Zelenskyy pushes for Ukraine’s 2027 EU accession as Europe marks 4 years of struggle – Europe reside | Ukraine

The EU’s commerce chief stated his US counterparts had instructed him Washington stands by a key commerce take care of the bloc, following an adversarial US supreme courtroom determination on president Donald Trump’s tariffs, AFP reported.

After the courtroom dominated Trump lacks authority to impose levies beneath a 1977 regulation, the US chief responded with contemporary tariffs of 10 p.c on imported items – which Trump has vowed to hike additional to fifteen p.c.

That raised advanced questions on what the brand new duties imply for the EU deal clinched final yr with Trump, which set tariffs at 15 p.c for many EU items, AFP famous.

“I’ve been in fixed contact with my counterparts, and they each reassured me they stand by the take care of the European Union,” commerce commissioner Maroš Šefčovič instructed EU lawmakers.

Britain stated that Russia’s declare that Ukraine was searching for to acquire a nuclear weapon with assist from Britain and France (10:00, 14:59) was unfounded, Reuters reported.

“That is a transparent try by Vladimir Putin to distract from his heinous actions in Ukraine,” a British authorities spokesperson stated. “There isn’t any reality on this.”

Zelenskyy pushes for Ukraine’s 2027 EU accession, however von der Leyen seems cautious on date

Jakub Krupa

There was one significantly fascinating line in that earlier press briefing with Zelenskyy, Costa and von der Leyen once they have been discussing Ukraine’s prospects for becoming a member of the European Union.

Zelenskyy pointedly stated that he hoped for 2027, a date which he stated could be “essential to us,” as he repeated his warning that “Putin can not block our membership for many years.”

However unusually, amongst in any other case very constructive tone on different tough points together with the prospect of unblocking the €90bn mortgage for Ukraine, von der Leyen appeared to push again on {that a} bit.

She praises the progress on reforms as she stated:

“In your query, is there a method for Ukraine to turn into a member of the European Union, the reply is a really clear sure, after all. They’re, Ukraine, on a great way to turn into a member of the European Union.”

However then she added:

“I perceive very properly that for you, a transparent date can be vital. The date you set is your benchmark that you just wish to match.

that from our aspect dates, by themselves, usually are not doable. However after all, the assist you can attain your aim is completely clear on our aspect.”

Unfazed, Zelenskyy reiterated that he desires Ukraine to be on a “quick monitor” for the membership to forestall Putin from blocking this path sooner or later.

One to regulate within the coming months.

Jakub Krupa

I’m again and able to take you thru another headlines.

Russia can hold preventing Ukraine struggle all through 2026, says army thinktank

Dan Sabbagh

Russia will have the ability to maintain its invasion of Ukraine all through 2026 even permitting for rising financial and manpower pressures, whereas its missile and drone risk to Europe is rising, in keeping with a number one army thinktank.

Bastian Giegerich, the director common of the Worldwide Institute for Strategic Research, stated there was “little indication” that “Russia’s means to proceed its struggle in opposition to Ukraine for a fifth yr is diminished”.

The thinktank reported that the Kremlin spent at the least $186bn (£138bn) on defence in 2025, a rise of three% in actual phrases, amounting to 7.3% of the nation’s GDP – greater than double the proportion spent by the US and about 3 times the extent of the UK.

Fenella McGerty, a defence finance skilled with the thinktank, stated that whereas Russia’s economic system was slowing, which may result in “a possible decline” in real-terms army spending in 2026, it needed to be set in opposition to a number of years of sharp progress.

Navy spending “had doubled in actual phrases since 2021”, she emphasised, permitting Russia to spend extra closely on army gear and recruitment to maintain relentless floor and air assaults in opposition to Ukraine within the speedy future.

Jakub Krupa

As I’m taking a fast break, Tom Ambrose is right here to maintain you recent.

Ukraine has dismissed as “absurd” a Russian declare that Kyiv was making an attempt to acquire nuclear weapons with the assistance of Britain and France (10:00, 14:59), Reuters reported.

“Russian officers, recognized for his or her spectacular file of lies, are as soon as once more making an attempt to manufacture the outdated ‘soiled bomb’ nonsense,” Heorhii Tykhyi, spokesperson for the Ukrainian overseas ministry, stated.

“For the file: Ukraine has already denied such absurd Russian claims many occasions earlier than, and we formally deny them once more now. We urge the worldwide neighborhood to reject and condemn Russia’s soiled data bombs.“

In the meantime, over in Geneva, dozens of principally western states rallied behind Ukraine and condemned Russian aggression on Tuesday in a UN assembly in Geneva on the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion, Reuters reported.

“What Russia has performed and is doing in Ukraine proper now could be violating each precept within the e book,” Espen Barth Eide, Norway’s overseas minister, instructed a gathering on the sidelines of the Human Rights Council attended by dozens of nations together with France, Britain, Canada, Japan and Peru. The US didn’t seem to have despatched a consultant.

“Every part the UN stands for is being violated,” he added, ending his speech with “Glory to Ukraine!”.

