Closing summary
… and on that note, it’s a wrap for today!
Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen has announced general election on 24 March proposing wealth tax to fund schools, promising to secure the future of the commonwealth and pledging to hold Europe together (12:49, 12:58).
The move is seen as an attempt to capitalise on recent poll gains after Frederiksen succeeded in rallying European allies in defence of Greenland amid continuing interest from US president Donald Trump (13:22, 13:57).
In other news,
US and Ukrainian negotiators held another round of talks in Geneva about the proposed “prosperity deal” designed to help with the postwar reconstruction of Ukraine in case of a peace settlement with Russia (9:47, 11:20, 14:30).
Hungary’s prime minister Viktor Orbán has urged the European Union to form a “fact-finding mission” to inspect the Druzhba pipeline amid escalating tension with Ukraine (11:48).
Swedish and Nordic energy infrastructure operators were told step up their readiness in case of any possible acts of sabotage or disruption in response to a recent incident in Poland (11:37, 12:03, 14:21).
A post-Brexit treaty permitting free movement between the British enclave of Gibraltar and Spain is set to be signed next month and come into force in April (16:55).
Norway’s 89-year-old King Harald who fell ill while on holiday in Spain was expected to be discharged from hospital today (14:07).
And that’s all from me, Jakub Krupa, for today.
If you have any tips, comments or suggestions, email me at jakub.krupa@theguardian.com.
I am also on Bluesky at @jakubkrupa.bsky.social and on X at @jakubkrupa.
Hundreds of film-makers back Berlinale director in row over winners’ Gaza comments
in Berlin
Prominent directors and actors have rallied in support of the American head of the Berlin film festival in response to reports she could be sacked over comments by award-winners criticising the war in Gaza and the German government’s support for Israel.
Germany’s federal government commissioner for culture and media, Wolfram Weimer, convened a crisis meeting on Thursday on the “future direction of the Berlinale”, which is among Europe’s top three cinema showcases with Cannes and Venice.
Weimer’s office said after the talks that “discussions about the direction of the Berlinale will continue in the coming days” between the festival chief, Tricia Tuttle, and the event’s supervisory board.
The newspaper Bild had reported that Thursday’s meeting could result in the firing of Tuttle, the US director of the festival since 2024, after controversy over pro-Palestinian speeches at Saturday’s closing gala, one of which criticised Germany as “partners in the genocide”.
Bild cited sources close to Weimer as saying that the acceptance speech by the Syrian-Palestinian director Abdallah al-Khatib, who won the best first feature award for his drama Chronicles From the Siege, and a picture taken a week earlier that showed Tuttle with al-Khatib’s film team had caused particular offence.
The photograph showed several members of al-Khatib’s team wearing keffiyeh scarves and one holding a Palestinian flag.
The Berlinale director commonly takes pictures with the film crews during the festival.
Post-Brexit treaty on Gibraltar is expected to be signed next month, officials say
A post-Brexit treaty permitting free movement between the British enclave of Gibraltar and Spain is set to be signed next month and come into force in April, AFP reported.
The agreement, negotiated between Britain and the EU, seeks to remove physical barriers and checks on people and goods moving between Spain and the territory.
The deal was reached last June after years of difficult negotiations, following tensions between London and Brussels in the aftermath of the UK’s 2016 Brexit vote and subsequent departure from the European Union.
A more than 1,000-page draft copy of the agreement was published today by both the UK and the Gibraltar authorities.
The agreement still needs to be signed, ratified and implemented.
The UK expects its signing to take place next month, Stephen Doughty, a foreign office minister, told parliament.
Gibraltar’s chief minister Fabian Picardo told the territory’s local parliament that the aim was for “provisional application by 10 April”.
This would coincide with the full rollout of the EU’s new digital border-control Entry/Exit System (EES) for non-EU nationals entering or leaving the Schengen Area.
