Summary
Here’s a wrap-up of the day’s key events:
French president Emmanuel Macron is set to visit the White House on Monday, according to the White House, Reuters reports. Meanwhile, UK prime minister Keir Starmer will visit the White House on Thursday.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with US envoy Keith Kellogg after Donald Trump called Zelenskyy a dictator and warned him to “better move fast” or he “won’t have a country left.” On Thursday, Zelenskyy took to X to describe his meeting with Kellog, Trump’s envoy to Ukraine. “I had a productive meeting with @SPE_Kellogg — a good discussion, many important details. I am grateful to the United States for all the assistance and bipartisan support for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.”
Over in Greece prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has highlighted the need for Europe to augment its defence capabilities earlier telling Bloomberg TV: “This is really the time when we need to move more from words to actions.” The centre right leader, who has long advocated that the continent spend more on defence, said increased budget flexibility was required to allow EU member states to allocate funds to the sector.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has posted about his phone call with Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen. In a social media post, he said the pair “discussed European affairs together,” and compared their notes from recent talks with other global leaders.
Former Finnish prime minister Sanna Marin has warned that Vladimir Putin’s Russia would not stop at Ukraine if it is allowed to continue its aggression and could attack other neighbours and eventually Nato allies. Speaking at the event in London, she warned that “the world seems very dangerous place” now as she called for further support for Ukraine.
JD Vance claimed without offering further evidence or information on the progress of talks with Russia, that thanks to the US administration “we are on the cusp of peace in Europe,” as stated that US president Donald Trump was determined to “bring peace to this endless war.” I think with president Trump, what makes him such an effective negotiator and I have seen this in private, is that he does not take anything off the table. … Everything is on the table. And of course that makes the heads explode in America because they say, ‘Why are you talking to Russia?’”
Meanwhile, UK and Norwegian defence ministers said today the two countries were working on a new security pact that would cover development of defence capabilities, closer cooperation in the High North, and more exercises and joint training missions. Britain and Norway said in their statements that the pact would also cover closer intelligence cooperation.
Nato secretary general Mark Rutte is speaking in Bratislava after meeting with the Slovak president Peter Pellegrini. He says that Slovakia hosts one of the alliance’s multi-national groups, which he calls “very impressive.”
The US administration could adjust its sanctions against Russia in response to potential peace talks on Ukraine, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Bloomberg. Bessent also joined the growing chorus of US voices criticising Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy for his criticism of Donald Trump, saying that “he unfortunately escalated” and “put some daylight” between Ukraine and US, and calling his remarks “inappropriate.”
From claiming Ukraine was responsible for the war to incorrect numbers about aid received from the US and Europe, Donald Trump made a number of inaccurate statements while praising the progress made in US-Russia talks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The Guardian has had a look at his claims:
