Putin says US-Russian contacts give ‘hope’ as talks on restoring diplomatic ties continue
Earlier today, Russian and US diplomats met in Istanbul, Turkey to discuss the normalisation of relations between the two countries and plans to restore diplomatic presence.
The meeting came on the back of last week’s US-Russia talks in Riyadh, where top diplomats agreed to restart diplomatic ties as part of a broader effort to improve bilateral relations.
Russian president Vladimir Putin has been speaking in the last half hour on this, telling the FSB security service on Thursday that initial contacts with the administration of US president Donald Trump gave grounds for hope, Reuters reported.
He also reportedly insisted that Russia and the US are ready to set up cooperation, and show pragmatism, despite his claims that “some western elites will try to undermine our dialogue.”
Key events
Starmer’s ‘biggest diplomatic test’ ahead as he meets Trump to talk Ukraine, Nato, and European security
British prime minister Keir Starmer is in Washington today, where he is due to meet with US president Donald Trump.
He is expected to arrive at the White House around 6pm CET (5pm GMT), with a press conference to follow (if it doesn’t get cancelled…) two hours later.
Our political editor Pippa Crerar looked at why Starmer’s meeting with Trump will be his biggest diplomatic test to date.
Ireland’s Martin praises ‘warm’ meeting with Zelenskyy
Irish taoiseach Micheál Martin has praised a “warm and substantial” meeting with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Shannon.
In a social media post, he said he “I reiterated Ireland’s steadfast support and readiness to offer humanitarian and financial support.”
“We discussed how, together with the EU, we can advance a just, sustainable and durable peace in Ukraine,” he added.
In a short clip from the pair’s meeting, Zelenskyy can be heard saying he was “happy to have this opportunity to speak,” and thanking the Irish people for their support for Ukraine.
Romanian court lifts seizure on some of Tate’s assets
A Romanian court ruled in favour of an appeal from misogynist influencer Andrew Tate and his brother and lifted a precautionary seizure on multiple assets, his representative said on Thursday, as reported by Reuters.
“This decision restores ownership of properties, vehicles, bank accounts, and company shares to the rightful owners, Andrew and (his brother) Tristan Tate and their companies,” the representative said, adding some assets still remain under precautionary seizure.
New Austrian government – analysis
Jon Henley
Europe correspondent
Five months after the far-right Freedom party (FPÖ) finished first in parliamentary elections, Austria’s three leading centrist parties have reached agreement to form a new government without it.
The agreement ends months of uncertainty after the FPÖ’s historic election victory, when it gained almost 29% of the vote. After the mainstream parties’ unsuccessful effort, the ÖVP entered talks with the FPÖ, which also broke down this month.
With the country without a government for the longest stretch in its modern history, president Alexander Van der Bellen had called on all three party leaders to reach a deal as quickly as possible. Ministerial roles are expected to be announced on Friday.
Ukraine’s Zelenskyy meets with Ireland’s Martin at Shannon Airport
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy is now in Ireland, where he is meeting with Irish taoiseach Micheál Martin at the Shannon Airport, Ireland’s RTÉ says.
The meeting takes place as Zelenskyy is en route to the US, where he is due to meet with US president Donald Trump on Friday.
Last night, Martin told Irish businesses that:
We will join with others in providing new assistance to the people of Ukraine as they continue to seek the future of peace, prosperity, democracy and sovereignty which is their fundamental right.
And in this, the sustained support of the Irish people for Ukraine has been essential in helping me and my government to play an active role on this.
We will bring you pictures from their meeting when we have them.
Putin says US-Russian contacts give ‘hope’ as talks on restoring diplomatic ties continue
Earlier today, Russian and US diplomats met in Istanbul, Turkey to discuss the normalisation of relations between the two countries and plans to restore diplomatic presence.
The meeting came on the back of last week’s US-Russia talks in Riyadh, where top diplomats agreed to restart diplomatic ties as part of a broader effort to improve bilateral relations.
Russian president Vladimir Putin has been speaking in the last half hour on this, telling the FSB security service on Thursday that initial contacts with the administration of US president Donald Trump gave grounds for hope, Reuters reported.
He also reportedly insisted that Russia and the US are ready to set up cooperation, and show pragmatism, despite his claims that “some western elites will try to undermine our dialogue.”
Former Polish PM charged over failed 2020 postal election plan
Poland’s former prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki has been charged with misconduct and negligence over the organisation of a presidential postal ballot that did not happen, prosecutors said Thursday.
AFP reported that the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) government led by Morawiecki pressed ahead with a controversial postal ballot to be held in May 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic, only to later abandon the idea for legal reasons.
Mired in chaos, the ballot was ultimately postponed by over a month and a new hybrid system of postal and conventional voting was put in place.
AFP noted that Poland’s Supreme Audit Office (NIK) in 2021 accused Morawiecki and three ministers of violating the law over the postal vote plan.
On Thursday, legal charges were pressed against Morawiecki over “exceeding his powers and failing to fulfil his official duties”, prosecutor Piotr Skiba told reporters.
Morawiecki has denied any wrongdoing.
