This also concludes our live coverage of the summit.
There will be more national reactions overnight and tomorrow morning – some leaders are hosting their press conferences now – and they tend to be more outspoken.
But that’s for tomorrow.
For now, good night!
EU’s von der Leyen says the best framework to handle US concerns on the Arctic security is through Nato, even though it’s obviously also important for the EU.
On trade, she just reiterates the EU struck a deal with the US last summer and “a deal is a deal,” and she is “confident” that will be implemented.
That concludes the press conference.
The EU leaders also get asked about Greenland’s decision to leave the EU in 1985 after a 1982 referendum and how it affects today’s thinking about the territory.
Costa cleverly says that it “gives us authority to say everybody needs to respect the decisions of Greenlanders,” and stand united behind Denmark and Greenland, insisting no one but them can take decisions about their future.
They also get a question on Mercosur trade deal and whether it could be provisionally applied, but say no decision was made on that – although von der Leyen says there is “clear interest” in making sure the agreement applies as soon as possible.
Updated
EU’s Costa gets asked about Zelenskyy’s speech in Davos, who said that “instead of becoming a truly global power, Europe remains a beautiful but fragmented kaleidoscope of small and middle powers.”
Costa completely ignores the question, and says the focus on Ukraine is to achieve a “just and lasting” peace.
Meanwhile, von der Leyen gets asked on why she thinks it was the EU’s position that convinced Trump to change his view, and not other elements of lobbying around Trump in recent days.
She accepts that all various elements may have also played a role, but insists that “without firm, but non-escalatory responses and unity of the EU, they would not have worked.”
Updated
As Q&A gets under way, EU’s Costa and von der Leyen get a hardball question on how they can possibly trust Trump after all of this.
Costa replies diplomatically that the EU member states clearly united for the basic principles the bloc stands for, and reiterated its support for Denmark.
Von der Leyen also says something similar on the EU being “firm, but non-escalatory.”
But acknowledging the premise of the question, she says that there was a discussion that “we have to work more and more for an independent Europe,” also working with new trade partners globally.
Updated
European president Ursula von der Leyen is up now.
She says leaders had “very good discussions” as they expressed “unequivocal solidarity with Greenland and Denmark” and she hails unity and solidarity with the six member states threatened by Trump’s tariffs.
She says the EU has been engaging “very actively” with the US in “a firm, but non-escalatory manner,” and it’s theoretically ready to use it’s countermeasures and non-tariff instruments if the threat of Trump’s tariffs return.
Turning to the Arctic security, she says “it’s high time to step up” on investments and EU relationship with Greenland, including through using EU funds for getting “Arctic-ready” equipment, including a European icebreaker.
Turning then to Ukraine, she says that “as winter has taken grip of the country, Russia is doubling down on vile attacks,” and that the EU is still waiting for Russia to respond to recent peace proposals.
She then talks about the prospects of strengthening the existing relations with Ukraine, including early plans for Ukraine’s post-war future.
EU has 'serious doubts' about Trump's Board of Peace
EU’s Costa then turns to Trump’s “Board of Peace,” saying the EU has “serious doubts” about a number of elements of its format when it comes to its “scope, governance and compatibility with the UN charted.”
But says the bloc is “ready to work with the US” on the implementation of the comprehensive peace plan for Gaza, with “the Board of Peace” carrying out its mission as a transitional administration.
He says the next meeting of EU leaders on 12 February will be about advancing Europe’s strategic autonomy and its single market.
EU stands by Denmark and Greenland, calls for 'respectful' relations with US, Costa says
European Council president António Costa begins by saying the EU and the US have long been partners and allies.
He says “we believe that relationships between partners and allies should be managed in a cordial and respectful way.”
“Europe and United States have a shared interest in the security of the Arctic region. Notably, working through Nato,” he says.
But he then states directly: Denmark and Greenland “have the full support of the European Union”, and only they can decide on matters concerning their future.
“This is a reflection of our firm commitment to the principles of international law, territorial integrity and national sovereignty, which are essential for Europe and for the international community as a whole,” he says.
He welcomes Trump’s U-turn on tariffs, which he says would have been “incompatible” with EU’s trade relations with the US.
He says the EU will defend itself, member states, citizens and companies “against any form of coercion” if needed.
He says he wants to see “constructive” engagement with the US on issues of common interest, including Ukraine.
The press conference now gets under way.
