam. Pyle’s ignorance, arrogance and dangerous scheming, intended to bring peace, result instead in the deaths of many innocents and ultimately his own. In today’s too-real, nonfiction world, Donald Trump is Pyle. Except he’s The Noisy American.
He thinks he’s a great deal-maker. He never stops trumpeting his brilliance. Yet his North Korea “deal of the century” was a fiasco. He handed Afghanistan to the Taliban on a plate. Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu runs rings around him. Now Trump-Pyle proposes another rubbish deal – selling out Ukraine. America’s very own surrender monkey is Vladimir Putin’s useful idiot. No matter how officials spin it, Trump’s concessions, made before ceasefire talks with Russia even begin, are calamitous, primarily for Ukraine but also for Europe’s security, the transatlantic alliance, and other vulnerable targets, such as Taiwan. As stated, Trump’s giveaways – accepting the loss of sovereign Ukrainian territory to Russian aggression, denying Nato membership to Kyiv, withholding US security guarantees and troops – are shameful appeasement, amounting to betrayal.
It was Putin, remember, who launched an unprovoked, murderous full-scale invasion three years ago. But Trump suggests that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Ukraine’s brave, battered people are somehow to blame. He even regurgitates Kremlin calls for fresh elections in Kyiv. Such hypocritical cant from a regime that routinely subverts other countries’ polls is beyond sickening. But Trump the duplicitous dupe willingly buys it. Putin surely cannot believe his luck. By chatting chummily on the phone for 90 minutes, praising Russia’s “genius” tyrant for his “common sense”, and inviting him to a Saudi summit, Trump rehabilitated a pariah and pulled the rug from under Nato allies. Putin gave nothing back. He thinks he’s winning, on the battlefield, politically and diplomatically. He’s right. Worse, Moscow continues to demand that any lasting deal address “structural issues”. These include Ukraine’s disarmament, non-aligned status, the “denazification” of its leadership, and even its existence as an independent state, which Putin abhors. Russia wants to re-order Europe’s security architecture, shorthand for weakening, dividing and pushing back Nato.
Pete Hegseth, the US defence secretary and Pyle clone, gave Putin a big assist last week, insisting that European security was no longer Washington’s “primary focus”. Europe (including Britain) must pay more for its defence – he proposes 5% of GDP – and “provide the overwhelming share of future lethal and nonlethal aid to Ukraine”. US troops in Europe could be cut, he suggested. All this raises a wider question about the transatlantic alliance under Trump’s malign reign. The Americans have shattered Nato’s united front on Ukraine. They have broken their word. They have undermined Zelenskyy and leading supporters – Britain, Germany’s Olaf Scholz, Poland’s Donald Tusk and Kyiv’s allies in the Baltic republics and Scandinavia, all of whom put their trust, wrongly, it transpires, in US leadership.
What, then, is Nato for? By prioritising China and the Indo-Pacific over the North Atlantic area – while threatening to emulate Putin and invade sovereign countries such as Canada, Panama and Danish Greenland – Trump undercuts Nato’s raison d’être and shreds the global rulebook it was created to uphold. He previously threatened to quit the alliance. Maybe he should. It could force Europe to take charge of its own destiny.
Europeans had plenty of warning that these kind of shifts on Ukraine and defence were coming. Trump has long viewed European governments, hard-right politicians such as Hungary’s Viktor Orbán excepted, as spongers. He harbours irrational animosity towards the EU and has so far refused to speak to Brussels. His steel tariffs reflect this visceral disdain. So cries of shock and pain from the likes of Kaja Kallas, the EU foreign policy chief, and Britain’s defence secretary, John Healey, who insist they must have a central role in any US-Russia negotiation, come a bit late. They should have taken a tougher public and private stance with Trump from the start, to prevent him going off on a unilateralist tangent. Instead, Europe was, and still is, divided on how best to deal with both Trump and Ukraine, with some leaders, such as Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, currying favour, and others, like Keir Starmer, biting their lip. This is vindication for France’s Emmanuel Macron, who has repeatedly called, largely in vain, for the EU to develop and fund its own collective, non-Nato defence force, arms procurement and manufacturing. That effort must be ramped up immediately.
The global ramifications of last week’s watershed American capitulation will be widely felt. China will be emboldened by this spectacular, self-harming rupture inside the western alliance. It’s probably fair to say an invasion of Taiwan, threatened by President Xi Jinping, has moved appreciably closer. Russia’s rogue allies, Iran and North Korea, will also relish western disarray. Is it too late to turn this around? Europe’s claims to be a global player have been torpedoed. America’s reputation as guarantor of peace, security and the UN-charter-based rule of law is shot. It’s a red letter day for the axis of autocrats and authoritarians everywhere. The Trump doctrine has been unveiled: might makes right, the weak go to the wall.
All options must remain open. Ukraine and Europe must be directly included in any ceasefire talks. Rowing back rapidly, Hegseth and the US vice-president, JD Vance, now seem to concede these points. But concerted pressure on Washington by all the western democracies must be maintained to ensure Kyiv survives flaky Trump’s patsy deals and a catastrophic precedent is avoided.
If the US-UK so-called special relationship is still worth anything, it is time to cash in. Britain must quietly work behind the scenes until this noisome, noisy American grasps a hard-earned truth: peace at any price is no peace at all.
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RFA Tideforce shadows Russian naval vessels in the English Channel
Another Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker has joined Royal Navy vessels monitoring Russian warships and merchant ships transiting close to the UK.
On 11 and 12th February, RFA Tideforce was involved in a multi-national operation to watch Russian ships sailing between their Baltic or Northern Fleet bases and the Mediterranean. The group of ships transiting eastward to Russia, comprised the merchant ships Sparta, Sparta II and tanker Skobelev accompanied by the landing ship RFS Aleksandr Otrakovskiy and RFS Ivan Gren. These vessels are being employed to evacuate military equipment from Syria following the fall of the Assad regime. (They passed westward through the Gibraltar Strait on the 9th February and were briefly shadowed by RN Gibraltar Squadron patrol boat, HMS Cutlass).
While they are quite capable of this work, the use of RFA vessels for this task is becoming increasingly common due to the lack of Royal Navy surface fleet assets. RFA Tideforce departed Portland on 8th February, having been alongside since before Christmas due to the lack of a full crew.
The Sun defence reporter Jerome Starkey was on board HMS Iron Duke and she was joined by HMS Tyne escorting the Russians for the later part of the transit. Iron Duke sailed from Portsmouth on the afternoon of 12th February and took over escort duties from the RFA.
HMS Iron Duke closes RFS Aleksandr Otrakovskiy
RFA Tidesurge recently completed a long period at sea supporting NATO warships but was also involved in the surveillance of Russian ships in the Channel during January while RFA Proteus faced down the spy ship Yantar in the Irish Sea in November 2024.
RFA Tidesurge shadows Russian Corvette RFS Boiky through the Channel, January 2025.
The absence of Russian submarines in the Mediterranean has not lasted for long. The Kilo-class SSK RFS Krasnodar escorted by Tug Evgeniy Churov left the Baltic and passed through the English Channel in early February. (The RN has not released any information about the operations to monitor this submarine’s movements). They subsequently passed eastward through Gibraltar Strait on 12th February shadowed by Spanish OPV SPS Tornado. It is possible Russia may have reached agreements with either Libya or Algeria to provide logistic support to their naval vessels in the Mediterranean, although the quality of the facilities are unlikely to match those they enjoyed in Tartus.
Ukraine balks at signing Trump deal to hand over its mineral wealth
KYIV — Despite U.S. insistence, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy refused to sign a draft agreement to hand over half of his country’s rare earth minerals to American companies in exchange for military support, according to two people familiar with the negotiations.
“The deal was not signed yet. Sides are discussing the details,” said a Ukrainian official familiar with the negotiations who was granted anonymity to discuss ongoing talks. “Lawyers are working on it. In their draft, the U.S. has described a very complicated way how they want to get 50 percent [of Ukraine’s rare earths].”
The official added that the U.S. scheme “might not work” as it could fall afoul of Ukrainian law.
Kyiv has been actively trying to entice the transactional U.S. president to see Ukraine’s mineral wealth as a solid reason to continue backing it against the Russian invasion.
Donald Trump’s officials have suggested a mineral deal could be an “economic shield that would show the Russians U.S. has interests in Ukraine.”
Earlier this week, Trump said that the U.S. would need $500 billion in Ukrainian minerals to repay it for the military and civilian support given to Kyiv since the start of the war — a figure much higher than America’s actual aid.
However, the deal still isn’t done as the two sides negotiate the final details.
“So the Ukrainian side passed their draft version to [the U.S. side]. And they are working on it. While Ukrainians are working on American proposals,” the official said.
A person familiar with negotiations told POLITICO: “The Americans were not happy with the Ukrainian proposals.”
Another problem with the U.S. draft is that it reportedly has no real security guarantees for Ukraine except for the possible deployment of U.S. troops to protect the minerals if there’s a deal with Russia to end the war.
Doing a deal
The mineral issue is now one of the key aspects of cementing U.S. support for Ukraine.
On Thursday, Zelenskyy’s meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance during the Munich Security Conference was reportedly postponed from the morning to the evening because the Ukrainians wanted to make amendments to the critical minerals deal.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Zelenskyy discussed the minerals agreement at a reception with U.S. officials in Munich on Friday night, according to a person familiar with the conversation. It was implied but not explicit that the U.S. would protect its interests in the "joint venture," they said.
Zelenskyy, according to U.S. lawmakers who met with him in Munich, said he is reviewing the American proposal to make sure it complies with Ukrainian law.
“I think he did what any responsible person would do,” said Republican Senator Thom Tillis. “He said he would read it and see whether it comports with our laws and constitution, that sort of thing.”
But the draft deal may contain legal snares, former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told POLITICO.
He said Trump has no legal right to Ukraine’s raw minerals as Kyiv signed a strategic partnership with the EU in 2021 on them.
“Today, Trump claims Ukraine's raw materials as a way to fuel America's economy. But these raw materials are not only Ukrainian, they're also European.," Kuleba said. "Why should Europe give away the resources that should fuel its own economy to America?"
One of the lead architects of the proposal, Senator Lindsey Graham, a close Trump ally, said he is dangling Ukraine’s mineral wealth in front of the president to persuade him that Ukraine is worth protecting — even pulling out a map to show Trump where Ukraine’s riches are located.
“The main thing for me is that Ukraine has value — literally has value,” Graham said at a POLITICO Pub event on the sidelines of the Munich conference. “Trump now sees Ukraine differently … I said these people are sitting on a gold mine … I showed him a map, ‘look!’”
Earlier this week, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent brought a draft agreement on economic cooperation, including rare earths, and presented it to Zelenskyy during a visit in Kyiv.
At a news conference after the meeting with Bessent, Zelenskyy said: “We really want to sign it as soon as possible. Because we don’t want to waste time.”
Bessent said: “We believe this agreement will be a strong signal to the Russian leadership of the U.S. commitment that we have here. And we think it will be a strong signal to the American people that the money that is coming to Ukraine, we have shared values, we have shared security, and we look to increase our shared economic commitment.”
Selling Ukraine’s minerals
Ukraine started shopping Trump its critical minerals even before he won the U.S. election.
In September, Zelenskyy presented him with the so-called victory plan for Ukraine, where Kyiv offered its strategic partners a special agreement for the joint protection of the country's critical resources, as well as joint investment and use of this economic potential.
Ukraine has deposits of 22 of the 50 materials the U.S. has identified as critical. The country is particularly rich in graphite, lithium, titanium, beryllium and uranium, according to Ukraine’s natural resources and environment ministry.
The resources are essential to manufacture batteries, radar systems and armor — key to the defense and tech industries — and would go some way to reducing U.S. reliance on Chinese minerals.
“From the perspective of the potential U.S. or EU support, developing Ukraine's mining sector could directly contribute not only to Western self-sufficiency and economic security but also to strengthening both Ukraine's economy and defense capacity,” said Maria Repko, deputy director of the Kyiv-based Center for Economic Strategy think tank.
However, many of those resources are in parts of Ukraine under Russian control, and Moscow also wants them.
“These resources are key to Russia’s own industrial and military capabilities, enabling further economic self-sufficiency and reducing reliance on Western supplies,” Repko said.
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Ukraine probably can’t survive without US help, Zelenskyy says
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is warning that his country will likely lose its war with Russia without U.S. military support.
Ukraine has increased its military defense production since Russia launched its full-scale invasion but has a “low chance” of survival if the U.S. cuts support under President Donald Trump, Zelenskyy said Friday in an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
“It will be very, very, very difficult,” he said in the interview with Kristen Welker scheduled to air Sunday. “And, of course, in all the difficult situations, you have a chance. But we will have a low chance — low chance to survive without support of the United States.”
His grim prognosis comes as the conflict appears to be entering a new phase, with Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth talking this week about negotiating an end to the conflict on terms favorable to Russia.
Zelenskyy met Friday with Vice President JD Vance at the Munich Security Conference after saying his country wants security guarantees before any talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
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С интересом и понятными ожиданиями, Dimitriy.
Keir Starmer 'to overrule Chancellor on defence spending hike' as he braces for crucial European summit on Ukraine - before heading to meet Trump in wake of JD Vance attack
Keir Starmer is poised to overrule the Chancellor to hike defence spending as he braces for a crucial European summit on Ukraine.
The PM could force through an increase to 2.5 per cent of GDP despite concerns from Rachel Reeves.
Pressure to bolster the military has been ramped up by the dramatic shift in the US, with Donald Trump causing panic in Nato by unilaterally launching peace talks with Vladimir Putin.
Vice President JD Vance launched a searing attack on Europe's position at the Munich security conference on Friday - also singling out the UK as he claimed free speech values were being eroded.
Sir Keir said he will 'work to 'keep the US and Europe together' ahead of the summit being arranged tomorrow by French president Emmanuel Macron.
The PM is expected to take the messages from the meeting - yet to be formally confirmed - to Washington the following week when he meets President Trump.
A further meeting of European leaders, including Ukraine president Volodymur Zelensky, is likely when Sir Keir returns.
The PM said: 'This is a once-in-a-generation moment for our national security where we engage with the reality of the world today and the threat we face from Russia.
'It's clear Europe must take on a greater role in Nato as we work with the United States to secure Ukraine's future and face down the threat we face from Russia.
'The UK will work to ensure we keep the US and Europe together. We cannot allow any divisions in the alliance to distract from the external enemies we face.'
The prospect of Mr Macron convening a meeting of European leaders emerged during a dramatic day at the Munich Security Conference, where diplomats and politicians from around the world had gathered.
In his keynote speech, Mr Zelensky said 'we can't rule out the possibility that America might say no to Europe on issues that threaten it'.
Mr Zelensky said: 'A few days ago, President Trump told me about his conversation with Putin. Not once did he mention that America needs Europe at the table. That says a lot.
'The old days are over when America supported Europe just because it always had.'
He said the 'time has come, the armed forces of Europe must be created'.
Mr Trump and the Russian dictator had 'a lengthy and highly productive' phone conversation last week, during which they agreed that talks to end the conflict should start 'immediately'.
But Washington has signalled that any peace deal is expected to see Russia keep territory it has annexed since 2014, including the Crimean peninsula – a huge blow to Kyiv after three years of fighting for freedom.
There was also deep disquiet that Ukraine joining Nato - an official policy of the alliance - had been effectively ruled out.
Sir Keir put himself on a potential collision course with Mr Trump by telling Mr Zelensky in a call on Friday that Kyiv is on an 'irreversible path' to joining Nato.
According to the Sunday Times, Ms Reeves is still resisting increasing defence budgets above 2.3 per cent of GDP in the looming spending review.
However, Downing Street sources have been stressing that the final decision lies with the PM.
Defence chiefs are said to have been arguing for 2.65 per cent, above Labour's target of 2.5 per cent - a level for which there is currently no timetable to reach.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy indicated his support for faster rises on Friday, pointing out that during the Cold War spending had hit 7 per cent of GDP.
Touring broadcast studios this morning, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: 'The whole Cabinet, the whole Government, I think most people in this country recognise the pressures the world is under, recognise more will have to be spent on defence.
'Now the spending review will set out the roadmap towards that target.'
He told Sky News: 'The Chancellor knows more than most people the pressures on public services across the board, but defence has to be the cornerstone of our national prosperity as well as our security.
'There's a whole range of things the UK does. Our contribution to the intelligence services, for instance, should be considered, I think, as part of that contribution to collective Western security.'
The UK is already one of the biggest contributors in Nato, with US frustration previously aimed at countries such as Germany.
US officials and Russian counterparts are expected to hold talks in Saudi Arabia ahead of an anticipated meeting between Mr Trump and Mr Putin.
Mr Zelensky said: 'Ukraine will never accept deals made behind our backs without our involvement.'
Mr Trump's special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, said European leaders will not have a place at the negotiating table in a discussion to end the Ukraine war, despite the fact that European forces are likely to play a major role in securing any peace deal.
Retired general Mr Kellogg said the negotiations would be between Russia and Ukraine, with Mr Trump acting as mediator – but Europe would still be able to have an input.
'To think that he's going to do this alone is wrong, we never said that,' Mr Kellogg told the Munich Security Conference.
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Цитата:
Army chief warns Keir Starmer his Premiership is heading for the 'dustbin of history' as he slams 'embarrassing' neglect of UK's armed forces amid growing threat from Putin
Sir Keir Starmer has been told he needs to increase UK defence spending dramatically to counter the threat of Putin – or face the prospect of his Premiership being consigned to the 'dustbin of history'.
The stark warning by former head of the Army Lord Dannatt coincided with a call from Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky for the creation of an 'army of Europe' to replace US troops if Donald Trump retreats from the continent.
Senior Army commanders meanwhile privately told The Mail on Sunday that the Government should 'mothball' both the Royal Navy's aircraft carriers, with the money saved diverted into extra land forces.
One suggested Europe may need to be defended from attack within a year.
The moves follow President Trump's shock move to start peace talks over Ukraine with Vladimir Putin, coupled with his warnings that European nations needed to be more self-sufficient on defence.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference yesterday, President Zelensky said the continent should prepare for the loss of Washington's protection.
He declared: 'I really believe the time has come – the armed forces of Europe must be created... From now on things will be different and Europe needs to adjust to that.'
However, Lord Dannatt warned that the UK military was now so 'run-down' it would be unable to make a proper contribution to a European peacekeeping force which would probably have to be 100,000 strong.
Sir Keir Starmer has been told he needs to increase UK defence spending dramatically to counter the threat of Putin
General Sir Richard Shirreff raised the prospect of the UK having to return to 'levels of defence spending not seen since the Cold War' to help fund a Nato 'band of deterrence'
He said: 'The UK would have to supply quite a proportion of that and we really couldn't do it.
'Our military is so run-down at the present moment, numerically, and as far as capability and equipment is concerned, it would potentially be quite embarrassing.'
The crossbench peer, who was Chief of the General Staff from 2006 to 2009, issued an extraordinary challenge to Sir Keir to increase defence spending from its current level of 2.3 per cent of GDP to as much as 3.5 per cent.
He warned that the current defence review – being led by former Labour Defence Secretary George Robertson and which is based on spending rising to no more than 2.5 per cent of GDP – will fail unless the PM and Chancellor Rachel Reeves find more money.
Lord Dannatt called on Sir Keir and Ms Reeves to 'look at themselves in the mirror and look at their priorities and say, yes, health, education, roads, infrastructure are important, but actually defence and the security of this nation are more important'.
And speaking on the BBC Radio 4's The Week In Westminster, he urged them to 'find ways of producing more money well beyond 2.5 per cent towards 3 or 3.5 per cent for starters on our defence budget'.
If that didn't happen, 'then this Strategic Defence Review is going to be hollow, it's going to be a failure. And, frankly, it'll consign Keir Starmer to the bin of history.'
Sources close to the review have denied reports that it will call for one of the Navy's aircraft carriers – which together cost more than £6 billion – to be mothballed.
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But one serving major-general last night privately called for both to taken out of service, saying: 'It costs more than £90 million a year just to run a carrier.
'Put them both in mothballs and the money saved can be allocated to the land campaign which is going to happen in the next 12 months. [The carriers] can always be regenerated.'
Separately, General Sir Richard Shirreff – formerly Nato's Deputy Supreme Allied Commander for Europe, raised the prospect of the UK having to return to 'levels of defence spending not seen since the Cold War' to help fund a Nato 'band of deterrence'.
But he said: 'It's a sacrifice that's got to be made because unless it's made, we are not going to be able to enjoy peace.'
He added: 'Russia is never going to give up its intent to remove Ukraine from the map as a sovereign state. And that once it's finished... it will move on elsewhere.'
But also speaking at the Munich conference yesterday, Foreign Secretary David Lammy stuck to the plan of working towards boosting defence spending to 2.5 per cent even as he acknowledged: 'If Ukraine were to fail, the costs would be considerably more.
'We were spending on average seven per cent of our GDP in the Cold War and upwards. So don't think that actually not meeting the [2.5 per cent] challenge now somehow saves money down the line.'
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However, Malcolm Richards, a former captain in the Royal Logistic Corps, warned 2.5 per cent 'will deliver nothing', adding: 'If he doesn't raise spending further, I fear the UK will pay the price and Starmer will be remembered as the man who failed the nation and cast himself into oblivion.'
President Trump has indicated that it is unlikely Ukraine will get its key ambition to join Nato – an aim fiercely opposed by Putin.
But former PM Boris Johnson said: 'A sovereign country cannot be constrained in choosing which organisations it wishes to join.
'Ukraine is entirely sensible in wanting to join Nato. That process is a matter for Ukraine and Nato'.
Meanwhile, French president Emmanuel Macron is preparing to host an emergency summit of European leaders in Paris, which Sir Keir is expected to attend.
The Ministry of Defence said: 'Everyone accepts we must spend more on defence. That is why the MoD budget was increased by nearly £3 billion at the latest Budget and why we will set the path to 2.5 per cent in the spring.'
'The Strategic Defence Review is looking hard at the threats we face and the capabilities we need to meet the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.'
Цитата:
Stubb: Europe has to convince US that we have ‘skin in the game’ on Ukraine
Putin Ally Praises 'Bold' JD Vance After Munich Speech
Vice President JD Vance's speech at the Munich Security Conference has drawn praise from former Russian President and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev who lauded him for delivering a "bold" critique of Europe.
Medvedev's comments, posted to Telegram on Saturday, suggested that Vance's rhetoric took European leaders by surprise and aligned with Russian criticisms of Western democracies.
Newsweek reached out to the vice president's office via email on Saturday for comment.
Why It Matters
Vance's remarks in Munich have reignited debates over transatlantic relations, free speech and the role of the U.S. in European affairs. His speech was marked by strong language criticizing Europe's governance, electoral systems and commitment to free expression.
The endorsement from Medvedev, who currently serves as deputy chairman of the Security Council of Russia and is a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, adds a geopolitical layer to the controversy—raising questions about how Vance's views will be perceived domestically and abroad.
What to Know
Medvedev responded to Vance's speech in a lengthy Telegram post, saying that the vice president had "turned on the heat."
"Everyone expected the usual diplomatic courtesies," he wrote.
"But instead, he harshly reprimanded the Europeans, who have completely lost themselves in recent years: your democracy is weak, your elections are garbage, and your rules, which violate basic human morality, are crap. And you don't even have freedom of speech!" the Russian official said, characterizing the vice president's speech.
"He's actually a bold guy, even if still an inexperienced vice president. Moreover, he told the truth," Medvedev said.
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Цитата:
Медведев: Антироссийский шабаш в Мюнхене был в этот раз сильно встревожен совершенно провокационной речью вице-президента Вэнса. Надо признаться, он неожиданно зажёг. Все рассчитывали услышать дежурные партнёрские реверансы Европе и комментарии слов Дональда Трампа о завершении украинского конфликта.
А он взял – и жёстко отчитал полностью потерявших себя в последние годы европейцев: ваша демократия слаба, ваши выборы – дрянь, ваши правила, нарушающие нормальную человеческую мораль, – дерьмо. Ещё и свободы слова нет!
Ну ему бы это припомнили, если бы он не был американским начальником. А так простят, проглотят с ненавистью ту позорную выволочку, что получили от старшего партнёра. И вообще – смелый парень, хотя ещё неопытный вице-президент.
К тому же он сказал правду. Сказал ровно то, чего стоит современная Европа. А мы ещё и добавить можем. Нынешняя Европа в границах ЕС – злобная немощная старуха, которая пытается рядиться в молодую и эффектную красавицу. Время такой Европы безвозвратно ушло. Она действительно слаба, малопривлекательна и практически никому, кроме самой себя, не нужна.
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С интересом и понятными ожиданиями, Dimitriy.
Full interview with Alexander Stubb | POLITICO at Munich Security Conference.
Цитата:
Puolustusvoimain komentaja: Kun Venäjän joukkoja vapautuu Ukrainasta, näemme niitä itärajamme takana
Puolustusvoimain komentaja Janne Jaakkola kertoo Münchenissä Ylen haastattelussa näkemyksiään muuttuvasta turvallisuustilanteesta.
Kun Euroopan hullu viikko päättyy sunnuntaina, moni asia on toisin.
Venäjä ja Yhdysvallat ovat sopineet neuvottelevansa Ukrainan rauhasta Saudi-Arabiassa ilman Ukrainaa. Euroopan johtajat valmistelevat hätäkokousta maanantaiksi.
Yhdysvallat on ilmoittanut, että Euroopan on puolustettava itse itseään ja harkitsee joukkojensa vetämistä Euroopasta.
Osa muutoksista oli tiedossa etukäteen.
– Nyt ne tulivat vähän terävämmällä kulmalla, sanoo Janne Jaakkola.
Puolustusvoimain komentaja Janne Jaakkola osallistui Münchenin turvallisuuskonferenssiin. Hän oli salissa, kun J.D. Vance haukkui Euroopan arvoja, sananvapautta ja poliittisia johtajia.
Yleisössä oli hiljaista, Jaakkola sanoo. Ihmisten päät alkoivat kääntyillä. Aplodit olivat vaisut.
Puhe hämmensi ja keräsi arvostelua. Naton pääsihteeri Mark Rutte piti sitä filosofisena.
Jaakkola: Ei pidä panikoida, mietimme jatkuvuutta
Jaakkola sanoo, että ei pidä uhriutua eikä panikoida, vaikka Yhdysvallat on ilmoittanut muuttavansa politiikkaansa.
– En menisi asioitten edelle. Poliittisella puolella on tullut jo vastakkaisiakin kommentteja ja uudelleen asemointeja.
Sotilaspuolella on tärkeää miettiä jatkuvuutta ja tarkastella asioita pidemmällä aikavälillä. On pohdittava pari askelta eteenpäin, mutta ei reagoida liian nopeasti ilman todella merkittävää syytä, Jaakkola perustelee.
Yhdysvallat ja Venäjä ovat ilmoittaneet ensimmäisestä tapaamisestaan Ukrainan sodan lopettamiseksi Saudi-Arabiassa ensi viikolla.
Ukrainan sodan päättyminen tarkoittaisi kolme vuotta kestäneen tappamisen loppumista. Neuvottelu ei vielä tarkoita, että sota loppuisi.
Ukraina sanoo, ettei suostu ilman sitä neuvoteltuun tai huonoon sopimukseen. Ukraina sotii kuitenkin lännen lahjoittamilla aseilla, joista merkittävä osa on tullut Yhdysvalloista.
Jaakkola sanoo Suomen seuraavan tilannetta tarkkaan. Sodan loppuratkaisulla on suora vaikutus siihen, miten Venäjä jatkaa armeijansa vahvistamista.
– Jos Venäjä voi irrottaa sotilaallisia suorituskykyjä Ukrainasta, niin tulemme todennäköisesti jollain aikavälillä näkemään niitä tuossa meidän itärajan takana.
(выделено а.п.)
Suomen sotilastiedustelu kertoi katsauksessaan vastikään, että Venäjä asettaa tärkeysjärjestyksessä omat luoteisosansa, eli Suomen ja Baltian vastaiset alueet, muiden edelle, kun se vahvistaa omia sotilaallisia kykyjään.
Nato-maat ovat sodan alusta lähtien toistaneet, että Venäjä ei saa voittaa sotaa, sillä silloin Venäjä huomaisi, että väkivallalla ja kansainvälistä lakia rikkomalla voi voittaa.
Yhdysvaltain uusi puolustusministeri Pete Hegseth sanoi torstaina muille Nato-ministereille, että Ukrainan ei ole realistista tavoitella vanhojen rajojaan, sillä se vain pitkittää sotaa.
Se on merkittävä muutos Naton linjassa. Euroopan maat, myös Suomi, ovat ilmoittaneet jatkavansa aseiden ja muun avun toimittamista Ukrainaan.
Toinen merkittävä avaus Yhdysvalloilta oli myös, että Euroopan on puolustettava itse itseään. Riippuvuuden mahdollistava politiikka on ohi, Hegseth sanoi. Yhdysvallat haluaa puolustaa omia intressejään Tyynenmeren alueella.
– Tässä uudessa asetelmassa, missä uhkakuva on erilainen, Euroopan pitää nopeammin kehittää omaa puolustustaan osana yhteistä puolustusta, Jaakkola sanoo.
Mutta myös Natossa joka maalla on vastuu oman puolustuksesta kehittämisestä. Se on sotilaallisen turvallisuuden ja yhteisen puolustuksen lähtökohta, Jaakkola muistuttaa.
USA voi vetää joukkojaan Euroopasta
Yhdysvalloilla oli kylmän sodan aikan satoja tuhansia sotilaita Euroopassa. Määrä väheni, kunnes Krimin miehityksen jälkeen sotilaita tuotiin taas lisää. Joulukuussa heitä oli Euroopassa noin 80 000.
Näitä joukkoja Yhdysvallat saattaa siirtää sinne, missä sillä on turvallisuushuolia. Eurooppa voi Yhdysvaltain puolustusministerin mukaan hoitaa oman tilanteensa itsekin.
Jaakkola muistuttaa, että kun pohditaan Euroopan turvallisuutta, on huomioitava myös esimerkiksi Tyynenmeren alue, Lähi-itä ja arktinen alue.
– En näe, että Yhdysvallat lyhyellä tai pitkällä aikavälillä vetäytyy kokonaan Euroopasta, koska heillä on täällä omat intressinsä.
Mutta Euroopan pitää kantaa enemmän vastuuta, hän jatkaa.
Suomen puolustusyhteistyösuhde Yhdysvaltojen kanssa alkoi tiivistyä 1990-luvun Hornet-kaupoista, ja se on jatkunut aseostoilla.
Ensi vuonna tulossa ovat ensimmäiset F35-hävittäjät. Kaupantekohetkellä hankinnan hinta oli 8,4 miljardia euroa. Viime vuonna Suomi teki Yhdysvaltojen kanssa puolustusyhteistyösopimuksen, ja vuodesta 2022 Suomessa on jatkuvasti harjoitellut yhdysvaltalaisia sotilaita.
Suomi ei ole ”ajopuu” vaan osallistuu
Jaakkola sanoo, että yhteistyö jatkuu kuten tähänkin asti.
– Pyrimme siihen, että myös meillä on annettavaa, eikä tämä ole riippuvuussuhde vaan yhteistyösuhde.
Annettavanaan Suomella on pohjoinen sijainti, jossa Suomi kantaa vastuuta puolustuksesta. Samoin osaaminen arktisessa sodankäynnissä ja teknologiassa.
Puolustusyhteistyösopimus DCA, defence cooperation agreement, mahdollistaa joukkojen harjoittelun sekä aseiden ja materiaalin varastoinnin Suomessa. Sopimuksen soveltaminen etenee, mutta toistaiseksi julkisuuteen ei ole muuta kerrottavaa.
– Heitä ei kannata nyt olemassa olevassa tilanteessa liikaa puskea, vaan he tuovat aikanaan omat näkemyksensä suunnitteluun, ja asiat sovitaan yhdessä.
Entä tämän viikon myllerrys? Mihin se Suomen puolustuksessa heijastuu?
– Meidän puolustusratkaisumme perustuu niin vahvaan harkintaan ja perustaan, että tällainen kiivasrytminen ja kärjekäs meneillään oleva keskustelu ei vaikuta sen toteutukseen vielä millään tavalla, Jaakkola vastaa.
”Kiivasrytmistä ja kärjekästä keskustelua” kuunnellaan kuitenkin tarkkaan, ja puolustusvoimat osallistuu siihen kertomalla sotilaallisen näkemyksensä tilanteesta ja toimintaympäristön kehittymisestä.
– Me emme ole näissä keskusteluissa mikään ajopuu, vaan olemme aktiivisesti miettimässä, miten tästä nyt päästään eteenpäin.
Münchenin keskustelujen perusteella eteenpäin meno tarkoittaa, että Euroopan puolustuskykyä on parannettava osana Natoa tai Euroopan omina ratkaisuina.
France confirms emergency European summit Monday in Paris
The “main European countries” will discuss the continent’s security, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said.
French President Emmanuel Macron is convening an emergency summit of European leaders in Paris on Monday to discuss Ukraine and security in Europe.
The "main European countries" will meet Monday in the French capital to discuss European security, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot told France Inter. He insisted that such meetings are held frequently and that the short-notice gathering should not be "dramatized."
The French government later said the crisis meeting Monday afternoon would include Germany, Britain, Italy, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands and Denmark, as well as the NATO secretary-general and the presidents of the European Council and the European Commission.
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer indicated late Saturday that he plans to attend the emergency summit, according to media reports. Starmer said Europe is at a "once-in-a-generation moment for our national security."
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski talked about the planned Paris meeting at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, saying his country’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk will be heading to Paris. Sikorski said he expects the crisis meeting to discuss the challenges posed by United States President Donald Trump.
The informal summit comes after a week that saw Trump hold a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin about peace talks over the war in Ukraine, and an announcement of a face-to-face meeting proposed to take place in Saudi Arabia.
Trump officials are heading to Saudi Arabia in the coming days to start the talks. The EU hasn’t been invited to the negotiating table. Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials aren’t aware of any talks and no delegation is traveling to Saudi Arabia.
"It's clear Europe must take on a greater role in NATO as we work with the United States to secure Ukraine's future and face down the threat we face from Russia," Starmer said, according to the media reports.
Цитата:
Jean-Noël Barrot, ministre de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères est l'invité de Questions politiques.
Le chef de la diplomatie française Jean-Noël Barrot confirme que la France réunit ce lundi à Paris tous ses partenaires européens pour parler de la guerre en Ukraine à l'occasion d'une "réunion de travail" avec les chefs d'Etats et de gouvernements.
"Le président de la République réunira les principaux pays européens demain pour des discussions portant sur la sécurité européenne", assure-t-il. "Des réunions très fréquentes", dit-il, "nous sommes en contact constant." "Un vent d'unité souffle sur l'Europe tel qu'on ne l'avait peut-être pas ressenti depuis la période Covid"
, assure Jean-Noël Barrot.
"Il faut garder son sang froid et ne pas se laisser emporter, intimider par les déclarations qu'on entend à droite et à gauche", juge Jean-Noël Barrot. "Seuls les Ukrainiens peuvent décider d'arrêter de combattre, et nous les soutiendrons tant qu'ils n'auront pas pris cette décision". Les Ukrainiens "n'arrêteront jamais tant qu'ils ne seront pas sûrs que la paix qui leur est proposée sera durable." "Qui apportera les garanties ? Ce seront les Européens", assure le ministre de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères. "Oui, les Européens seront d'une manière ou d'une autre partie prenante aux discussions"
pour mettre fin à la guerre en Ukraine.
Цитата:
W. Brytania: Były premier John Major oskarża USA o "przytulenie się" do Rosji Putina
Skręt administracji prezydenta USA Donalda Trumpa w stronę izolacjonizmu zagraża demokracji na całym świecie – stwierdził w niedzielę w rozmowie z BBC były premier Wielkiej Brytanii John Major. Oskarżył on USA o ocieplenie relacji z Moskwą, twierdząc, że "przytulają się" do Rosji Władimira Putina.
Major, który rzadko wyraża bezpośrednie opinii na temat bieżącej polityki, nazwał administrację Trumpa "formą prezydentury", jakiej wcześniej jeszcze nie widział. Jego zdaniem prezydent USA może wiele stracić jeśli będzie negocjować z Rosją w sprawie zakończenia wojny w Ukrainie bez udziału europejskich sojuszników.
"Rozważmy, co się stanie, jeśli Rosja będzie mogła ogłosić swoje zwycięstwo. Chiny to zauważą, ale też cały świat, w tym każdy dyktator na świecie. Jeśli USA nie będą stały razem ze swoimi sojusznikami, tak jak to było wcześniej, to świat będzie zupełnie inny, moim zdaniem, bardziej niebezpieczny" - stwierdził Major.
Brytyjski polityk wyraził się krytycznie na temat wiceprezydenta USA J.D. Vance'a, nazywając go hipokrytą i "niegodnym męża stanu" za wygłaszanie pouczeń w kierunku Europy o wolności słowa i demokracji, podczas gdy jednocześnie "przytula się" do Rosji Putina.
Zdaniem Majora demokracja jest zagrożona, a spadek jej znaczenia obserwuje on od 18 lat. Przyczynę tego upatruje w rosnącym znaczeniu idei nacjonalistycznych i partii prawicowych.
"W tym szczególnym czasie wielkie narody, USA, Chiny, Rosja, zaczynają działać jednostronnie, podczas gdy kiedyś by się konsultowały. I to jest niepokojące, ponieważ zapowiada perspektywę bardzo wielkich i raczej nieprzyjemnych zmian" - przewiduje rozmówca BBC.
Цитата:
Trump strangles Europe
President Trump stunned, strangled and humiliated Europe — leaving America's closest continental ally dazed and dumbfounded.
• That was over the course of three short days this week.
The big picture:
No amount of "Trump-proofing" could have prepared Europe for the MAGA-shaped hurricane that swept across the continent this week, wreaking torrential havoc on America's closest allies.
Driving the news:
Trump left NATO and Ukraine still reeling with his initiation of direct peace talks with Russia, without Ukraine fully in the loop or other European leaders even in the conversation.
• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth perplexed and perturbed allies on his first visit to NATO by seemingly taking some of Ukraine's bargaining chips off the table before those talks began. He also demanded that Europe take ownership of its own defense so the U.S. could focus on the more urgent threat from China.
• Back at home, Trump announced "reciprocal" tariffs on every country that imposes import duties on the U.S., likely affecting $600 billion worth of goods from the EU.
• And at a global AI summit in Paris on Tuesday, Vice President Vance torched the EU's "excessive regulation of the AI sector" and "hand-wringing about safety," and left the conference without signing its joint declaration.
But it was in Vance's remarks
to the Munich Security Conference on Friday that things got particularly personal.
• "[T]he threat that I worry the most about vis-a-vis Europe is not Russia, it's not China, it's not any other external actor," Vance began in one of his first major speeches on the world stage.
• "What I worry about is the threat from within. The retreat of Europe from some of its most fundamental values: values shared with the United States of America."
What came next left conference attendees
silent, stunned and steaming.
• Vance called European Union officials "commissars" — a reference to the Soviet Union — and accused them of censoring their citizens in the name of fighting disinformation and hate speech online.
• He excoriated Romania for annulling the results of its Nov. 24 election, in which an obscure ultranationalist candidate rocketed to first place after a TikTok campaign that intelligence services linked to Russia.
• He condemned the convictions of a British man who prayed outside an abortion clinic, and of a Swedish man who participated in Quran burnings that led to his friend's murder.
• And he said that of all the challenges Europe faces, there's "nothing more urgent than mass migration" — tying Thursday's terrorist attack in Munich to a "series of conscious decisions" by European politicians.
Between the lines:
Ahead of Germany's snap election on Feb. 23, Vance called for an end to political "firewalls" — the principle of refusing to form governments with far-right parties such as the AfD.
• Vance later met with the leader of the AfD — becoming the highest-ranking U.S. official ever to do so — while snubbing Germany's center-left Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
• Together, Vance's actions amounted to an astonishing intervention in European politics that was swiftly condemned by top officials, including Germany's conservative leader and likely next chancellor.
Zoom out:
No one could ever mistake Trump for a great supporter of Europe, which he once said "treats us worse than China."
• But whether it's threatening to annex Greenland from Denmark, or picking Saudi Arabia as the mediator for Russia-Ukraine talks, the second Trump term could mean twilight for the transatlantic relationship.
The bottom line:
Europe's leaders have been bracing for Trump's return for well over a year. And yet much like the Democrats paralyzed by the chaos at home, the last three days have exceeded their worst nightmares.
Цитата:
Экс-глава МИД Литвы Габриэлюс Ландсбергис поделился мрачными мыслями по поводу итогов Мюнхенской конференции.
«Я покидаю Мюнхенскую конференцию по безопасности в подавленном настроении. И хотя я согласен с тем, что заявления вице-президента США Вэнса были необходимым лекарством для летаргической Европы, я просто молюсь, чтобы лекарство не убило пациента», - пишет он.
Основные выводы, которые Ландсбергис сделал из заявлений представителей американской администрации на конференции, таковы:
1. «Украина больше не может рассчитывать на помощь США. Президент США хочет заключить сделку, причем быстро. Быстрые сделки обходятся покупателю дороже, но США не хотят оплачивать этот счет. Так что в конечном итоге расплачиваться придется Украине».
2. «США больше не рады быть главным гарантом безопасности в Европе. Ведутся разговоры о частичном выводе войск».
3. «Нынешняя администрация США не видит ЕС таким, каким он был раньше — в культурном плане она видит себя на одной волне с теми движениями в Европе, которые заинтересованы в разрушении».
Ландсбергис также дал свой прогноз по поводу дальнейшего хода событий: «существует большая вероятность того, что встреча Путина и Трампа завершится достижением соглашения. Путин в состоянии потребовать все. Он может потребовать выборов, оккупированных территорий и украинского нейтралитета. Все эти идеи уже озвучивались. Если Трамп согласится, что вполне возможно, Путин объявит о своей полной победе».
Далее, по его мнению, Трамп «швырнет эту сделку к дверям Европы и скажет: берите или уходите. А затем Европа должна сама решить, встать ли ей на защиту Украины и поддерживать ли ее отказ от сделки», обеспечив помощь и поддержку для продолжения войны.
Кроме того, по мнению Ландсбергиса, в европейских делах может усилиться роль Китая.
«Если США и Европа не предложат Украине гарантии безопасности, Китай может вмешаться, используя свои рычаги влияния на Россию. Они даже могут предложить более выгодную сделку, чем предложенная Трампом. Украине есть что предложить Китаю в обмен на безопасность — восстановление, порты, сельскохозяйственную продукцию. В Европе найдутся те, кто поддержит это предложение. Этот гамбит можно назвать «киссинджеровским», раскалывающим США и Европу, как Киссинджер раскалывал Советский Союз и Китай. Дальше - хуже. Китай, как защитник Украины, начнет заменять США в роли держателя России на восточном фланге. Страны ЕС на востоке, а потом и на западе, будут зависеть от защиты Китая», - пишет экс-глава МИД Литвы.
Для того, чтобы избегать такого сценария в Европе, по мнению Ландсбергиса, должен появиться «лидер с решимостью Черчилля».
Перед Зеленским, после того как Трамп позвонил Путину и начал форсировать переговоры по завершению войны в Украине, сейчас стоит стратегическая развилка между двумя вариантами действий.
Первый вариант – встроиться в переговорный процесс, постаравшись получить лучшие условия завершения войны, и попытаться удержаться затем у власти.
Второй вариант – поддаться уговорам западной «партии войны» и отказаться от переговоров о прекращении огня, даже рискуя потерять американскую военную помощь, надеясь, что Европа хотя бы частично покроет недостачу.
Есть и «гибридный сценарий» - в переговорах участвовать, но торпедировать их изнутри, чтоб они завершились провалом. Впрочем, это, по сути, разновидность второго варианта.
Вчерашняя речь Зеленского в Мюнхене с наездами на Трампа и публичный отказ начинать переговоры с РФ до тех пор, пока Украина, США и ЕС совместно не выработают общую позицию (и эту схему американцы уже де-факто отвергли), создают впечатление, что Банковая четко решила пойти «в отказ». То есть, пойти по второму варианту.
Однако, также нельзя исключать, что Зеленский все ж таки еще не занял окончательную позицию и допускает для себя вероятность и первого варианта.
Индикатором того, какой сценарий действий выбрали украинские власти станет участие (или не участие) представителей Киева в запланированной на следующей неделе трехсторонней встрече в Саудовской Аравии вместе с американцами и с россиянами. Хоть в ОП уже заявили, что Украина в этом мероприятии участвовать не будет, точно можно будет это сказать, только когда сама встреча начнется.
Также большое значение будут иметь итоги созываемого Макроном (одним из ключевых представителей западной «партии войны») в Париже экстренного саммита европейских лидеров. Возможно, это событие планируется, чтоб продемонстрировать Украине готовность Европы помогать ей воевать и дальше даже без поддержки США. Чтоб окончательно побудить Зеленского пойти по «второму варианту».
Однако, если саммит закончится провалом и ничего конкретного там решено не будет, либо на него не приедет часть лидеров крупнейших европейских стран, это, скорее, станет ещё одним аргументом для Киева в пользу присоединения к инициированным Трампом переговорам по завершению войны в Украине.
Цитата:
Спецпосланник Трампа Уиткофф заявил, что делегация США в воскресенье отправляется в Саудовскую Аравию для переговоров с представителями РФ, «есть надежда на хороший прогресс».
"Я отправляюсь туда сегодня вместе с советником по нацбезопасности. У нас будут встречи по поручению президента, надеюсь, у нас будет хороший прогресс в контексте России и Украины", - сказал Уиткофф в интервью телеканалу Fox News.
Напомним, ранее СМИ писали, что на эту встречу приглашена и украинская делегация. Однако Зеленский и Офис президента утверждают, что приглашений не получали и во встрече участвовать не будут.
BBC со ссылкой на высокопоставленный источник в Киеве написала, что Украина не будет посылать команду на переговоры в Саудовской Аравии.
В тоже время, сейчас в Саудовской Аравии уже находится украинская делегация во главе с министром экономики Свириденко. Официально заявляется, что она готовит визит Зеленского в эту страну.
Цитата:
Министр экономики Украины Юлия Свириденко сообщила, что прибыла в Саудовскую Аравию готовить визит Зеленского.
"В последующие дни будут десятки встреч, чтобы подготовить визит президента Владимира Зеленского в Саудовскую Аравию", - сказала Свириденко.
Напомним, на следующей неделе в Саудовской Аравии, по данным СМИ, должна пройти встреча по завершению войны в Украине россиян и американцев, на которую приглашена и украинская делегация. Позже в Саудовской Аравии возможна встреча Трампа и Путина.
Однако Зеленский и Офис президента заявляют, что приглашений не получали и в трехсторонних встречах с представителями США и РФ участвовать не планируют.
Цитата:
Цитата:
US presented Ukraine with a document to access its minerals but offered almost nothing in return
MUNICH, Germany (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he directed his ministers not to sign off on a proposed agreement to give the United States access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals because the document was too focused on U.S. interests.
The proposal, which was a key part of Zelenskyy’s talks with U.S. Vice President JD Vance on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on Friday, did not offer any specific security guarantees in return, according to one current and one former senior Ukrainian official familiar with the talks.
Zelenskyy’s decision not to accept the proposal, at least for now, was described as “short-sighted” by a senior White House official.
“I didn’t let the ministers sign a relevant agreement because in my view it is not ready to protect us, our interest,” Zelenskyy told The Associated Press on Saturday in Munich.
The proposal focused on how the U.S. could use Kyiv’s rare earth minerals “as compensation” for support already given to Ukraine by the Biden administration and as payment for future aid, the current and former senior Ukrainian officials said, speaking anonymously so they could speak freely.
Zelenskyy insists on security guarantees
Ukraine has vast reserves of critical minerals that are used in the aerospace, defense and nuclear industries. The Trump administration has indicated it is interested in accessing them to reduce dependence on China but Zelenskyy said any exploitation would need to be tied to security guarantees for Ukraine that would deter future Russian aggression.
“For me is very important the connection between some kind of security guarantees and some kind of investment,” the Ukrainian president told AP.
Zelenskyy did not go into details about why he instructed his officials not to sign the document, which was given to Ukrainian officials on Wednesday by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bassent on a visit to Kyiv.
“It’s a colonial agreement and Zelenskyy cannot sign it,” the former senior official said.
White House National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes did not explicitly confirm the offer, but said in a statement that “President Zelenskyy is being short-sighted about the excellent opportunity the Trump administration has presented to Ukraine.”
The Trump administration has grown weary of sending additional U.S. aid to Ukraine and Hughes said a minerals deal would allow American taxpayers to “recoup” money sent to Kyiv, while growing Ukraine’s economy.
Hughes added that the White House believes “binding economic ties with the United States will be the best guarantee against future aggression and an integral part of lasting peace.” He added: “The U.S. recognizes this, the Russians recognize this, and the Ukrainians must recognize this.”
Ukrainians worry about securing mineral sites from Russian attacks
U.S. officials in discussions with their Ukrainian counterparts in Munich were commercially minded and largely concentrated on the specifics of exploring the minerals and how to form a possible partnership to do that with Ukraine, the senior official said.
The potential value of the deposits in Ukraine has not yet been discussed, with much unexplored or close to the front line.
The U.S. proposal apparently did not take into account how the deposits would be secured in the event of continuing Russian aggression. The official suggested the U.S. did not have “ready answers,” to that question and that one of their takeaways from discussions in Munich will be how to secure any mineral extraction operation in Ukraine involving people and infrastructure.
Any deal must be in accordance with Ukrainian law and acceptable to the Ukrainian people, the senior Ukrainian official said.
“Subsoil belongs to Ukrainians under the constitution,” Kseniiia Orynchak, founder of the National Association of Mining Industry of Ukraine, previously told the AP, suggesting a deal would need popular support.
Zelenskyy and Vance did not discuss the details of the U.S. document during their meeting Friday at the Munich conference, the senior official said. That meeting was “very good” and “substantive,” with Vance making it clear his and Trump’s main goal was to achieve a durable, lasting peace, the senior official said.
Zelenskyy told Vance that real peace requires Ukraine to be in a “strong position” when starting negotiations, stressed that the U.S negotiators should come to Ukraine, and that the U.S., Ukraine and Europe must be at the negotiating table for talks with Russia.
No Europeans at the negotiating table?
But Gen. Keith Kellogg, Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, all but cut Europeans out of any Ukraine-Russia talks, despite Zelenskyy’s request.
“You can have the Ukrainians, the Russians, and clearly the Americans at the table talking,” Kellogg said at an event hosted by a Ukrainian tycoon at the Munich conference. Pressed on whether that meant Europeans won’t be included, he said: “I’m a school of realism. I think that’s not going to happen.”
Ukraine is now preparing a “counter proposal” which will be delivered to the U.S. in “the near future,” the official said.
“I think it’s important that the vice president understood me that if we want to sign something, we have to understand that it will work,” Zelenskyy told the AP.
That means, he said, “it will bring money and security.”
Trump Admin Will Sideline Europe in Russia-Ukraine Talks—Kellogg
European nations will not be directly involved in brokering a ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine in their ongoing war, retired U.S. Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg, President Donald Trump's special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, said on Saturday, although he said the continent's "interests" would be considered in talks to secure peace in Eastern Europe.
When asked whether European countries would have a seat at the negotiating table when discussing a deal to end the war in Ukraine, Kellogg responded: "I think that's not going to happen."
This might be like "fingers on a chalkboard" and "may grate a little bit, but I am telling you something that is really quite honest," he said during the Ukrainian Lunch, a side event at the Munich Security Conference organized by Ukraine's Victor Pinchuk Foundation.
He added: "There was a lot of people at the table that really had no ability to execute some kind of peace process and failed miserably. We're not going to go down that path."
The comments were unwelcome for many European officials, who have insisted that a peace settlement for Ukraine cannot cut out continental countries that have long provided support for Kyiv. There was a pervasive sense of indignation from current and former European officials, who have funneled significant aid to Ukraine and are deeply worried about how a ceasefire deal could impact the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) eastern edge.
Icelandic Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir responding to Kellogg's comments, said she was "trying to decipher" the meaning behind Trump's envoy's remarks, describing them as a "concern."
"This is about Russia, but this is also about Europe," she said. In an apparent rebuke of the rhetoric coming out of the Trump administration, Frostadóttir said she hoped to "get a clearer picture" of the White House's stance "sooner rather than later," adding: "It's also difficult for foreign leaders to be reacting constantly to unsure comments."
"We feel like Ukraine has to be at the table, and Europe does, too," she said.
"If Trump is negotiating with [Russian President Vladimir] Putin about Europe, then it is impossible to talk about Europe without us," Estonian foreign minister Margus Tsahkna said.
"They can talk about it, but they cannot agree anything," he told Newsweek, but caveated that Europe has to "act more strongly."
Arancha González Laya, a former Spanish minister of foreign affairs, European Union and Cooperation, told Newsweek that "both Ukraine and Europe have been very clear on two things: no ceasefire discussions on Ukraine without Ukraine, no discussion about the European security architecture without the Europeans."
"Europe should be at the table," Ukrainian lawmaker Oleksiy Goncharenko told Newsweek. "It's about European security. The United States did a lot in support of us, we're very thankful—but Europe also did a lot, and they deserve this place."
"Peace and negotiations without European participation will be completely politically unacceptable," Croatia's Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said while sat just meters from Kellogg. "European Union countries altogether have given a lot in military terms, in financial terms, in humanitarian terms, technical—every possible way."
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte sought to smooth over the cracks appearing in the transatlantic friendship, including those spidering out from future participation in peace talks.
When probed on Europe's role in a ceasefire, Rutte, a former Dutch prime minister, counseled continental countries to "make sure that you are relevant at the table," and pointed to the urgent need for Europe to up defense spending as the U.S. has repeatedly demanded.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky should do "everything he can" to have European countries at the table, Goncharenko said, adding that Kyiv's own negotiating position is weaker without continental countries heavily involved in talks.
Zelensky himself sought to emphasize the importance of Europe throughout the conference in southern Germany.
Yet the Ukrainian president also battled to keep Kyiv firmly at the heart of any discussions over the country's future. Ukrainian and European officials have for months expressed deep fears that a Trump-led effort could carve Kyiv, and the U.S.'s other allies, from the negotiation process.
"A sham peace—over the heads of Ukrainians and Europeans—would gain nothing," German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said in a statement on Friday.
This anxiety was hardly alleyed earlier this week when Trump announced he had spoken with Putin in what he termed a "lengthy and highly productive phone call."
In revealing wording, Trump said on Wednesday he and the Kremlin leader had agreed to start negotiations on ending the war "immediately," adding they would "begin by calling" Zelensky to "inform him" of the developments.
"A few days ago, President Trump told me about his conversation with Putin," Zelensky said on stage in Munich on Saturday. "Not once did he mention that America needs Europe at that table. That says a lot."
Trump has in recent days insisted Ukraine will be a main player in negotiations, which was echoed by Kellogg on Saturday in front of an audience that included some of Ukraine's most senior officials.
Representative Mike McCaul, a Texas Republican, confirmed during a side event in Munich on Saturday that Trump's national security adviser Mike Waltz, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff will head to Saudi Arabia to kick off ceasefire talks in the next few days, Politico reported.
Kellogg said that the U.S. had a "dual track" to communicate separately with the Russian and Ukrainian teams, with the conversations with Moscow led by Witkoff.
"We're doing that for speed," Kellogg said.
Looming large over discussions in Munich is confusion about what a Washington-led path to a peace deal looks like.
"We are all very carefully following the signals of President Trump and his closest aides on Ukraine, and the analysis that we are having is that we would like to understand it a little bit more," Plenković said.
"The problem is we don't know much still," Goncharenko added. "What's the plan? We don't know."
Estonian President Alar Karis echoed this train of thought, saying that "there is no plan" for a ceasefire.
"There is only one plan, which is Zelensky's peace plan," he said. "There is no plan."
The Ukrainian president has long plugged with Kyiv's allies his vision for a peace plan, which has ultimately failed to gain traction.
Expectations for a U.S.-led ceasefire were further muddled by Vice President JD Vance address in Munich on Friday, which was widely expected to home in on a solution for nearly three years of war in Ukraine. Instead, he launched a scathing critique of many of the U.S.'s European allies, focusing on what he called an assault on free speech on the continent and largely skipping over Ukraine altogether.
The mood in Munich on a ceasefire is muted, dulled by a continuing confusion over how Trump's most trusted officials and the president will choose to act in the coming days and weeks. But there is one thing European officials and the U.S.'s representatives in Munich seem to agree on: any Trump-brokered ceasefire will be crafted to last and head off a fresh outbreak of fighting.
UK ‘ready’ to send peacekeepers to Ukraine, PM Starmer says
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"We must be clear that peace cannot come at any cost," Starmer said. "Ukraine must be at the table in these negotiations, because anything less would accept Putin’s position that Ukraine is not a real nation."
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“Ukraine must be a democratic, sovereign nation over whose heads no decisions are made," Scholz said. "As Europeans, we will not allow that to happen. That's why I'm going to Paris tomorrow and talking to many friends where we meet to agree on exactly that. And we will also not allow anyone to agree that Ukraine should be demilitarized. Conversely, it needs a very strong army so that it is not invaded again if a peace agreement is reached.”
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Zelensky says he WON'T accept the outcome of US-Moscow peace talks unless Ukraine is able to participate - as Lavrov says Russia will not give up any land
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It comes as Vladimir Putin's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov insisted that Moscow has no plans to give territory it has seized in Ukraine over to Kyiv.
Lavrov said there could be 'no thought' of Moscow giving up land and asked: 'What sort of territorial concessions do you want — that we give up Russian speakers or rare earths?'
The top Russian minister is visiting Riyadh to meet US officials for talks about the war as Putin and Trump prepare to meet face-to-face.
He said today's talks will be primarily focused on 'restoring the entire complex of US-Russian relations, as well as preparing possible talks on the Ukrainian settlement and organizing a meeting of the two presidents'.
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Цитата:
Don't let Ukraine become another disaster like Afghanistan: Starmer's warning to Trump as he vows to send in UK troops... and US begins talks with Russia in Saudi Arabia
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And Mr Lavrov trolled that there was no point them being involved as they had previously rejected Russia's terms.
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But Fred Fleitz, chief of staff of the US national security council during the first Trump administration, told the BBC: 'I don't know what the purpose of this summit is.
'The fact that European leaders are not involved is not an emergency. It seems to be FOMO – fear of missing out.'
'I think European leaders are simply throwing a temper tantrum that they're not meeting with Putin today, that they're not gonna be involved in meetings with Zelensky.'
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Lord Dannatt said: 'My reaction is the Prime Minister is doing the right thing. But, of course, doing the right thing comes at a price.
'If the Prime Minister is serious about wanting to deploy British troops, put boots on the ground in Ukraine as part of a peacekeeping force, he's got to realise that's going to come at a considerable cost.'
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An isolated Europe worries the US will negotiate on Ukraine badly without it
…while peace is also what Europeans aspire to, their worry is now how costly it may be, given the price Washington seems prepared to pay, and how short lived, given Putin’s record.
Hence the meeting in Paris. European leaders may not be able to weigh in on the terms of a future peace deal but they do hope to find ways of giving security guarantees to Kyiv. Yet the danger facing them as they head to the French capital is that that just as the fight for Ukraine united them three years ago, so too might the specter of peace on their Eastern flank divide them once more. Particularly at a time when several of them are facing an increasingly emboldened and electorally successful European far right that is far more closely aligned with Washington’s new leaders than they are.
But European leaders are also keen not to appear rattled. The French foreign minister explained on French radio on Sunday that these sorts of meetings happened all the time. And Macron himself billed Monday’s talks as “an informal meeting” for those interested “in peace and security in Europe.”
For now, we expect not only the presidents of the EU council and Commission to attend, but also the NATO secretary general and the leaders of Germany, Spain, Italy, Poland and Denmark. The British prime minister has also confirmed his presence, with Downing Street calling it a “once in a generation moment” for national security.
Few of those heading to Paris had doubted that Trump meant what he said the first time round, it’s more that now he appears to have surrounded himself with people who know exactly what they’re doing when it comes to undermining Europe and dismantling NATO. And they are, it seems, done with doing Europe’s bidding. This will make Monday’s meeting not just about how to help Ukraine, but, at its heart, about how to save Europe itself.
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U.S.-Russia meeting on Ukraine war to take place in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday
The meeting between senior U.S. and Russia officials to discuss a possible agreement on ending the war in Ukraine and prepare for a Trump-Putin summit will take place on Tuesday in Saudi Arabia, two sources with direct knowledge told Axios Sunday.
Why it matters:
The meeting will be another significant step in improving U.S.-Russia relations since the breakthrough that happened last week with the phone call between President Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
• The meeting created a lot of anxiety and frustration in the Ukrainian government, which is concerned about a U.S.-Russian deal behind Kyiv's back.
The latest:
On Monday, the Kremlin and the State Department officially confirmed that the meeting will happen Tuesday in Riyadh.
• The Kremlin said the aim of the meeting is to restore Russian-U.S. relations and prepare for possible negotiations on a diplomatic settlement to the war in Ukraine.
Driving the news:
The U.S. delegation will include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, White House national security adviser Mike Waltz and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.
• The Kremlin said the Russian delegation will include Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Putin's top foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakiv.
• Rubio arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday after a visit to Israel and met Foreign Ninister Faisal Bin Farhan.
• Witkoff and Waltz arrived separately on Monday.
The other side:
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky told me on Saturday in Munich that Ukraine hasn't received an invitation for the meeting.
• "It is strange to hold a meeting in such format before we had consultations with our strategic partners. As I remember Russia is not such a strategic partner," he said.
• A senior Ukrainian official told me the only invitation Ukraine received was "through the reports in the media."
What they're saying:
Trump told reporters on Sunday that the process of launching peace talks between Russia and Ukraine "was moving along."
• He stressed Zelensky "will be involved" in the talks.
What to watch:
Zelensky is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia on Wednesday and meet Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Salman, who has been deeply involved in mediation between the U.S. and Russia.
• The Ukrainian president will meet later this week in Kyiv with U.S. envoy Keith Kellogg, who will also visit the front lines of the war with Russia.
• Zelensky said on Monday that he will have clarity about a possible meeting with President Trump at the White House after he meets with Kellogg.
Trump's deal with the devil? As Starmer vows to send British peacekeepers to Ukraine, what a truce could look like - from Zelensky's future to mineral reserves
Should the US force Ukraine to give up some or all of the territory annexed by Putin's troops, the next challenge is to ensure that Russia does not simply take up arms again and push for more territory months or years down the line.
For Ukraine, the answer to that question was, until recently, very obvious: NATO membership.
The transatlantic security bloc's famous Article 5 - the cornerstone of its founding treaty in 1949 - stipulates that an armed attack against one or more of its members 'shall be considered an attack against them all'.
Several European leaders, including British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, have said as recently as last week that Ukraine is still on an 'irreversible path' to joining NATO.
But the White House appears to have other ideas.
'The United States does not believe that NATO membership for Ukraine is a realistic outcome of a negotiated settlement,' Hegseth told Ukrainian delegates and European defence chiefs last week.
He later gave a half-hearted caveat, adding that in regard to the likelihood of Ukraine's future NATO membership, 'everything is on the table'.
But NATO operates on a unanimous voting system, meaning that the US can bar Ukraine from joining the bloc even if the other 31 member nations are in favour.
Hegseth also rounded on America's European partners in NATO, declaring the White House would 'no longer tolerate an imbalanced relationship that encourages dependency'.
His comments came days after Trump declared he expects NATO's European nations to boost their defence spending to 5% of GDP as part of their security commitments - more than double what most members are currently paying.
This stance suggests that Ukraine's hopes of joining NATO are effectively dead in the water.
Instead, it appears that Europe will take the lead in providing Ukraine with security guarantees moving forward.
Britain and France are said to be discussing the possibility of deploying a peacekeeping force to Ukraine to patrol the contact line should the conflict be frozen in place as part of a ceasefire deal.
In this scenario, a demilitarised zone spanning the length of the frozen frontline would likely be implemented, with UK, French and other European troops working with Ukraine's Armed Forces to ensure its security.
Sir Keir Starmer has already said the UK is 'ready to play a leading role' in Ukraine's defence and security, including the commitment of £3billion a year until 2030.
'It also means being ready and willing to contribute to security guarantees to Ukraine by putting our own troops on the ground if necessary', he confirmed in an article published by the Telegraph.
'I feel very deeply the responsibility that comes with potentially putting British servicemen and women in harm's way. But any role in helping to guarantee security is helping to guarantee the security of our continent, and the security of this country.'
A spokesperson for the German defence ministry also said this morning that Berlin would contribute to a framework that sees European troops head for Ukraine.
'If the framework is given, Germany will not shy away,' the spokesperson told a press conference, responding to a question about the possibility of German ground troops in Ukraine.
But not everyone is on the same page - this morning Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said his nation would continue to support Ukraine with aid but would not deploy troops.
…
Despite some having shown willingness to put boots on the ground to uphold an eventual ceasefire in Ukraine, European leaders still insist that America is the only nation capable of guaranteeing Kyiv's long-term security.
The White House has seemingly acknowledged this, as Reuters reported this weekend that US diplomats had sent a document asking European governments what they would need from Washington to be able to ensure that a Europe-led military force could secure Ukraine from further aggression.
Trump has also been clear that the US is willing to force Russia and Ukraine to uphold its commitment to a ceasefire agreement if necessary, with JD Vance adding last week that 'there are economic tools of leverage, there are of course military tools of leverage' the US could use against Putin.
But there is no clear consensus on what protection Washington would provide if it is unwilling to deploy troops into Ukraine alongside European forces.
One senior UK government source told The Times last week that America could provide 'air cover' to a European peacekeeping force in Ukraine.
'That's their security guarantee,' a senior government source told The Times, noting that the US has not ruled out providing air cover. America was reportedly transferring Patriot air defence systems from storage in Israel to Ukraine last month.
But Donald Trump has said that Ukraine must be willing to paid America for any protections it is afforded by the White House and the US military.
Last week, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent offered Zelensky a deal that would reportedly see Ukraine agree to hand over roughly half of its mineral wealth to the US in exchange for a 'long-term security shield' provided by Washington.
It came shortly after Trump suggested that Kyiv could begin to compensate the US for aid sent over the last three years with 'like $500 billion worth' of critical minerals - an idea that was originally floated by Zelensky himself last year.
However, it emerged yesterday that Zelensky had refused to sign the deal as it stands, telling reporters 'it was not in our interests today... not in the interests of sovereign Ukraine'.
Senior government sources told the Financial Times that the deal provided scant details of what this 'long-term security shield' would look like.
'When we looked at the details there was nothing there [about future US security guarantees],' one official said.
Ukraine has some £12tn worth of natural resources, including many rare earth minerals vital for the manufacture of modern technology - though many are found in the industrial heartlands in the east, currently occupied by Russia.
Mining analysts and economists say Ukraine currently has no commercially operational rare earth mines. Many companies slowed or ceased operations at the start of the war, and restarting industry in a war-torn country will present a mammoth challenge for any companies willing to take the risk.
This morning, Zelensky expanded on the comments, telling reporters that a US-Ukraine economic treaty must see security guarantees 'included at least somehow', adding that his country was not just a 'simple supplier of raw materials'.
21.57
Российская делегация приземлилась в Эр-Рияде: Глава МИД России Сергей Лавров и помощник президента Юрий Ушаков прибыли в Саудовскую Аравию, где состоятся российско-американские переговоры.
Цитата:
Trump's Ukraine plan has “echoes of the 1930s” | The Daily T Podcast
Цитата:
Ukraine will not accept results of any US-Russia talks held without them, Zelenskyy says
Analyysi: Venäjä sai Trumpin hallinnolta vahvat kortit Ukraina-neuvotteluihin
Vladimir Putin todennäköisesti laskee, että Venäjällä ei ole mikään kiire lopettaa sotaa, kirjoittaa Venäjän-kirjeenvaihtaja Heikki Heiskanen.
MOSKOVA Venäjän johto todennäköisesti kokee lähtevänsä vahvoista asetelmista keskusteluihin, joita se alkaa tiistaina käydä Yhdysvaltain kanssa Saudi-Arabiassa hyökkäyssotansa lopettamiseksi.
Venäjä on sodassaan Ukrainaa vastaan ollut niskan päällä, eikä maan talous ole edelleenkään romahtanut länsipakotteiden taakan alla.
Vastassa on Yhdysvaltain hallinto, joka tuntuu suhtautuvan varsin myötämielisesti Venäjän vaatimuksiin.
Jo ennen neuvotteluja Yhdysvaltain puolustusministeri Pete Hegseth kaatoi kylmää vettä Ukrainan niskaan: Ukrainan Nato-jäsenyys ja paluu vuotta 2014 edeltäneisiin rajoihin ovat epärealistisia.
Näin Yhdysvallat lupasi Vladimir Putinille kahden tärkeän tavoitteen saavuttamisen jo ennen varsinaisten neuvottelujen alkua.
Venäjän johdon nälkä on kuitenkin kasvanut syödessä.
Putin on linjannut, että pelkästään tulitauon ehtona ovat Ukrainan Nato-jäsenyyshaaveista luopuminen ja neljän Venäjän osittain miehittämän alueen – Donetskin, Luhanskin, Zaporižžjan ja Hersonin – luovuttaminen Venäjälle kokonaisuudessaan.
Venäjä vahvisti Saudi-Arabian neuvotteluryhmänsä
vasta maanantaina. Neuvotteluihin osallistuvat Putinin ulkopoliittinen neuvonantaja Juri Ušakov ja ulkoministeri Sergei Lavrov.
Venäjän presidentin edustaja Dmitri Peskov ei kommentoinut tietoja, että mukana olisi myös Venäjän valtiollisen investointirahaston RFPI:n johtaja Kirill Dmitrijev.
Kun Venäjä ja Ukraina neuvottelivat keväällä 2022, Venäjän ryhmää johti Venäjän presidentin avustaja Vladimir Medinski.
Pikemminkin hallinnon ideologina kuin kokeneena neuvottelijana tunnettu Medinski ei välttämättä tuonut uskottavuutta neuvotteluille. Ušakov ja Lavrov sen sijaan ovat Venäjän diplomatian raskassarjalaisia.
Presidentti Donald Trumpin hallinto on tehnyt varsin selväksi,
että sitä kiinnostavat Ukrainassa lähinnä harvinaiset maametallit. Nekin Trump haluaisi periä vastineena Ukrainalle jo annetusta avusta, ei edes maksuna tulevasta avusta.
Saudi-Arabian tapaaminen vahvistaa entisestään pelkoja, että Yhdysvallat aikoo sopia Ukrainan ratkaisuista Ukrainan ohi. Synkeä sanonta kuuluu: Jos et ole pöydän ääressä, olet todennäköisesti ruokalistalla.
Ukrainan presidentti Volodymyr Zelenskyi ilmoitti, että Ukraina ei osallistu Saudi-Arabian neuvotteluihin eikä tunnusta mitään neuvotteluja Ukrainasta ilman Ukrainaa.
Mielenkiintoista on, että Zelenskyi on kuitenkin menossa vierailulle Saudi-Arabiaan.
Huono asetelma voi jopa toimia Zelenskyille eräänlaisena alibina, jos hän joutuu myymään ikävän neuvottelutuloksen maanmiehilleen. Liittolaiset pettivät, ja suurvallat neuvottelivat hänen ylitseen.
Sivussa on myös Eurooppa.
Yhdysvaltain varapresidentti J. D. Vance järkytti EU-maita repivällä puheellaan Münchenin turvallisuuskokouksessa. Trumpin Ukraina-erikoislähettiläs Keith Kellogg ilmoitti lauantaina, että Euroopan mailla ei ole sijaa neuvottelupöydässä.
Euroopan maiden sivuuttaminen on sekin Vladimir Putinin maailmankuvan mukaista.Todellinen vastapuoli on Venäjän johdon mielessä ollut aina Yhdysvallat.
Putin sanoi joulukuussa, että Euroopan maat ovat kieltäytyneet itsenäisestä ulkopolitiikasta ja luovuttaneet sen Natolle eli viime kädessä Yhdysvalloille.
Venäjän ulkoministeri Sergei Lavrov taas kysyi maanantaina, miksi Euroopan maiden pitäisi olla neuvottelupöydässä, kun nämä haluavat vain jatkaa sotaa.
Trumpin hallinnolla tuntuu olevan kiire
siivota Venäjän ja Ukrainan sota pois pöydältä. Sekin todennäköisesti pelaa Venäjän lapaan. Venäjän johdolla ei ole samanlaista kiireen tuntua.
Sotaan väsynyt osa Venäjän eliitistä voi toki toivoa, että Trump tarjoaisi ulospääsyn pitkittyneestä konfliktista, kuten journalisti Andrei Pertsev raportoi viime vuoden lopulla. Päätös ei kuitenkaan ole heidän käsissään vaan yksin Putinin.
Putin todennäköisesti laskee, että hän voi hyvin jatkaa sotaa, jos neuvottelut eivät tuota hänen toivomaansa tulosta. Toisaalta riskinä on, että turhautunut Trump koventaa otteitaan Venäjää vastaan. Yhdysvaltain presidentillä on arvaamaton puolensa.
Paljon riippuu siitä, millaista tietoa Putin saa lähipiiriltään. Hänellä saattaa olla liiankin optimistinen kuva Venäjän talouden kestokyvystä.
Sotatuotannon lietsoma inflaatio rasittaa kansalaisia, ja taloustieteilijät varoittavat, että Venäjää uhkaa korkean inflaation ja hitaan kasvun yhdistelmä.
Toisaalta talouden vieroittaminen sodan tuomasta ylikuumentumisesta ei ole yksinkertainen temppu sekään.
Suomi suojautuu aktiivisesti Venäjän GPS-häirintää vastaan
Venäjän satelliittihäirintään kehitetään menetelmiä, jotka suojaavat jatkossa esimerkiksi F-35-hävittäjien käyttämiä älypommeja. Osa keinovalikoimasta pidetään vielä salassa.
Siviililentokoneita ja laivoja on vaivannut jo pitkään satelliittinavigointisignaalien häirintä. Häirintää on erityisesti Venäjän rajan läheisyydessä Suomenlahdelta Pohjois-Norjaan.
Häirinnässä joko estetään navigointilaitetta havaitsemasta satelliittien lähettämää heikkotehoista signaalia peittämällä se radiokohinaan tai syötetään laitteelle väärää paikka- ja aikatietoa, jolloin laite välittää vääriä koordinaatteja käyttäjälle.
Laaja-alainen ja vahva GPS-häirintä voi periaatteessa estää esimerkiksi Suomen uusien F-35-hävittäjien tehokkaan käytön, jos sen kantamat älyohjukset ja täsmäpommit eivät pysty suuntimaan tarkasti, sanoo Maanpuolustuskorkeakoulussa teknologiasoveltamisen professorina toimiva Marko Höyhtyä.
– Lukittuva taisteluväline voi toimia niin, että se käyttää pitkän matkan suunnistukseen satelliittinavigointia ja lopuksi muita sensoreita osuakseen kohteeseen. Jos satelliittinavigointiin pystytään vaikuttamaan pitkän aikaa lennon aikana, sillä on merkittäviä vaikutuksia.
Sotilaskaluston häirintään etsitään kuitenkin aktiivisesti vastakeinoja, hän sanoo. Höyhtyän mukaan siinä pyritään häiriöiden sietokyvyn parantamiseen erilaisin keinoin.
– Siihen liittyvät erilaiset signaalinkäsittelykeinot, materiaalinvalinnat ja moni sellainen asia, joista ei voi julkisesti kovin syvällisesti kertoa.
Venäjä testaa häirinnällä sekä meitä että itseään
Venäjän lähialueilla on usein tuskastuttu GPS-signaaleissa esiintyviin häiriöihin, jotka ovat aiheuttaneet ongelmia käytännössä kaikelle toiminnalle, jossa tarvitaan tarkkaa paikkatietoa.
Esimerkiksi Maanmittauslaitoksen kuvauslennot menivät pilalle viime kesänä, kun joko lentokoneet eivät pystyneet lentämään tai valokuvista puuttui paikkatieto.
Pohjois-Norjassa taas lentokoneet ovat joutuneet uudenlaisen spoofing-häirinnän kohteeksi.
Marko Höyhtyän mukaan Venäjän toiminta voi olla osin hybridivaikutukseksi luokiteltavaa kiusantekoa. Sillä pyritään tutkimaan, millä tavalla ja kuinka voimakkaasti eri maat reagoivat GPS-häirintään.
Höyhtyän mukaan Venäjä kuitenkin testaa ja parantaa sillä erityisesti omia sotilaallisia kykyjään. Venäjä kehittää tällä hetkellä hyvin aktiivisesti häirintää, sen torjuntaa ja häirinnän alaisuudessa toimimista niin sotatoimialueella Ukrainassa kuin omalla alueellaankin.
– Kun Suomen lähialueilla tehdään tällaisia testejä, se näkyy häiriöinä Suomessa. Ja nyt kun on sotatila, ei ilmeisesti koeta niin isoksi haitaksi sitä, jos siitä naapurimaatkin kärsivät.