UK denies 'absurd' criticism for new rules on dual nationals that risk leaving people stranded
Meanwhile, the new UK rules for dual nationals – including thousands of Europeans who hold dual EU-UK citizenships – continue to cause additional stress and disruptions to people’s travel plans.
Under the rules, dual nationals risk being denied boarding if they do not present a British passport, current or expired, or a “certificate of entitlement”, costing £589, attached to the passport of their second nationality, to prove their right to enter the UK.
My colleague Lisa O’Carroll reported on several stories of people affected by the little-known change.
In her latest story, Lisa reports on a case involving a British man and a Danish woman who fear they will be separated from their young children in Copenhagen airport because of new border control rules on British dual nationals.
James Scrivens and his wife, Sara, who live in Wales, were visiting relatives in Norway and Denmark during the school holidays, and learned about the new Home Office rules only while they were abroad.
During an urgent question in which the Guardian was praised for bringing the plight of some dual nationals to light, the migration minister Mike Tapp dismissed as “absurd” claims that the government had failed to properly communicate the new rules.
Updated
Czech Republic 'certainly not' on path to reach higher defence spending in line with Nato targets, PM Babiš says
The Czech Republic is “certainly not” setting a path to reach higher defence spending levels despite rising Nato targets, prime minister Andrej Babiš said, marking a clear departure from the previous government’s policy, as reported by Reuters.
Babiš’s government, led by his populist ANO party, took power in December and is pushing a re-worked 2026 budget plan through parliament. It has faced some criticism over lower defence spending, however.
The prime minister said before last year’s election that a Nato agreement to gradually raise defence spending to 5% of gross domestic product was unrealistic.
Now asked in an online interview on news server Denik.cz if the government was on a path to a core defence spending target of 3.5% of GDP set in the Nato agreement, Babis said: “Certainly not.“
“Our priority is the health of our citizens, so that they live long lives,” he said.
German intelligence service must not refer to AfD as right-wing extremist, court rules
Meanwhile, we are getting a line from Berlin that the German domestic intelligence service must not refer to the Alternative for Germany (AfD) as right-wing extremist for now, according to a decision issued by an administrative court in Cologne, Reuters reported.
Here’s more on the original decision from last year:
US-Ukraine talks in Geneva get under way
Back to Geneva, the US-Ukraine talks are now under way, we are told.
“A bilateral meeting with the American delegation has begun – with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner,” Ukraine’s Rustem Umerov said on social media, adding: “We will thoroughly work through the prosperity package.”
Here’s more on the context of the talks (11:20).
Call for vigilance over Swedish, Nordic energy infrastructure routine with no 'new specific threat', officials say
Staying with the Nordic theme, we also have a bit more detail on that warning about the energy infrastructure in Sweden (12:03).
The country’s signal intelligence agency FRA said in a statement quoted by local media that it was a routine move to ask the sector to stay vigilant following last December’s cyber-attack on the Polish energy sector targeting wind and solar farms, which was attributed to Russia (Europe Live reference).
In contrast to original media reporting, it said there was “no specific threat” behind the notice.
Deputy prime minister Ebba Busch said on X that “the energy sector has long been identified as a target for threats and attacks,” but there was “currently no new, specific threat against the Swedish energy system.”
Updated
Norway's King Harald to be discharged from hospital on Thursday
In other news, Norway’s King Harald, 89, who fell ill while on holiday in Spain, will be discharged from hospital on Thursday, the royal palace said in a statement quoted by Reuters.
Europe’s oldest head of state was taken to hospital on Tuesday on the Spanish island of Tenerife, where he was on a private holiday, suffering from a skin infection on his leg as well as dehydration.
King Harald and his wife, Queen Sonja, will continue their private stay in Tenerife, and no decision has yet been made on when they will return home, the palace said.
'Strange' government runs out of track as Frederiksen hopes for new mandate for third term - snap analysis
It’s worth remembering that the now-caretaker Danish government, formed in 2022, is a fairly unusual cross-partisan coalition of three parties across the political divide – two on centre-right, and one on centre-left – which often see things differently; for example, on the issue of wealth tax.
