Closing summary
… and on that note, it’s a wrap from me, Jakub Krupa, for today.
Thousands of Catholic faithful lined up to pay their final tributes to Pope Francis, as his coffin was moved to lie in state in St Peter’s Basilica after a ceremony this morning (8:23, 8:49, 9:03, 9:24, 9:28, 9:36).
The coffin with his body will lie in state until Friday evening, the night before the funeral (10:47, 12:54).
Our Rome correspondent Angela Giuffrida noted the unexpected decision to keep the coffin open during the procession (10:14), as she described how it was an “emotional experience” to see him for the final time – and spoke about the simplicity of his coffin (13:27).
Elsewhere in Europe,
Ukraine is ready to negotiate but not to surrender, Ukraine’s deputy prime minister Yuliia Svyrydenko said as details emerged in media reports of a US proposal for a deal which would see Ukraine give up almost all territory currently occupied by Russia (16:29).
The deal was described by our defence and security editor Dan Sabbagh as “Russia … willing to trade territory it does not control in Ukraine – in effect fresh air – for a US recognition of its 2014 seizure of Crimea, in other words a formal acknowledgment that it is possible to change borders by force, in effect creating an extraordinary precedent” (Ukraine blog).
Apple and Meta have been fined €500m and €200m respectively for breaching the EU’s flagship digital regulation, the Digital Markets Act (12:02). The bloc’s officials insisted the enforcement decision was not linked to on-going stand-off in relations with the US (12:21).
EU trade commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis warned that while the EU’s first preference is to reach a negotiated solution with the United States over trade, if discussions with the US do not lead to a solution, the EU will respond with countermeasures (16:27).
A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2 hit the Marmara Sea near the western outskirts of Istanbul (12:51), with more than 150 people hospitalised with injuries sustained while fleeing buildings.
Denmark’s King Frederik will travel to Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory, on 28 April, the Royal House confirmed (16:19).
Polish foreign minister Radosław Sikorski told Russia “you will never rule here again,” as he presented to parliament the government’s priorities in foreign policy (16:04).
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.
Updated
Ukraine ready to negotiate, not surrender, deputy prime minister says
Ukraine is ready to negotiate but not to surrender, Ukraine’s deputy prime minister Yuliia Svyrydenko said as details emerged in media reports of a US proposal for a deal which would see Ukraine give up almost all territory currently occupied by Russia.
“There will be no agreement that hands Russia the stronger foundations it needs to regroup and return with greater violence,” Svyrydenko wrote on X.
“A full ceasefire – on land, in the air, and at sea – is the necessary first step,” she said, adding that if Moscow instead opted for a limited pause, Kyiv would respond in kind.
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