Closing summary
… and on that note, it’s a wrap for today!
Top European officials met in the Netherlands to set up an international body to decide on tens of billions of euros of eventual reparations to compensate Ukraine over Russia’s invasion (10:39).
34 European leaers have signed a convention to formally create the International Claims Commission for Ukraine at a ceremony attended by the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy (12:23, 12:50, 12:59).
He earlier told the Dutch parliament that “every detail matters” in peace talks with US and Russia, as nothing in the proposed peace deal should be allowed to “become a reward for Russia’s aggression” (11:03, 11:08, 11:10, 11:14, 11:16, 11:21)
Meanwhile, Russia said it has not yet seen the latest proposals to come out from last night’s Berlin talks (10:47), as it played down the prospect of a Christmas ceasefire saying it was not interested in temporary solutions (12:02).
Separately,
Leaders of the eight “eastern flank” countries – that’s the Nordics, the Baltics, Bulgaria, Poland and Romania – have warned that Russia “remains threat today, tomorrow, and for foreseeable future,” as they met in Helsinki for talks on security and defence (14:27, 14:48, 14:55, 16:55).
French farmers are driving opposition to a massive transatlantic trade deal between five South American nations of the Mercosur bloc and the 27-nation European Union that officials say will likely lead to its delay, as they built makeshift barricades and blocked roads in protest (16:46).
The EU has confirmed it will water down its landmark 2035 ban on the sale of new petrol or diesel cars, yielding to heavy pressure from the car industry and leaders from several EU member states including Germany and Italy (15:51).
And that’s all from me, Jakub Krupa, for today.
If you have any tips, comments or suggestions, email me at [email protected].
I am also on Bluesky at @jakubkrupa.bsky.social and on X at @jakubkrupa.
Poland hails progress made by 'eastern flank' leaders on defence measures
Poland’s prime minister Donald Tusk hailed the work of the eight leaders of Europe’s so-called “eastern flank” (14:27) on strengthening their defences against the threat from Russia, telling reporters that “billions” will be invested in border and defence measures.
Speaking to reporters on his way back from Helsinki, Tusk said
“We are currently working … on this wall protecting against drones, and we are talking about billions in expenditure here,” Tusk said.
He said that broader plans to strengthen the border including “drones and shelters … but also civil defence activities” will see “nearly 10 billions” in expenditure, including various European funds.
“From the Polish point of view, the fact that the whole of Europe is financing the protection of the Polish border, because it is a European border, is absolutely crucial,” he said.
Poland in recent months repeatedly complained about Russia’s increasingly provocative behaviour, including the incursion of over 20 Russian drones into Polish airspace in September and last month’s rail sabotage incident.