Frederiksen herself called it a “strange” government.
The election could see a new, more aligned, coalition emerge at the end of the process.
For her part, Frederiksen signalled she would be prepared to again work in the centre of the political spectrum or get closer to partners on the left as she hopes to secure a third term as the PM. “I am not ruling anything out in advance,” she said.
But, as DR notes, this is likely to be a strange and possibly divisive campaign, now pitting recent allies against each other.
And it’s not just Frederiksen who enjoyed good momentum in recent months as the Moderates party of the foreign minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, has gone up from 3% to 8% in the latest figures.
Defence minister Troels Lund Poulsen, of the Venstre party, is tipped as another potential prime ministerial candidate.
Let’s see how the campaign unfolds. We will follow it closely.
Frederiksen's moves to capitalise on recent poll gains after rallying allies in defence of Greenland - snap analysis
Mette Frederiksen’s Social Democrats are currently polling at 22-23%, a notable climb from 18% in December.
This surge follows her administration’s defiant stance against Donald Trump’s push to control Greenland.
By successfully rallying European allies behind Copenhagen and Nuuk – even despite threats of retaliatory tariffs from the US – Frederiksen appears to have solidified her domestic standing.
With an election deadline looming later this year, calling a vote now could allow her to capitalise on this momentum – particularly if, as Miranda said (12:58), Frederiksen wants the issue of European and Danish unity to play a big part in her campaign.
A YouGov poll found a big jump in her personal approval ratings in January, gaining 10pp compared to December, which the company said had to do with “a rally-around-the-flag effect, given the recent Greenland crisis.”
Still, her net result remained marginally negative, meaning more people had a negative view of her.
There will be a number of tricky issues that are likely to heavily future in the campaign, too – and Frederiksen had faced some criticism over her domestic record in recent months.
Denmark’s Berlingske newspaper said it expected lots of attention to be given to the issues of inequality and wealth – as already indicated by Frederiksen’s words on wealth tax – but also retirement, immigration, housing policy, and regulatory red tape.
Finally, there is the issue of Greenland.
Could Donald Trump possibly dare to seek to intervene in the (very short) campaign?
Frederiksen's request for elections accepted by Danish King
Nordic correspondent
The prime minister’s office said in a statement:
“Following the Prime Minister’s recommendation, which has been accepted by His Majesty the King, it has been decided by open letter that, in order to give the voters of Folketinget the opportunity to take a position on important political issues, new elections to Folketinget will be held on Tuesday, March 24, 2026.”
Denmark's Frederiksen calls election amid 'Greenland bounce' in polls - snap analysis
Nordic correspondent
Mette Frederiksen announces general election on 24 March proposing wealth tax to fund schools, promising to secure the future of the commonwealth and pledging to hold Europe together.
It will be a crucial election, she says, adding that Denmark and Europe must stand in their own right and that Denmark’s commonwealth must be secured.
Her decision to call the election now comes as the prime minister is said to be enjoying a “Greenland bounce” in the polls – after poor performance in local elections in which her party lost control of Copenhagen for the first time in decades – in response to her handling of the US crisis after Donald Trump’s repeated threats to invade Greenland.
Updated
Denmark to go to polls on 24 March, Frederiksen says
And here we go: Mette Frederiksen says the Danes will go to the polls on 24 March.
Are we going to get a specific commitment from Frederiksen on the date, or it is just general election talk since we know it has to happen this year?
Stay with us – we’ll bring you the latest here.
Danes 'will soon be going to polls,' PM Frederiksen says
Nordic correspondent
Frederiksen is speaking now.
“Winter has finally let go, and the days are getting longer and brighter. It will soon be spring – and the Danes will soon be going to the polls,” she tells the Danish parliament in a special statement.
Denmark's Frederiksen requests 'statement of special nature' in parliament amid election speculation
Nordic correspondent
Back in Copenhagen, in the strongest election hint yet, Mette Frederiksen has just shared a picture on social media of the note that she just passed to the speaker of the Danish parliament requesting the floor for “a statement of a special nature.”
Let’s see what comes out of that.
Belgium prepares to deploy air-defence system over Antwerp port to guard against drone disruption
Separately, Belgium said it was preparing to deploy an air-defence system at the port of Antwerp to counter the growing drone threat to critical infrastructure, Reuters reported.
The moves comes after Belgium last year faced a series of drone incursions that forced temporary shutdowns at Belgian airports and a military airbase.
Multiple drone sightings were also reported over the port of Antwerp – including above nuclear power plants, the BASF chemical complex and the Europa container terminal – raising alarm over the vulnerability of key industrial and energy sites.
The spokesperson declined to provide specific details on the plans – first reported by Belgian media – citing operational security reasons but added that the system will be ordered soon.
Nordic region on high alert over alleged threat against energy infrastructure - media report
Meanwhile, the Nordic countries are on high alert amid concerns about a potential strike against their energy infrastructure, Sweden’s TV4 reported.
The broadcaster claimed that “an actor, believed to be linked to a foreign power, has threatened the energy network throughout the Nordic region, including Sweden.”
In response, a number of authorities and police units have been put on high alert and ordered to closely monitor the critical infrastructure, TV4 said.
It claimed that the potential incident could take place in “near future.”
The report was widely picked up by other Swedish media outlets.
The Guardian has not been able independently verify the report. We have approached Sweden’s signal intelligence agency for comment.
Updated
Hungary's Orbán calls for EU 'fact-finding mission' to inspect Druzhba pipeline
Meanwhile, Hungary’s prime minister Viktor Orbán has urged the European Union to form a “fact-finding mission” to inspect the Druzhba pipeline amid escalating tension with Ukraine.
In a letter to European Council president António Costa, Orbán insisted that his initiative seeks to “facilitate the timely resolution of this issue,” which held up the payment of the EU’s €90bn loan to Ukraine and the adoption of the 20th package of sanctions against Russia (9:47).
He asked that the mission included experts from Hungary and Slovakia, which also continues to be affected by the disrupted oil transit via the pipeline.
He assured Costa that Hungary would accept the findings of such mission, whatever they will be.
Updated
Keeping close eye on Denmark amid election speculation
Nordic correspondent
We are keeping a close eye on developments in Copenhagen today amid speculation that today could potentially be the day that Mette Frederiksen calls a general election.
Today was already a date that had been tipped as a potential one for the election to be called – it must be held by 31 October this year at the latest – but when the Danish prime minister arrived at Folketinget, the Danish parliament, a little while ago, it prompted much excitement among politicians and journalists.
On her way, she posted on Instagram that she was on her way to vote for food support legislation “amongst other things” and entered Folketingshallen smiling with a red folder under her arm.
Since then, she has been doing a lot of embracing of colleagues around the chamber
Social Democrat Yildiz Akdogan has just shared a picture of the PM on X with the question: “Is the election coming?”
US-Ukraine Geneva talks to focus on postwar reconstruction plans
Meanwhile, back in Geneva, the US and Ukrainian negotiators are expected to hold talks which will focus on postwar reconstruction as part of a broader push to end the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Reuters reported.
The discussions, revolving around the so-called “prosperity package” for Ukraine, were expected to begin around lunchtime.
This stream of talks is separate from the trilateral negotiations that involve Russia and seek to find a way forward to end the conflict.
The US delegation is also separately holding Iran talks, also in Geneva.
Continuing his speech, Sikorski also told Polish parliament that while Washington remains Poland’s most important partner in military cooperation and Warsaw has been and will remain a loyal ally of the US, it cannot be “a sucker”.
In a lengthy passage responding to the changing US defence and foreign policy, he said:
“We view the shifts in the US with understanding, but also with unease. We remember the history of support for Poland from presidents like Woodrow Wilson and Ronald Reagan during the various eras when we fought for our independence.