Confirmed: we are expecting a press conference soon.
I will bring you the key lines here.
It’s officially over: the EU’s stream picks up foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas leaving the building as one of the first leaders after their 4,5-hour talks behind the closed doors.
Updated
EU emergency summit in Brussels ends
Our Brussels correspondent Jennifer Rankin is hearing that the summit has just concluded, minutes past midnight local time.
We were expecting a press conference afterwards, so let’s keep an eye on this.
First pictures from US envoys' meeting with Putin in Moscow
Here are some first pictures from the meeting of the US envoys with Russia’s Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are also joined by White House adviser and Commissioner of the U.S. Federal Acquisition Service, Josh Gruenbaum.
All that food talk made me a bit hungry, so let me tell you what the EU leaders are munching on during their talks in Brussels tonight.
As Jennifer Rankin confirmed, the menu for tonight is:
Scallops in a walnut and curry crust
Chicken supreme with vanilla roast parsnips
Citrus salad with a fennel and dill foam
Erm.
No wonder Robert Fico wasn’t happy about having to come all the way to Brussels (22:00). For this? Vanilla roast parsnips!?
Perhaps the inclusion of dill that is so popular in central and eastern Europe – as controversial as it is with our Guardian colleague Shaun Walker – could make it slightly more appealing to him?
Back to Greenland, that TV2 piece I referenced earlier (22:47) has also another anecdote about how the same two Danish ministers for foreign and defence found out about Trump’s decision to drop retaliatory tariffs on Europeans.
The broadcaster says they were out dining with the UK defence minister, John Healey, who was in Copenhagen on Wednesday night, chatting over a plate of fish and chips of sorts (or “a pan-fried turbot with fumet, fennel, cabbage and potatoes,” as the menu has it), when they got the message.
On his way back from the dinner, defence minister Poulsen reportedly called Nato’s Mark Rutte to get his reading about his discussions with Trump, who had already briefed PM Frederiksen about his conversations with the US president, the broadcaster claimed.
Again: at least that’s what TV2 says.
Updated
Europeans 'have to do something about immigration,' Trump says
Closing his remarks on Air Force Trump, Trump also claims that some unnamed European leaders “told me openly that they wish they had our border,” as he repeated his criticism of Europe’s open borders.
“They have to do something about immigration,” he said.
He later briefly addresses the latest controversy about new bruising on his hands (he clipped it on a table and repeats an old line about taking an ‘big’ aspirin tablet which he says contributes to bruising), and that wraps up the briefing.
In Poland’s case it’s a bit more complicated than Trump makes it sound: the centrist, pro-EU government seems to oppose the idea of joining the ‘Board of Peace’ (in line with most EU governments), and the president, Trump ally Nawrocki, cannot join it without the government’s backing and a majority in the parliament.
So Poland appears to be displaying some strategic ambiguity there by saying it’s interested to keep Trump on side, but in fact it’s actually unlikely to join, at least for now. But things change, obviously.
Updated
Trump says his 'Board of Peace' is open to more European countries, claims Italy, Poland mulling move to join
Trump also gets asked if other countries, like the UK or France, will want to join his Board of Peace.
He says he thinks they will want to, but in some cases they need to get legislative approval.
He says Italy’s Giorgia Meloni and Poland’s Karol Nawrocki both said they wanted to join, but would need to go through formalities first.
He then pointedly praises Nawrocki, reminding reporters he endorsed him in last year’s presidential election in Poland.
“He’s great, by the way. He’s doing a great job, … but he has to get an approval.”
'Good spirit to get something done' on Greenland and build Golden Dome, Trump says
Back to Greenland, Trump says “there is a good spirit to get something done,” and the US will “have ability to do exactly what we want to do” with the “great” US military.
He says it will be a “much more generous deal” and says it’s “so much better” for the US to “have that piece of ice covered by the Golden Dome” missile system.
Updated
Trump claims Putin and Zelenskyy both want to end Ukraine war
Trump then turned to Ukraine, saying he had “numerous conversations on Ukraine” as “it’d be nice to end that war”.
He notes the US meeting with Putin in Moscow and says “we will see how that works out”.
He adds he had “a good meeting” with Zelenskyy in Davos, but they also had good meetings in the past and nothing happened. He later repeats it was a “very good” meeting.
He says Europe will also be going a part of the deal, if it comes through.
Trump claims that both Zelenskyy and Putin “want to make a deal”, and says that Zelenskyy repeatedly said that during their meeting today.
He says he spoke with Zelenskyy about the dramatic situation of the Ukrainian people, with no energy and heat in extremely low temperatures.
“It’s pretty amazing what they do to live. That’s no way to live,” he says.
On the UAE meeting this weekend, he says:
“Anytime we meet, it’s good. If you don’t meet, nothing’s going to happen.”
Updated
Greenland deal would let US 'do anything we want' in cooperation with Nato, Trump says
Meanwhile, US president Donald Trump is gaggling with reporters on board of Air Force One, on his way back from Davos.
Asked about more details on the Greenland deal, he said it would run in “infinity” and the US could “do anything we want” there militarily.
“It’s being negotiated and let’s see what happens,” he said.
We says “we are all going to work together” with Nato as the alliance “is going to be involved with us,” but the US will not have to pay for anything except the Golden Dome missile system.
Is Denmark on board with this idea?
“I think everyone likes it,” he assets, adding he will update the press on this in “two weeks.”
Since Jennifer mentioned (22:30) confidential meetings without phones …
Danish broadcaster TV2 has this great story with an amazing, if slightly bizarre, anecdote about Trump’s Davos speech yesterday in which he repeatedly said he wanted to control Iceland Greenland, but ruled out the use of force.
So, the speech took place at the same time as Denmark’s foreign and defence ministers were briefing members of the Danish parliament’s foreign affairs committee in a confidential, no-phone setting.
According to TV2, the ministers’ officials had to regularly leave the room for “toilet breaks” to get hold of their phones, check the latest on Trump’s speech on Europe Live blog obviously, and report it back to their principals, eventually scribbling on a piece of paper that the military threat is off the table (for now?).
That’s why when Rasmussen and Poulsen finally emerged from the room, they were able to give reporters their first reaction – despite not seeing the speech.
Or so says TV2.
Updated
Denmark's Frederiksen expected to meet Nato's Rutte on Friday - media reports
Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen will stay overnight in Brussels and meet with Nato’s secretary general Mark Rutte on Friday morning to talk about Greenland and his discussions with US president Donald Trump, Danish media reported.
Danish public broadcaster DR said the meeting was confirmed by Frederiksen’s office.
in Brussels
It’s a waiting game now! We are all in the council atrium, but there is no information from the room as it’s a closed discussion without phones…
Slovak PM Fico calls for change of EU leadership as he criticises 'unprepared' expensive summit and hatred of Russia
Separately, Slovak prime minister Robert Fico has just posted a short rant vlog recorded during his travel to this night’s Brussels meeting, in which he criticised the EU’s leadership for hosting what he saw as an “unprepared” summit convened in response to “panic” by “some member states.”
In the 5-minute video, he criticises European Council president António Costa for calling “a super expensive dinner in Brussels,” and EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas for, well, everything.
He was particularly keen to stress his longstanding feud with Kallas, which started over Fico’s repeated willingness to meet with Putin despite the continuing Russian aggression on Ukraine, which she criticised him for.
Taking aim at the bloc’s foreign policy chief over the recent crisis in relations with the US, he said:
“We cannot have people in EU leadership roles with whom key places do not meet with and don’t even really talk. If the US state secretary Marco Rubio repeatedly refuses to meet with Kaja Kallas, let alone have a constructive disagreement with her, what purpose does her role actually serve?”
Fico also claimed that “the only thing driving the EU today is hatred towards Russia.”
He argued that the EU can only emerge from its “deep crisis” if it gets a new leadership, as the current crop has “no answers” to any of the key questions facing the bloc, before delivering this killer line:
“The same rule applies to the EU as to a massage parlour: if it doesn’t work, it’s not enough to change the beds, you have to change the staff.”
(He was so keen to make everyone notice this line that he put it in his post in English, ALL CAPS.)
He then wrapped up by saying he hopes they won’t be sitting there until the morning, as he has a meeting in Paris tomorrow.
(There is also a line about other Slovak parties riding a donkey, but that’s for another occasion. The next parliamentary election is scheduled for next year, and Fico is already on manoeuvres, as his Smer party is trailing in polls behind the liberal opposition party, Progresívne Slovensko).
Updated
During his Davos appearance earlier today, Zelenskyy said that he expected the US-Russian talks to take place tomorrow, before correcting himself to say “tonight, at night.”