The NIK estimated that the preparations of the abandoned postal vote cost the state around 76.5 million złoty (18 million euros).
Over 4,500 alleged human rights breaches during Russian invasion of Ukraine, Council of Europe says
Lisa O’Carroll
in Dublin
The scale of alleged Russian criminal and civil offences in Ukraine has been laid bare by the Council of Europe which has revealed it has already received 4,500 applications for legal cases on breaches of human rights.
A further 13,000 claims for damage and destruction to buildings in Ukraine have been recorded, Bjørn Berge, deputy secretary general, has told a conference in Dublin on the role of the Council of Europe in the pursuit of peace, justice and accountability in Ukraine.
“We need to ensure accountability and seek ways to eliminate impunity,” he said.
He also revealed that significant progress has been made to establish a tribunal for the crime of aggression with legal experts from more than 40 countries working with Ukrainian authorities, the European Commission and European External Action Service and the Council of Europe close to an agreement.
“After 13 meetings, the legal foundations are now agreed; this happened at the meeting in Brussels earlier this month. The main focus is now to set up such a special tribunal through a treaty between Ukraine and the Council of Europe,” he said.
EU condemns China’s support for Russia in its invasion of Ukraine
The European Commission “strongly condemns third countries’ continued support for Russia’s war of aggression” against Ukraine and “urges them to seize all assistance,” a commission spokesperson said.
Anouar El Anouni was asked more specifically about China and said it was “the largest provider of dual use goods and sensitive items that … sustain Russia’s military industrial base.”
We are seriously concerned about reports of Chinese companies providing components for attack drones used by Russia on the battlefield, or even fully assembled attack drones.
Without China’s support, Russia wouldn’t be able to continue its war of aggression against Ukraine with the same force.
It’s midday in Brussels so it’s time for my favourite guilty pleasure of watching EU spokespeople navigate difficult and random questions, and today they were faced with a question on Trump’s comments about the bloc “screwing the US” as he floated potential 25% tariffs on the EU.
The commission’s Olof Gill was asked by Euractiv’s Nicholas Wallace the following question: “Would you say that the European Union has done a very good job or a very bad job of screwing the United States?”.
It’s fair to say he wasn’t too impressed.
It’s sometimes difficult to believe that we have to offer responses to this type of stuff, but as you’ve asked…
We believe that the European Union, since its foundation has been a boon for the United States.
Why do I say that? By creating a large and integrated single market, the EU has facilitated trade, reduced costs for EU exporters, and harmonised standards and regulations across all our member states.
As a result, US investments in Europe are highly profitable American companies have been able to invest and generate substantial revenues precisely because the EU is a large unified market that is good for business. This is also one of the key reasons why transatlantic trade amounts to over 1.5 tn euro annually, making it the largest bilateral trade and investment relationship in the world.
The European Union believes we should work together to preserve these opportunities for our people and businesses on both sides of the Atlantic, instead of working against each other. We stand for dialogue, openness and reciprocity. We are ready to partner with you, provided you play by the rules.
More broadly, the commission refused to offer any detailed commentary on Trump’s statements, just saying that:
We are ready to engage with our US counterparts, and we are doing so.
But of course, if necessary, we will defend our interest one of European companies and European citizens.
Danish retailer to help consumers who want to buy European
Denmark’s largest retailer Salling Group will add a black star on electronic labels to help consumers who want to choose European products, in a sign of growing trade tensions with the US under Donald Trump and other countries.
Anders Hagh, Salling Group’s CEO, said in a LinkedIn post that the company “recently received a number of inquiries from customers who want to shop for groceries from European brands.”
From March, electronic price tags in Bilka, føtex and Netto chains will see a small black star next to products owned by a European company.
Hagh said the company will still “continue to have brands on the shelves from all over the world, and it will always be up to the customers to choose,” but the new feature will help those who want to pick European brands.
EU’s von der Leyen to travel to London on Sunday for Ukraine security summit
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen will travel to London this Sunday to take part in an informal meeting on Ukraine and European security, a spokesperson for the European Commission has just confirmed.
This comes after comments by Polish president Donald Tusk earlier this week, who first revealed the plans for this London summit.
Aggression must not go unpunished, Ukrainian diplomat in Ireland says ahead of Zelenskyy’s visit
Lisa O’Carroll
in Dublin
Dmytro Shchedrin, deputy Ukrainian ambassador to Ireland, has said it is a “moral imperative the crime of aggression must not go unpunished”.
He was speaking just moments after it was announced that Volodymyr Zelenskyy was on his way to the US stopping over at Ireland’s Shannon airport for a meeting with the taoiseach Micheál Martin (11:23).
“The latest developments in the world are resulting in a fragmentation of different international partnerships. The unity of international community is essential to ensuring that peace and justice ultimately prevail,” he said.
He said “one of the most pressing priorities” after a potential ceasefire or peace deal was the establishment of a “special tribunal for the crime of aggression”
European justice institutions have already set up a process to collect evidence of crimes of war and aggression including sexual violence, kidnapping of children and displacement of civilians.