But we also remember Yalta. After the fall of Nazi Germany, president Franklin Roosevelt sought Stalin’s help in the war against Japan. He secured it, but at the expense of freedom for this part of Europe. The American national interest was served; we were the ones who paid the price.
I submit this for the consideration of those who want international relations to be based solely on a ruthless struggle for narrowly defined interests. It is not for us to define the US national interest. I ask the right side of this chamber: has it not dawned on you that the day before yesterday, the United States – just like China – abstained from the UN general assembly vote on the inviolability of Ukraine’s borders?
If we replace 1945 Japan with today’s China, can we be certain that American interests will remain aligned with Polish ones?
We have been, and will remain, a loyal ally of America – but we cannot afford to be suckers.”
Instead, he stressed that Poland has been radically ramping up its defence spending and is leading the European part of Nato in taking more and more responsibility for defending the continent, while also spending billions on defence purchases, including from the US.
Sikorski also pointedly referenced the Polish victims of military operations in Iran and Afghanistan in an indirect response to Trump’s comment belittling non-US army contributions last month.
He also acknowledged the shifting public attitudes to the US as a result, pointing to a recent poll which showed that 54% of Poles do not consider the US a reliable ally, with only 35% saying they do.
Defending Nato's eastern flank from Russia would cost €1.2tn, Poland says
Defending Nato’s eastern flank in case of a potential Russian aggression would cost at least €1.2tn ($1.42 trillion), Polish foreign minister Radosław Sikorski said in a speech to parliament, Reuters reported.
“Defending the countries of Nato’s eastern flank in the event of a potential Russian aggression would cost at least twelve hundred billion euros - twenty-four times more than the Polish defence budget,” he warned.
He compared that to just under €200bn that the EU and its member states have paid to Ukraine since 2022.
“A free Ukraine, as part of the West, is our chance to render Russian imperialism toothless,” he said.
He added:
“Despite what its propaganda claims, Russia is by no means winning. Don’t fall for it. Russia is not, and never has been, invincible.”
Sikorski also paid tribute to the economic contribution of Ukrainian migrants and refugees resident in Poland, adding PLN 100bn (€24bn) to Poland’s GDP, the equivalent of half of the annual budget of Poland’s healthcare system.
Morning opening
US and Ukrainian negotiators meet in Geneva, Switzerland for further talks about ending the Russian invasion of Ukraine amid continuing attacks on Ukrainian cities.
At least 23 people were injured in overnight strikes, with 420 drones and 39 missiles used by Russia to target Ukraine in the latest round of attacks.
“When the whole world demands Moscow to finally stop this senseless war, Putin bets on more terror, attacks, and aggression,” Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said.
Meanwhile, Hungary’s Viktor Orbán appears to be escalating his rhetoric against Ukraine even further, making unsubstantiated allegations that the wartorn country could be planning to disrupt Hungarian energy system.
This morning he posted an “open letter” to Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy, alleging that for years he “had been working to force Hungary into the war between your country and Russia,” with alleged support from Brussels and the Hungarian opposition forces.
In a separate clip from a radio interview, Orbán said he had always expected Ukraine to engage in “dirty tricks” alleging a conspiracy to “create chaos and supply insecurity” in Hungary’s energy sector.
Kyiv continues to strongly deny all of Orbán’s allegations and says the disruption to oil transit via the Druzhba pipeline is solely related to damage from Russian strikes.
The Hungarian prime minister’s language appears to be increasingly toughening as we get closer to the 12 April parliamentary election, which could see him ousted from power after 16 years, with the latest polls showing him trailing the opposition party Tisza led by Péter Magyar by as much as 20 percentage points among decided voters.
“It is unacceptable when certain blackmailers in the EU not only block decisions needed for collective defence, but also threaten to halt some energy supplies to Ukraine at a time when our country’s energy system is being brutally bombed,” Ukraine’s Sybiha responded this morning.
It’s Thursday, 26 February 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