Miten saadaan Venäjä lopettamaan kiusanteko?
Marko Höyhtyä uskoo, että Venäjän toimintaan on tällä hetkellä aika vaikea vaikuttaa ulkoapäin, koska asiaan liittyy sotilaskyvykkyyksien testaus ja kehittäminen.
– Valtio, joka on sotatilassa, varmasti kokee, että sellaiselle toiminnalle on erittäin paljon tarvetta. En tiedä, olisiko taloudellisilla pakotteillakaan merkitystä ja millä tavalla niitä voisi käyttää.
Höyhtyä katsoo, että ainakin pitkällä aikavälillä paras tapa suojautua GPS-häirinnältä on kehittää sille hyviä vastatoimia ja varmentavia menetelmiä, jotta sillä ei ole enää mitään merkittävää vaikutusta.
Yksi tällainen kehitysaskel on salatun signaalin ja varmennuksen käyttö uudessa eurooppalaisessa Galileo-satelliittinavigointijärjestelmässä.
– Siinä on voimakkaampi, kahdella taajuudella lähetettävä, vahvasti salattu signaali. Se suojaa ja tekee robustimmaksi häiriötä ja varsinkin spoofausta vastaan.
Vastaanottimissa voidaan myös käyttää teknisiä menetelmiä, joilla erotetaan väärennössignaali oikean paikkatiedon tarjoavasta signaalista.
Höyhtyä uskoo, että mielihalu tehdä häirinnällä kiusaa on luonnollisesti pienempi, jos pystytään tekemään satelliittinavigointijärjestelmä riittävän vahvaksi ulkoista häirintää vastaan.
_________________
С интересом и понятными ожиданиями, Dimitriy.
15.11
Глава РФПИ Кирилл Дмитриев назвал переговоры в Эр-Рияде позитивными.
«Россия и США на переговорах обсудили то, что две великие страны не могут не общаться друг с другом», заявил Дмитриев.
Цитата:
15.10
Переговоры Российской Федерации и США в Эр-Рияде завершены - Ушаков.
Российско-американские переговоры в Эр-Рияде продолжались 4,5 часа.
Цитата:
14.32
Пресс-конференция российской делегации по итогам переговоров с США в Эр-Рияде пройдет около 15:30 мск, сообщают с места событий российские журналисты.
Цитата:
14.27
Переговоры России и США в Эр-Рияде - это предварительные консультации, смысл которых изложить базовые позиции сторон, заявил замглавы МИД Александр Грушко.
Другие заявления :
🟥Роль Евросоюза в предстоящих переговорах по Украине исключена;
🟥Россия категорически отрицательно относится к перспективе появления европейских войск на Украине, в какой бы роли они там ни были;
🟥 Если европейские страны хотят способствовать установлению мира на Украине, им необходимо прекратить поставки вооружений Киеву.
Цитата:
14.14
Роль ЕС в переговорах по украинскому урегулированию исключена. Сейчас ничто не свидетельствует о возможном прорыве в отношениях с Европой, заявил Грушко.
Если Европа хочет способствовать установлению мира на Украине, необходимо прекратить поставки вооружений Киеву, заявил Грушко.
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Цитата:
Top Russian and US officials meet in Saudi Arabia for talks on Ukraine war
Цитата:
Переговоры России и США начались в Саудовской Аравии.
Цитата:
No seat for panicking Europe or Zelensky at Ukraine peace talks: US and Russia meet in Saudi Arabia as Germany storms out of summit amid fears Trump will abandon Baltics
Russian and American officials have met in Saudi Arabia today for talks on improving relations and negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine - with Kyiv absent from the discussions and insisting it will not accept a peace deal without a seat at the table.
The meeting in Riyadh marks a major step by the Trump administration to improve relations with Moscow and reverse US policy on isolating Russia, and is meant to pave the way for a meeting between President Trump and dictator Vladimir Putin.
Trump earlier this month upended US policy by holding a surprise phone call with Putin about beginning negotiations, sparking panic in Kyiv and among European allies that they will be frozen out of talks.
Ukrainian officials are not taking part in today's meeting, and President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday that his country will not accept the outcome of any discussions if Kyiv does not have a say in its own future.
'We cannot recognise any things or agreements about us without us. And we will not recognise such agreements,' Zelensky said, adding that previously 'it was like bad manners to talk to an aggressor during wartime.'
It comes amid mounting fears in Europe that Trump will withdraw the US security umbrella over the continent and leave the Baltic states at Putin's mercy.
Sir Keir Starmer called for the US to provide a 'backstop' for any deal in Ukraine yeserday as European leaders desperately tried to put on a united front in support of Kyiv ahead of today's talks.
But the crisis summit in Paris ended in chaos, with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz leaving early and saying he was 'a little irritated' by 'premature' plans being made 'over Ukraine's head'.
The US and Russian delegations have been pictured attending the bilateral meeting at the Diriyah Palace this morning
British PM Sir Keir Starmer met with European leaders at the Elysee Palace yesterday
After Putin officials gloated that today's talks would be 'purely bilateral' and would not include Ukrainian officials, US and Russian delegations were pictured this morning attending the watershed meeting at Riyadh's Diriyah Palace.
The top officials in attendance include US secretary of state Marco Rubio, national security adviser Mike Waltz and special envoy Steve Witkoff with Putin's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov on the Russian side.
The talks mark a significant expansion of US-Russian contacts, nearly three years into a war that has seen ties fall to the lowest level in decades.
The recent US diplomatic blitz on the war has sent Kyiv and key allies scrambling to ensure a seat at the table amid concerns that Washington and Moscow could press ahead with a deal that will not be favourable to them.
France called an emergency meeting of European Union countries and the UK on Monday to decide how to respond.
Sir Keir Starmer told a press conference following the three-hour talks at Elysee Palace that Europe 'had to do more' to protect the continent and reiterated his vow to send British soldiers to Ukraine.
Yet fractures appear to have already formed in any unified response, border with Poland, Spain, and Italy joining Germany in raising doubts about the Prime Minister's suggestion.
Scholz said calls for peacekeeping troops were 'premature,' adding: 'I am even a little irritated by these debates, I want to say that quite frankly.
'The discussion is being held over Ukraine's head, over the outcome of peace talks that have not taken place and to which Ukraine has not said yes...
'This is highly inappropriate, to put it bluntly, and honestly: we don't even know what the outcome will be.'
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk told reporters in Paris: 'Everyone at this meeting is aware that transatlantic relations, the NATO alliance and our friendship with the United States have entered a new phase.'
NATO chief Mark Rutte said the Europeans were 'ready and willing' to step up, while EU commission chief Ursula von der Leyen called for a 'surge' in defence.
The Saudi-owned satellite channel Al Arabiya, citing the Russian delegation, described Moscow's priority in today's talks with the US as 'real normalisation with Washington'.
Ahead of the talks, Kirill Dmitriev, the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, who is acting as an economic negotiator for Moscow, declared that 'good US-Russia relations are very important for the whole world.'
'Only jointly can Russia and the US address lots of world problems, resolve for global conflicts and offer solutions,' said Dmitriev.
He said following the meeting that Russia expects 'progress' on economic discussions with the US in the coming months.
But rather than covering broader relations between the two powers, US officials have sought to cast today's talks as a follow-up to the call between Trump and Putin and an initial contact between the two parties to determine whether Moscow is serious about ending the war.
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce told reporters: 'This is a follow-up on that initial conversation between Putin and President Trump about perhaps if that first step is even possible, what the interests are, if this can be managed.'
However the Kremlin suggested the discussions would cover 'the entire complex of Russian-American relations' as it seemingly seeks to make the most of its open communication with Washington.
Lavrov and then-US secretary of state Antony Blinken talked briefly on the sidelines of a G20 meeting in India nearly two years ago, and in the autumn of 2022, US and Russian spymasters met in Turkey amid Washington's concerns that Moscow could resort to nuclear weapons amid battlefield setbacks.
Diriyah Palace sits across the street from Riyadh's diplomatic quarter.
It is also just next to the Ritz Carlton hotel, which became well known in 2017 after de facto leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman detained other princes and the country's elite there as part of what the royal court called a crackdown on corruption, which also sidelined any potential challenge to his taking control of the kingdom.
Hosting the talks is a major step towards a goal Prince Mohammed has pursued throughout the war - putting the kingdom in the middle of diplomatic negotiations.
It has helped in prisoner negotiations and hosted Zelensky for an Arab League summit in the kingdom in 2023. Zelensky is set to travel to Saudi Arabia later this week.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pictured with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan in Abu Dhabi -- February 17, 2025
For Prince Mohammed, once described as a 'pariah' by former US president Joe Biden over the 2018 killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, hosting such talks burnish the otherwise-tarnished image the West has for him.
Ahead of the summit, the Saudi daily newspaper Okaz described the moment as the 'world's eye on Riyadh'.
Writing in the London-based but Saudi-owned newspaper Asharq Al Awsat, journalist Mishari al-Dhaidi described the summit as 'a major step on the international political chess arena, revealing the status of Saudi Arabia and its positive influence for the benefit of the people all the people'.
Hosting the summit also balances the harsh criticism recently levied by the kingdom's tightly controlled media at Trump over his repeated comments that he wants the US to 'own' the Gaza Strip, which has been devastated by the Israeli military offensive there since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack.
The Palestinians want Gaza and the West Bank for a future state, something backed by the wider Arab world and nearly all of the international community.
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Цитата:
10.01
Местом проведения российско-американских переговоров в Саудовской Аравии станет один из дворцов королевской семьи - Дирия в комплексе Альбасатин.
Делегации РФ и США скоро прибудут на площадку.
Цитата:
8.30
Американские компании потеряли 300 миллиардов долларов из-за ухода из России — глава РФПИ Кирилл Дмитриев на переговорах в Эр-Рияде.
Цитата:
8.20
Глава концерна Rheinmetall заявил, что Европа осталась за "детским столом" в переговорах по украинскому урегулированию.
Цитата:
Hear what Putin's adviser says upon arriving with Lavrov in Riyadh for Russia-US talks on Ukraine
Дмитрий Кулеба – о мирных переговорах между Россией и Украиной | Интервью Би-би-си.
Цитата:
‘Donald Trump Is RIGHT…’ | UK Must URGENTLY Increase Defence Spending - 'We Must Find The Cash!'
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French defence minister says future of NATO is in question
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German defence minister slams US for making public admissions to Putin before talks
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European leaders want a say in talks to end Russia’s war in Ukraine
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Peacekeeping in Ukraine would require every last drop of our depleted resources. We would have NO capability left, DANIEL HANNAN writes
Sir Keir Starmer's announcement that he plans to send British peacekeepers to Ukraine raises two immediate questions. First, do we have the military capacity and the means to pay for it? Second, what exactly would we aim to achieve?
The answer to the first question is depressing. We have been running down our Armed Forces for 35 years, mainly to fund an unprecedented expansion of the welfare state and the NHS.
When the Prime Minister asked his generals whether they could patch together a brigade to patrol those sparse steppelands, they doubtless told him that they would manage.
That is what soldiers do. Unusually among public-sector workers, they look for answers rather than excuses, and make do with whatever resources they have rather than insisting on bigger budgets.
But do the maths. There is peacekeeping and peacekeeping. Deployment in a largely stable zone – Cyprus, say – needs little more than a beret and suncream. But peacekeeping in Ukraine would require a full brigade at battle-readiness.
Britain has already committed a brigade to the defence of Estonia – at least in the sense of having it on standby, ready to reinforce the battle group on the front line. A second full brigade in Ukraine would consume every drop of our remaining resources.
We would have no capability left. All our energies would be devoted to deterring Russia from invading the EU and its applicant members. So much for global Britain.
Sir Keir Starmer has said the UK is 'ready to play a leading role' in Ukraine's defence and security, including the commitment of £3billion a year until 2030 and willingness to deploy troops to ensure a peace deal is upheld
In any case, we don't have the stockpiles. We have been giving away kit and ammunition since 2020, and started replacing it only patchily and late.
But there is a deeper problem. For at least six decades, our defence procurement has been built around the assumption that, in a serious scrap, we will be part of a US-led bloc.
We might manage little local wars on our own – Aden, the Falklands, Sierra Leone – but, for anything bigger, we would be one component of a mighty Western coalition.
In common with every other Nato member, we therefore specialised rather than building full-spectrum capacity. It left us with significant gaps.
We are short of air defence systems, strategic intelligence and surveillance, electronic warfare and logistical lift.
Even if we replaced all the artillery we sent to our Ukrainian allies, we do not have anything like their ability to produce drones swiftly and at scale, because they are not ruled by health and safety bureaucracies.
Fixing these things will take time and money. But procurement is the least of our worries. The American withdrawal from Europe upends all our strategic assumptions.
Why, after all, were we interested in Ukraine in the first place? Its geography is of little strategic value, and if our concern were for the free flow of its grain and other food exports, we would have pushed for the earliest possible settlement.
The answer is that we have a stake in a rules-based international order. Since 1945, we have sought to run our foreign policy on the basis of certain principles: borders should not be altered by force; territorial sovereignty should be recognised; disputes should be put to peaceful arbitration; basic human rights should be respected; civilian government is preferred to military rule.
Those principles, sometimes flouted but never abandoned, distinguish the relatively stable post-war order from the chaos of the 1930s.
And they have their origin in a specific text, namely the Atlantic Charter, signed by Churchill and Roosevelt in Newfoundland in August 1941.
That charter became the basis of the Allied war aims when the US joined the war four months later.
Its precepts informed the foundation of the United Nations, and served as Nato's guiding ideals during the Cold War. But they always rested, in the last analysis, on American weaponry.
Donald Trump has turned his back on it all. I don't just mean that he has abandoned Ukraine, ignoring the commitment that the US, along with Britain and Russia, made to protect its independence within its recognised borders back in 1994.
I mean that US foreign policy has itself given up on the Atlantic Charter's insistence that countries should not help themselves to slices of their neighbours' territories.
Never mind allowing Vladimir Putin to hang on to the lands he has stolen from Ukraine (and, for that matter, from Georgia).
Trump is himself making aggressive territorial claims on Greenland, threatening economic sanctions against Denmark, the sovereign power, to make it give the territory up.
Denmark has been an ally of the US since 1941, going so far as to send troops to Afghanistan after the horrors of 9/11. But its nose is being rubbed brutally in the fact that it was a client state all along.
Trump means to be transactional in his relationships. Loyalty is accepted but not reciprocated.
No longer will the US be swayed by common values and beliefs. No country is culturally closer to it than Canada. Yet, even as he rewards autocratic Russia, Trump menaces democratic Canada with annexation.
How should Britain respond to the sudden re-emergence of great power competition? We are better placed than most countries.
We are a nuclear power. We have no quarrel with the US – nor even, directly, with China. We have allies in the Commonwealth.
But, even so, we need to adapt very quickly to the changes around us. We need an independent military capacity, which will mean rebuilding some of our manufacturing base. We need to increase our defence expenditure in absolute rather than in proportionate terms.
Never mind whether we spend two, three or five per cent of GDP on defence when our GDP is flatlining.
What we really need is growth, which will only happen when we scrap regulations, cut taxes and, above all, reduce spending – including on social security and the NHS which, together, account for half the national budget.
We also need to look at whether our deployments, from the battle group in Estonia to the RAF acting as the Romanian airforce, are optimal. These investments got us no return in goodwill during the EU disengagement talks, and it is worth asking whether our chief priority should be the defence of a European bloc which shows us no affection.
In the end, though, it all comes down to military capacity. I hope you won't mind if I quote Churchill at length, because – though this is not among his more famous speeches – he made the point beautifully.
'The army is not like a limited liability company, to be reconstructed, remodelled, liquidated, refloated from week to week as the money market fluctuates... If it is bullied, it sulks; if it is unhappy, it pines; if it is harried, it gets feverish; if it is sufficiently disturbed, it will wither and dwindle and almost die; and when it comes to this last serious condition, it is only revived by lots of time and lots of money.'
Britain and Europe can hardly claim to be shocked that the US is not going to defend them forever. As Ricky Gervais says of getting fat, you get lots of warning, plenty of opportunities to change course.
The best time to have trimmed our domestic budgets and invested in defence was a decade ago. The second-best time is now.
JTMS 97: Russia & US Meet For Talks In Riyhadh To Normalize Relations, Zelensky And EU In Full Panic
Цитата:
What do key players want from Ukraine war talks? | BBC News.
Цитата:
U.S. and Russia Hold First Talks on Ending War in Ukraine | WSJ News
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Russia warns it will not accept European peacekeeping troops in Ukraine at truce talks with the US
Deploying European peacekeepers to uphold a truce in Ukraine would be an 'escalatory step', Russia's deputy foreign minister warned as delegations from Moscow and Washington concluded their first round of talks in Saudi Arabia.
Asked by the Russian TASS news agency today whether Moscow would be receptive to European troops on the ground in Ukraine, Alexander Grushko said: '[Our reaction is] negative, and we have said this many times.
'Under whatever guise they appear there, this is a step towards escalation,' he warned.
The comments came after Sir Keir Starmer said that he was ready to send troops to Ukraine as a guarantee of security, while urging a 'backstop' security commitment from the United States.
The Trump administration has urged Europe to do more to uphold its own security in recent days, casting the futures of Ukraine and the NATO military alliance into doubt.
American and Russian officials agreed to address 'irritants' to the US-Russia relationship, the US State Department said following the talks, making clear that efforts to end the war in Ukraine were in their early stages.
Russia said that the first round of talks in Riyadh had been productive, with conditions discussed for a meeting between president Trump and Putin.
But even while the meeting was under way, the Kremlin signalled a hardening of its demands.
The Kremlin laid out a series of conditions following the watershed first meeting - which saw US and Russian officials discuss the fate of Ukraine for hours without Kyiv's involvement.
The US had previously assured that Ukraine and Europe would be part of any 'real negotiations' to end the war.
Delegations from Moscow and Washington met in Saudi Arabia for talks aimed at improving relations and negotiating an end to the war, the outcome of which Ukrainian President Zelensky has repeatedly said his country would not accept.
'We cannot recognise any things or agreements about us without us. And we will not recognise such agreements,' Zelensky said on Monday, adding that previously 'it was like bad manners to talk to an aggressor during wartime.'
US and Russian officials engaged in four-and-a-half hours of negotiations, which the Kremlin said 'went well' and are now complete.
They discussed establishing a mechanism to address 'irritants to our bilateral relationship' with the goal of normalizing diplomatic relations, State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said in a statement.
The two sides also appointed high-level teams to work on ending the Ukraine conflict 'as soon as possible in a way that is enduring, sustainable, and acceptable to all sides,' she said.
'One phone call followed by one meeting is not sufficient to establish enduring peace,' she insisted.
In the aftermath of the discussions, Moscow has been laying out its demands and stipulations for peace talks, warning that a lasting settlement in Ukraine is 'impossible' without addressing the wider issue of European security.
'A lasting and long-term viable resolution is impossible without a comprehensive consideration of security issues on the continent,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
Peskov stated last week that Moscow wanted to use talks with the US to address Russian 'concerns' about the security situation in Europe. While he did not go into further detail, the Kremlin has demanded in recent years that NATO roll back to its 1997 borders.
Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova later said that Moscow wants NATO to disavow its 2008 promise to one day give Ukraine membership of the US-led military alliance.
NATO membership for Ukraine is unacceptable for Russia, Zakharova said, adding that a simple refusal to accept Ukraine into NATO is also not enough for Russia.
'It is worth noting that a refusal to accept Kyiv into NATO is not enough,' she said. 'The alliance must disavow the Bucharest promises of 2008.'
At a summit in the Romanian capital in 2008, NATO declared that both Ukraine and Georgia would join the US-led defence alliance - but gave them no plan for how to get there.
NATO's official position - which has been consistently endorsed by Sir Keir Starmer's Government - is that Kyiv is on an 'irreversible' path to joining the alliance.
Regarding Kyiv's wish to join NATO, Peskov said today that while Ukraine had the 'sovereign right' to join the European Union, Russia was opposed to Kyiv joining NATO.
'With regard to Ukraine joining the EU, it is the sovereign right of any country, but it is completely different when it comes to security issues and military alliances. Here we have a different approach that is well known,' he warned.
In further comments at the press conference today, Peskov taunted Kyiv by saying that Putin was ready to talk to Zelensky 'if necessary', before questioning his legitimacy as Ukrainian president.
'Putin himself said that he would be ready to negotiate with Zelensky if necessary but the legal basis of agreements needs discussion considering the reality that Zelensky's legitimacy can be questioned,' Peskov told reporters.
The meeting in Riyadh marks a major step by the Trump administration to improve relations with Moscow and reverse US policy on isolating Russia , and is meant to pave the way for a meeting between President Trump and dictator Vladimir Putin .
Trump earlier this month upended US policy by holding a surprise phone call with Putin about beginning negotiations, sparking panic in Kyiv and among European allies that they will be frozen out of talks.
It comes amid mounting fears in Europe that Trump will withdraw the US security umbrella over the continent and leave the Baltic states at Putin's mercy.
Sir Keir Starmer called for the US to provide a 'backstop' for any deal in Ukraine yesterday as European leaders desperately tried to put on a united front in support of Kyiv ahead of today's talks.
But the crisis summit in Paris ended in chaos, with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz leaving early and saying he was 'a little irritated' by 'premature' plans being made 'over Ukraine's head'.
After Putin officials gloated that today's talks would be 'purely bilateral' and would not include Ukrainian officials, US and Russian delegations were pictured this morning attending the meeting at Riyadh's Diriyah Palace.
The top officials in attendance include US secretary of state Marco Rubio, national security adviser Mike Waltz and special envoy Steve Witkoff with Putin's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov on the Russian side.
The talks mark a significant expansion of US-Russian contacts, nearly three years into a war that has seen ties fall to the lowest level in decades.
The recent US diplomatic blitz on the war has sent Kyiv and key allies scrambling to ensure a seat at the table amid concerns that Washington and Moscow could press ahead with a deal that will not be favourable to them.
France called an emergency meeting of European Union countries and the UK on Monday to decide how to respond.
Sir Keir Starmer told a press conference following the three-hour talks at Elysee Palace that Europe 'had to do more' to protect the continent and reiterated his vow to send British soldiers to Ukraine.
Yet fractures appear to have already formed in any unified response, border with Poland, Spain, and Italy joining Germany in raising doubts about the Prime Minister's suggestion.
Scholz said calls for peacekeeping troops were 'premature,' adding: 'I am even a little irritated by these debates, I want to say that quite frankly.
'The discussion is being held over Ukraine's head, over the outcome of peace talks that have not taken place and to which Ukraine has not said yes...
'This is highly inappropriate, to put it bluntly, and honestly: we don't even know what the outcome will be.'
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk told reporters in Paris: 'Everyone at this meeting is aware that transatlantic relations, the NATO alliance and our friendship with the United States have entered a new phase.'
NATO chief Mark Rutte said the Europeans were 'ready and willing' to step up, while EU commission chief Ursula von der Leyen called for a 'surge' in defence.
The Saudi-owned satellite channel Al Arabiya, citing the Russian delegation, described Moscow's priority in today's talks with the US as 'real normalisation with Washington'.
Ahead of the talks, Kirill Dmitriev, the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, who is acting as an economic negotiator for Moscow, declared that 'good US-Russia relations are very important for the whole world.'
'Only jointly can Russia and the US address lots of world problems, resolve for global conflicts and offer solutions,' said Dmitriev.
He said following the meeting that Russia expects 'progress' on economic discussions with the US in the coming months.
But rather than covering broader relations between the two powers, US officials have sought to cast today's talks as a follow-up to the call between Trump and Putin and an initial contact between the two parties to determine whether Moscow is serious about ending the war.
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce told reporters: 'This is a follow-up on that initial conversation between Putin and President Trump about perhaps if that first step is even possible, what the interests are, if this can be managed.'
However the Kremlin suggested the discussions would cover 'the entire complex of Russian-American relations' as it seemingly seeks to make the most of its open communication with Washington.
Lavrov and then-US secretary of state Antony Blinken talked briefly on the sidelines of a G20 meeting in India nearly two years ago, and in the autumn of 2022, US and Russian spymasters met in Turkey amid Washington's concerns that Moscow could resort to nuclear weapons amid battlefield setbacks.
Diriyah Palace sits across the street from Riyadh's diplomatic quarter.
It is also just next to the Ritz Carlton hotel, which became well known in 2017 after de facto leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman detained other princes and the country's elite there as part of what the royal court called a crackdown on corruption, which also sidelined any potential challenge to his taking control of the kingdom.
Hosting the talks is a major step towards a goal Prince Mohammed has pursued throughout the war - putting the kingdom in the middle of diplomatic negotiations.
It has helped in prisoner negotiations and hosted Zelensky for an Arab League summit in the kingdom in 2023. Zelensky is set to travel to Saudi Arabia later this week.
For Prince Mohammed, once described as a 'pariah' by former US president Joe Biden over the 2018 killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, hosting such talks burnish the otherwise-tarnished image the West has for him.
Ahead of the summit, the Saudi daily newspaper Okaz described the moment as the 'world's eye on Riyadh'.
Writing in the London-based but Saudi-owned newspaper Asharq Al Awsat, journalist Mishari al-Dhaidi described the summit as 'a major step on the international political chess arena, revealing the status of Saudi Arabia and its positive influence for the benefit of the people all the people'.
Hosting the summit also balances the harsh criticism recently levied by the kingdom's tightly controlled media at Trump over his repeated comments that he wants the US to 'own' the Gaza Strip, which has been devastated by the Israeli military offensive there since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack.
The Palestinians want Gaza and the West Bank for a future state, something backed by the wider Arab world and nearly all of the international community.
_________________
С интересом и понятными ожиданиями, Dimitriy.
Rubio: Russia, US need to normalize embassy staffing
American negotiators met with their Russian counterparts Tuesday in Saudi Arabia to kick off negotiations over the Russia-Ukraine war.
American negotiators who met with Russian diplomats in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday said the two countries agreed on “four principles” that will move cease-fire talks between Russia and Ukraine forward — starting with the restaffing of embassies.
“For us to be able to continue to move down this road, we need to have diplomatic facilities that are operating and functioning normally,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters after the meeting, sitting alongside national security adviser Mike Waltz and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.
The meeting between the U.S. officials and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Vladimir Putin aide Yuri Ushakov — which lasted roughly 4.5 hours — is an “important first step” of a “long and difficult journey,” Rubio said.
Absent from the meeting was a representative for Ukraine or for the European Union.
Rubio’s other principles were appointing “a high-level team” to work on negotiations, beginning to discuss the economic and geopolitical “cooperation” that could come from a cease-fire, and a commitment to continuing the talks.
“This needs to be a permanent end to the war,” Waltz told reporters. “And not a temporary end, as we’ve seen in the past. We know just the practical reality is that there is going to be some discussion of territory. And there’s going to be discussion of security guarantees. Those are just fundamental basics that will undergird and underlie any type of discussion.”
During their remarks, Rubio and Waltz both reiterated numerous times that a possible end to the war in Ukraine could not have been possible without President Donald Trump.
“President Trump is determined to move very quickly,” Waltz said, pointing to the recent phone call between Trump and Putin. “And we expect to continue to drive that pace.”
Asked what types of concessions could be made, Rubio declined to offer any.
“We’re not going to pre-negotiate an end to this conflict,” Rubio said. “These are the kinds of things that have to happen through hard and difficult diplomacy and closed rooms over a period of time.”
Цитата:
Итоги переговоров в Эр-Рияде: главные заявления США и России.
Россия и США провели в Эр Рияде первые официальные переговоры с начала полномасштабной войны в Украине. Обе стороны дали позитивные оценки итогам разговора и договорились вести диалог дальше.
Главные заявления.
1. Глава МИД России Лавров заявил, что стороны соглсовали, как будет идти процесс по урегулированию российско-украинской войны. И, как только будет известен представитель США по переговорам, будет назначен аналогичный представитель РФ. Другие его заявления:
⁃ американцы стали "лучше понимать позицию" РФ. Россия и США на переговорах занимались налаживанием отношений и "довольно небезуспешно".
⁃ россияне и американцы договорились назначить послов и восстанавливать сотрудничество в разных сферах.
⁃ на переговорах опровергли «план Келлога» по территориальным уступкам со стороны России (Келлог озвучивал такие мысли на Мюнхенской конференции. Сегодня его на переговорах не было).
⁃ Россия против ввода миротворцев в Украину из стран НАТО, включая европейских, в любом формате.
О том, что переговоры прошли «неплохо» и включали «серьезный разговор по всем вопросам» сказал и помощник Путина Ушаков. Также, по его словам:
⁃ достигнута договоренность о продвижении двусторонних отношений и уважении интересов друг друга, но сближение позиций пока в процессе.
⁃ отдельные команды переговорщиков России и США начнут контакты по Украине в свое время, решение о начале таких переговоров примет Путин.
⁃ возможность встречи Путина и Трампа на следующей неделе остается неопределенной.
Еще один российский представитель Кирилл Дмитриев заявил, что переговоры были «позитивными». Обсуждалось, что «две великие страны не могут не общаться друг с другом».
2. В США также говорят, что довольны переговорами, их результат оказался «лучшим, чем можно было представить», как сказал спецпосланник Трампа Уиткофф.
Госсекретарь Рубио заявил, что «Западу придется отменять санкции против России в случае урегулирования украинского конфликта». Также, по его словам:
⁃ создается механизм консультаций для устранения «раздражителей» в отношениях РФ и США, назначаются команды для работы по Украине.
⁃ достигнута договоренность о восстановлении прежней численности сотрудников посольств в Москве и Вашингтоне
⁃ достигнуты договоренности о сотрудничестве по «геополитическим интересам» и «экономическим возможностям» после завершения войны.
⁃ все стороны должны пойти на уступки для окончания войны, ЕС тоже должен участвовать в переговорах по урегулированию в Украине, поскольку он вводил санкции против России. Также американцы «активно консультируются» с западными союзниками по Украине (это подтвердил и помощник Трампа Уолтц, который сказал, что «никто не останется в стороне»)
⁃ дальнейшие переговоры затронут вопросы территорий и гарантий безопасности.
⁃ США стремятся к «окончательному, а не временному решению» по завершению войны, Трамп хочет закончить войну «справедливо» и избежать ее повторения.
Цитата:
«Россия и США начали слышать друг друга!»: Сергей Лавров раскрыл итоги секретных переговоров.
Tak celnego uderzenia w rosyjski biznes naftowy jeszcze nie było
Niepozorny atak na jedną tłocznię ropy naftowej w rosyjskim Kubaniu jest jednym z największych sukcesów w dronowej ofensywie Ukrainy. Oznacza poważne szkody dla paliwowego biznesu Moskwy. W wyniku tego ataku ucierpiały również interesy firm z Kazachstanu i USA.
•
Uderzenie w biznes paliwowy Rosji ma strategiczne znaczenie dla naszego wschodniego sąsiada.