Earlier, a bunch of principally European diplomats walked out of a gathering of the Convention on Disarmament in Geneva throughout a speech by Russian ambassador Gennady Gatilov. They gathered outdoors, holding the Ukrainian flag and sporting sashes within the nationwide colors, Reuters famous.

The president of the UN common meeting in New York, Annalena Baerbock, stated that a movement was deliberate there expressing concern about Russia’s invasion and calling for an unconditional ceasefire and an enduring peace.

As we have been chatting with Shaun, leaders of the G7 international powers, together with US president Donald Trump, reaffirmed their “unwavering assist for Ukraine” in a press release on the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion, AFP reported.

“We categorical our continued assist for President Trump’s efforts to attain these targets by initiating a peace course of and bringing the events to direct discussions. Europe has a number one position to play on this course of, joined by different companions,” the leaders of america, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Canada and Japan stated within the assertion.

It marks the primary joint declaration by G7 leaders on Ukraine since Trump’s return to the White Home a yr in the past, famous France, which holds the G7 presidency this yr.

Jakub Krupa

And with that we wrap up in the present day’s Q&A with Shaun, however stick with us for extra information from Ukraine and throughout Europe because the continent marks the fourth anniversary of the full-scale Russian aggression.

Thanks a lot for all of your questions and contributions!

Q&A: Thanks for all of your questions

Shaun Walker

Central and japanese Europe correspondent

Thanks for all of your questions and sorry if I didn’t handle to reply yours.

I’m off again to Kyiv subsequent week.

The subsequent few months shall be a key take a look at of whether or not Donald Trump’s negotiators are in a position to pull some sort of workable deal out of the bag or whether or not Russia’s calls for nonetheless cross thus far over Ukraine’s pink traces that the struggle will grind on. Sadly, many of the sensible cash is on the latter situation.

Thanks for following the Guardian’s protection and inform us if there’s one thing you wish to see us cowl in additional depth in Ukraine.

ComradeRuss has this private query on the way forward for Zaporizhzhia:

“My accomplice fled from Zaporizhzhia together with her disabled autistic daughter when the struggle started. Her journey has been hellish and terrifying however she is protected now in Canada and we now have made a beautiful life collectively.

She is aware of the possibilities of ever visting Zaporizhzhia once more are low however I’m curious what your opinion is on the continued offensive on that entrance?

The primary metropolis of Zaporizhzhia nonetheless stands free however slowly the orcs are grinding nearer. Whereas her first language is Russian she has at all times recognized as Ukrainian and supported Ukraine, she says she by no means knew anybody in her circle of pals, co-workers, acquaintances that ever supported Russia or ever noticed themselves as something however staunch Ukrainian loyalists.

With that stated, she is dismayed on the state of negotiations that may put most of her oblast within the arms of the oppressors. Is there any likelihood that Ukraine may capitulate to US/Russian strain and quit this land for good? I may see the Donbas and even Crimea being potential areas they must hand over, however with a big p.c of Zaporizhzhia nonetheless stands free and in Ukrainian management I might hate to suppose this was an possibility.

I solely ask as a result of Zaporizhzhia doesn’t seen to garner wherever close to the extent of debate that the Donbas and Crimea do.”

Right here’s Shaun’s view:

“Thanks in your query and I’m sorry in regards to the upheaval the struggle has prompted in your accomplice and her daughter.

Zaporizhzhia is one among my favorite Ukrainian cities and I’ve written extensively from there over the previous few years, together with this story from final summer time on how folks there really feel in regards to the concept of land swaps.

Definitely, in contrast to Crimea, and to a lesser extent Donbas, the place there was some pro-Russian sentiment for Russian propaganda to work with, this was at all times a lot decrease in Zaporizhzhia and Kherson areas.

I don’t suppose Ukraine would hand over its declare to the land ‘for good’, however actually there’s a likelihood that in an eventual deal (which I don’t suppose we’re near attaining but) the traces could be “frozen” at their present level, and this might probably flip right into a de facto border for years or generations.

Both method, the town itself doesn’t appear to be in danger from occupation within the close to future.

I hope you’ll all have the possibility to go to a free and protected Zaporizhzhia a while sooner or later.”

migdom84 takes us again to the primary query on whether or not there’s a real danger of nuclear weapons getting used on this battle (14:59).

“I nonetheless have the nagging concern that russians will, ultimately, use nuclear weapons, which can drive the world into two blocks, in favour or in opposition to, and everyone knows the place that can lead. Do you imagine we’re near that time?”

Right here is Shaun’s take:

“I don’t.

Each time Putin has wheeled out nuclear rhetoric it has not led to something, and he stopped doing so for some time after he noticed that it was having little impact early within the struggle.

Alternatively, I can see why planners within the West should take critically even a 1% likelihood of the struggle going nuclear, and it’s clearly the one factor in Russia’s arsenal that forces the world to take it critically.

Do I feel Putin has gone so mad that he’d nuke a European metropolis, realizing the implications that may ensue? No.

Would I be prepared to wager that, in some hypothetical future state of affairs, together with his again in opposition to the wall and his regime threatened, he wouldn’t at the least take into account the choice? Additionally no.”