• Rosja nie może być pewna, że bezkarnie będzie mogła eksportować ropę naftową.
• O bezpieczeństwie energetycznym regionu będziemy rozmawiali podczas nadchodzącego Europejskiego Kongresu Gospodarczego (23-25 kwietnia 2025 r.).
W styczniu ubiegłego roku Ukraina rozpoczęła ofensywę, której celem stały się rosyjskie instalacje naftowe. Analitycy szacują, że w wyniku ataków bezzałogowców ucierpiała w różnym stopniu ponad połowa spośród 30 największych rosyjskich rafinerii.
Straty większe niż sądzono. Naprawa potrwa minimum 7 tygodni
Nowymi celami ataków są obecnie rosyjskie ropociągi i instalacje przeładunkowe, jak chociażby ten na port w Ust Łudze. W poniedziałek celem ataku była tłocznia Kropotkinskaja. Jak się okazało, skutki uderzenia siedmiu dronów są bardzo dotkliwe, a poszkodowani są nie tylko Rosjanie.
Początkowo
Rosjanie nie przyznawali się, że atak był skuteczny.
Informowali tylko o licznych zestrzelonych dronach. Jednak teraz zmuszeni byli poinformować o problemach korzystające z tłoczni firmy, bo obiekt został wyłączony na minimum 1,5 miesiąca (a jest mowa nawet o 2 miesiącach), a straty z tego tytułu będą kolosalne.
Co takiego dokładnie się wydarzyło? Kropotkinskaja to położona w Kubaniu największa tłocznia na systemie przesyłowym KTK (z rosyjskiego Konsorcjum Rurociągów Kaspijskich). Pod tą nazwą kryje się system przesyłowy ropy z bajecznie bogatego złoża Tengiz w kazachskiej części Morza Kaspijskiego do portu Noworosyjsk. Z ropociągu w mniejszym stopniu korzystają również rosyjskie firmy.
Początkowo Rosjanie twierdzili, że atak był nieudany. Jednak po tym, jak zostali zmuszeni do ograniczenia przesyłu ropy, prawda wyszła na jaw.
Ostatecznie udziałowiec KTK, rosyjska spółka odpowiedzialna za przesył ropy naftowej Transnieft przyznała się, że straty są bardzo poważne.
- W wyniku ataku obiekt (stacja pomp - przyp. aut.) doznał poważnych uszkodzeń: zniszczony został dach, uszkodzeniu uległy rozdzielnia i blok turbiny gazowej. Uszkodzone zostały również kable zbiornik na wodę, zniszczone zostały dwa transformatory, filtry i system gaszenia pożaru - wymienia Transnieft.
Spółka oszacowała
czas potrzebny na naprawę od 7 do 10 tygodni
. Tyle, że może to być trudne. Najpoważniejszą stratą wydaje się być uszkodzenie turbiny. Naprawa tego typu urządzeń jest bardzo czasochłonna. Tymczasem Rosjanie mają problem z częściami zamiennymi. W przypadku problemów z ich dostępnością naprawa może się znacznie przeciągnąć w czasie.
Ropociąg działa z ograniczonym przesyłem. Ucierpią Amerykanie i Kazachowie
Pomimo ataku KTK nadal jednak działa. Tutaj trzeba wyjaśnić, że nie został zniszczony sam rurociąg, ale tłocznia. W praktyce więc Rosjanie nie korzystają z uszkodzonego punktu. Jednak ma to swoją cenę, którą jest znaczne zmniejszenie zdolności przesyłowych systemu.
- Transport ropy naftowej głównym rurociągiem naftowym Tengiz-Noworosyjsk jest obecnie tymczasowo realizowany w trybie awaryjnym, z pominięciem stacji pomp Kropotkinskaja - informuje Transnieft.
Jednak tego, jak bardzo zostały ograniczone zdolności przesyłowe KTK, Moskwa nie podaje.
W 2024 r. wolumen transportu za pośrednictwem systemu wyniósł 63 mln ton ropy naftowej, z czego około 74 proc. przypada na zachodnie firmy, mające udział w kazachskim złożu Tengiz. W ubiegłym roku sama firma naftowa Chevron przepompowała 26,8 mln ton ropy przez system rurociągów KTK, co stanowi około 20 proc. całkowitej światowej produkcji tej amerykańskiej korporacji.
Już teraz Rosjanie twierdzą, że z powodu ataku
produkcja ropy w Kazachstanie będzie musiała na czas remontu być zmniejszona o 30 proc.
Rosyjska propaganda próbuje zrzucić winę za atak na stronę ukraińską. Moskwa twierdzi, że to był zamach terrorystyczny, bo obiekt był cywilny i znajdował się poza strefą walk.
Słowami Kremla nie przejmuje się Kijów. Atak został uznany za bardzo udany. Jego efektem jest zmniejszenie dopływu gotówki do Rosji i kolejne problemy z eksportem ropy. A to właśnie ona w znacznej mierzy umożliwia agresorowi wojnę z Ukrainą.
Mario Draghi's Urgent Call: Can Europe Rise to the Challenge? 🇪🇺⚡
Цитата:
Europe split over Starmer pledge to send troops to Ukraine
The division became clear as European leaders attended an emergency summit on Ukraine in Paris, where allies scrambled for a strategy in response to Donald Trump’s push for a deal with Putin
A split has emerged among European nations over whether to match Sir Keir Starmer’s pledge to send UK troops to Ukraine, as allies thrash out a response to US president Donald Trump’s push for a deal with Vladimir Putin.
Divisions became clear as leaders attended an emergency summit in Paris amid fears Washington will cut its transatlantic defence commitments.
The emergency summit was called after Mr Trump announced his plan to sideline Europe by holding Ukraine peace talks directly with Mr Putin.
Sir Keir said he would be willing to contribute to security guarantees by “putting our own troops on the ground if necessary”, echoing similar statements by France’s Emmanuel Macron.
He later called for the US to provide a “backstop” to deter Russia from attacking Ukraine again if the UK were to put troops on the ground.
“Europe must play its role, and I’m prepared to consider committing British forces on the ground alongside others if there is a lasting peace agreement.
“But there must be a US backstop, because a US security guarantee is the only way to effectively deter Russia from attacking Ukraine again”, he told reporters after the meeting in Paris.
But several other EU nations declined to follow Britain’s lead, with Poland ruling out such a move.
“Poland will support Ukraine as it has done so far: organisationally, in accordance with our financial capabilities, in terms of humanitarian and military aid,” prime minister Donald Tusk told reporters before boarding a plane to Paris.
“We do not plan to send Polish soldiers to the territory of Ukraine. We will ... give logistical and political support to the countries that will possibly want to provide such guarantees in the future, such physical guarantees.”
Meanwhile, Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain, indicated they were undecided on the issue and would need further assurances before committing troops.
Germany’s Olaf Scholz said future questions on security architecture would be addressed in due course, stressing that if a clear framework for putting boots on the ground was laid out, Germany would “not shy away” from doing so.
The division comes ahead of a crunch meeting in Riyadh between Russia and the US on Tuesday, with secretary of state Marco Rubio leading an American delegation that will seek an end to the fighting.
Ukraine has not been invited to the talks and will not accept the outcome if Kyiv is not involved, Volodymyr Zelensky said. He will travel to Saudi Arabia this week, but his visit is unrelated to the talks.
While the White House has not disclosed who exactly American officials will be meeting, Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov flew in on Monday on behalf of Putin.
Sir Keir, who is due to visit the US later this month, said any settlement would need to be a “lasting peace deal, not just a pause for Putin to come again”. He also said the “generational challenge” being faced by the West requires the UK and Europe to “step up capability”, echoing Mr Trump’s demands for European allies to spend more on defence.
But the exclusion of Ukraine from talks has put the UK on a collision course with the Republican administration, with Sir Keir repeatedly warning that there can be “no talks about Ukraine without Ukraine”.
In a post on social media site X after the Paris gathering, the prime minister said: “If there is a peace deal, and everybody wants a peace deal, then it’s got to be a lasting peace deal, not just a pause for Putin to come again.
“So that needs to be discussed. There’s also a wider peace here, which is the collective security and defence of Europe. And here I think we’ve got a generational challenge. We’ve all got to step up in terms of capability and what we do as Europeans, and that’s certainly the case, the message, the argument that I’ll be making.”
Former army chief Lord Richard Dannatt said Sir Keir was doing the “right thing” by backing a peacekeeping force in Ukraine, but warned it would come at a “considerable cost”.
He told the BBC that Britain does not have the forces or equipment “to put a large force on to the ground for an extended period of time”.
It comes amid warnings from the US that Europe must spend more on defence, with US defence secretary Pete Hegseth saying spending should reach 5 per cent of GDP.
The UK currently spends 2.3 per cent, and Labour has pledged to increase it to 2.5 per cent, but has not set out how or when this target will be reached. The last time the UK defence spending topped 5 per cent was in the 1980s during the Cold War.
Earlier on Monday, Downing Street did not rule out the prospect of a vote on the matter of a peacekeeping role for UK troops in Ukraine.
Asked about the prospect of a vote, the prime minister’s official spokesman said: “There has more broadly been cross-party support for the UK’s backing of Ukraine since the conflict first began. We’ve always been very clear that we are going to play our role in future security guarantees.
“But we’re not going to get ahead of decisions on that, and obviously parliament will continue to be updated and consulted as appropriate.”
Цитата:
UK defence secretary John Healey unveils ‘biggest defence shake up in 50 years’ to make UK war ready
John Healey announced plans for a more ‘muscular defence for a more dangerous world’
UK defence secretary John Healey has unveiled plans for the “biggest defence shake up in 50 years” to make sure the UK is war ready.
Giving a speech to the Institute for Government (IfG) on Tuesday, Mr Healey announced a new command structure in the Ministry of Defence (MoD), as well as bringing an end to major defence reforms unveiled under the Conservatives.
The structural changes, which will include streamlining budgets, will ensure the department is "more concentrated on war-fighting readiness and on deterrence”, Mr Healey said.
The reforms “represent the biggest shake up of UK defence for over 50 years”, the defence secretary said, arguing they will help cut waste and reduce duplication, as well as ensuring that Britain is “buying better what our front line forces need”.
The announcement comes amid growing fears over European security after President Donald Trump announced his plan to
sideline the continent by holding Ukraine peace talks directly with Mr Putin, amid wider pressure on the continent to step up its defence capabilities.
John Healey addressed the IfG on Tuesday (EPA)
Speaking on Tuesday, Mr Healey said that investment in defence will be matched by reform of the sector, announcing plans for four senior leadership roles in the department to act as “clear points of accountability at every level within UK defence”.
A new national armaments director will also be responsible for a £20bn budget to “build and sustain our national arsenal, because at this time, we must rearm Britain”. That person will also be responsible for the UK’s defence industrial strategy to create more defence jobs and apprenticeships.
He also announced an end to the Levene Reforms, introduced by the Tories in 2012, arguing they “produced too much duplication, too much waste”.
Lord Levene’s 2011 Defence Reform report made 53 recommendations on how to transform the MoD into a leaner and more effective organisation that could better support the needs of the Armed Forces. But Mr Healey said “many recent failings” in the department can be traced back to the reforms.
“They produced too much duplication, too much waste. A system where only two out of 49 major defence projects are now on time and on budget”, he said.
Instead, Mr Healey announced the MoD will reduce the number of budget holders to four from 10, and will introduce three new “centrally determined financial budgets” – readiness, operations and investment.
“This is a government whose commitment to defence is unshakable. It's the foundation for our plan for change, for the delivery of our government's missions. We will match sustained investment with serious reform. It will mean growing the economy. It will mean a more muscular defence for a more dangerous world”, he said.
The plans comes amid growing pressure on European allies, including Britain, to spend more on defence following the election of President Trump in the US.
While the government has pledged to increase defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP, there are concerns from both military figures and the new US administration that it won’t be enough.
Ministers are preparing to publish a review of Britain’s defence capabilities, including setting out a pathway to defence spending hitting the 2.5 per cent target.
A crunch meeting is being held in Riyadh on Tuesday between Russia and the US, with secretary of state Marco Rubio leading an American delegation that will seek an end to the fighting in Ukraine.
Sir Keir Starmer has indicated he would provide British troops to a peacekeeping force, but also called for a US ‘backstop’ to guarantee Ukraine’s security (Omar Havana/PA) (PA Wire)
Ukraine has not been invited to the talks and will not accept the outcome if Kyiv is not involved, Volodymyr Zelensky said. He will travel to Saudi Arabia this week, but his visit is unrelated to the talks.
Sir Keir, who is due to visit the US later this month, said any settlement would need to be a “lasting peace deal, not just a pause for Putin to come again”.
He said his
proposal to put peacekeeping troops in Ukraine would require a US “backstop”
to deter
Russia
from attacking
Ukraine
again after
meeting with European leaders for emergency talks on the war.
“Europe must play its role, and I’m prepared to consider committing British forces on the ground alongside others if there is a lasting peace agreement”, the PM told reporters after the Paris meeting.
“But there must be a US backstop, because a US security guarantee is the only way to effectively deter Russia from attacking Ukraine again.”
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С интересом и понятными ожиданиями, Dimitriy.
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Владимир Нерюев, заместитель генерального директора коммуникационного агентства Аура поделился мнением, какие изменения произошли или произойдут в профессии PR-специалиста.
Генеральный директор агентства мобильного маркетинга Mobisharks (входит в ГК Kokoc Group) — об эффективном мобильном маркетинге и примерах успешных стратегий.
За последние пару лет реклама банков изменилась. Появились новые сюжеты и герои. Реклама по-прежнему — не только инструмент продвижения услуг, но и способ формирования доверия к финансовым организациям. Главный тренд, который отмечают эксперты,— переход от сухого перечисления выгод к эмоционально окрашенным коммуникациям.
Антитрендами наружной рекламы в текущем году стали прямолинейность и чрезмерная перегруженность сообщений. Наружная реклама продолжает показывать рост: число рекламных конструкций за последний год увеличилось более чем на 2 тысячи.
В компании Sellty спрогнозировали развитие рынка электронной коммерции в сегменте СМБ на ближайший год. По оценке основателя Sellty Марии Бар-Бирюковой, число собственных интернет-магазинов среднего, малого и микробизнеса продолжит расти и увеличится минимум на 40% до конца 2025 года. Компании будут и дальше развиваться на маркетплейсах, но станут чаще комбинировать несколько каналов продаж.
Чего не хватает радио, чтобы увеличить свою долю на рекламном рынке? Аудиопиратство: угроза или возможности для отрасли? Каковы первые результаты общероссийской кампании по продвижению индустриального радиоплеера? Эти и другие вопросы были рассмотрены на конференции «Радио в глобальной медиаконкуренции», спикерами и участниками которой стали эксперты ГПМ Радио.
Деловая программа 28-й международной специализированной выставки технологий и услуг для производителей и заказчиков рекламы «Реклама-2021» открылась десятым юбилейным форумом «Матрица рекламы». Его организовали КВК «Империя» и «Экспоцентр».
28 марта в Центральном доме художника состоялась 25-ая выставка маркетинговых коммуникаций «Дизайн и реклама NEXT». Одним из самых ярких её событий стал День социальной рекламы, который организовала Ассоциация директоров по коммуникациям и корпоративным медиа России (АКМР) совместно с АНО «Лаборатория социальной рекламы» и оргкомитетом LIME.
На VII Международном форуме «Матрица рекламы», прошедшем в ЦВК «Экспоцентр» в рамках международной выставки «Реклама-2018», большой интерес у профессиональной аудитории вызвала VI Конференция «Интернет-реклама».
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