He then said:
“I don’t know when, maybe Putin [will be] sleeping. Like you said, nobody knows what is in his head,” he joked.
But it appears that there is some urgency is to progress things before the UAE talks tomorrow and over the weekend, hence the late night meeting in Moscow tonight.
Putin holds talks with US Witkoff, Kushner on Ukraine, Kremlin says
It turns out Russia’s Vladimir Putin has something in common with European leaders as he is as keen to hold late night political dinners as they are over in Brussels.
We are just getting a line from the Kremlin that his talks with Witkoff and Kushner is just getting under way now, despite the fact that it’s 11.30pm local time.
Ukraine secured new deals on air defence in Davos, Zelenskyy says
Without offering more details, Zelenskyy also says that he has reached “agreements on new package of critically needed air defence for the protection of our people” during his time in Davos.
Ukrainian delegation en route for trilateral talks with US, Russia, Zelenskyy says
In other diplomatic travel news, Ukraine’s Zelenskyy has just confirmed that, as previously reported (15:39), a Ukrainian delegation is now en route to the United Arab Emirates for their trilateral talks with the US and Russia.
“We will see how this proceeds and then determine our next steps,” he says.
Get out of Greenland mode and stand up for yourself, Zelenskyy tells Europe
Global affairs correspondent
As reported, earlier today Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy has taken aim at Europe in a fiery speech at Davos, accusing leaders of being in “Greenland mode” as they waited for leadership from Donald Trump on Ukraine and other geopolitical crises rather than taking action themselves.
The Ukrainian president’s call to arms, targeting some of Kyiv’s top allies, capped a week of extraordinary diplomatic drama at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss ski resort, where European leaders scrambled to end a standoff with the White House over Greenland, and several western leaders – led by Canada’s Mark Carney – called for stronger pushback against Trump’s territorial ambitions and political whims.
Despite Trump’s limited and scattershot support for Ukraine since taking office one year ago, Zelenskyy focused instead on Europe’s role in the conflict, accusing the continent’s leaders of complacency and inaction.
“Just last year, here in Davos, I ended my speech with the words ‘Europe needs to know how to defend itself’,” Zelenskyy said. “A year has passed, and nothing has changed.”
He added: “Europe remains in Greenland mode: maybe someone somewhere will do something.”
Witkoff, Kushner arrive in Moscow for Putin talks on Ukraine
Meanwhile, we are also getting reports that a plane carrying US envoy Steve Witkoff and president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner has just landed in Moscow, where they are expected to hold talks with Russia’s Vladimir Putin on Ukraine.
(Although it may not necessarily be today, given it’s just before 11pm local time.)
UK ready to 'play its full part' in ensuring security of Arctic region, Starmer tells Nato's Rutte
As discussions behind the closed doors continue in Brussels, UK prime minister Keir Starmer has just had a phone call with Nato secretary general Mark Rutte, who played a central role in defusing the EU-US tensions over Greenland.
A Downing Street spokesperson said Starmer told Rutte that the UK stood ready to play its full part in ensuring security in the Arctic region, Reuters reported.
Greenland deal 'being worked on' and 'will be amazing for the USA,' Trump says
US president Donald Trump has just posted a brief social media update on his way back from Davos to Washington, saying “the Greenland structure is being worked on and will be amazing for the US.”
Here is his post in full:
“Heading back to D.C. It was an incredible time in Davos. The Greenland structure is being worked on, and will be amazing for the U.S.A., and the Board of Peace is something that the World has never seen before — Very special. So many good things happening! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP”
Let’s take a quick look at some snaps from inside the room where it happens.
What Trump's U-turn on Greenland means for EU-US relations? - The Latest
The US president has backed down in the row over Greenland after threatening Europe with tariffs and the potential use of military force.
After talks with the Nato secretary general, Mark Rutte, Donald Trump said the ‘framework of a future deal’ had been agreed for the territory to allow the US to build its military presence there.
But what does it mean for the US relationship with Europe? Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s Europe correspondent Jon Henley.
“We heard some language that we haven’t really heard from European leaders before. … There is a real lingering sense in Europe something pretty fundamental has been broken.”
I think most EU leaders are now in, so their meeting proper should get under way shortly.
Let’s get you a bit more on what happened over the last 24 hours, from our podcast The Latest.
Greenland’s PM says Trump's demands have been unacceptable – video
EU needs to support Denmark and show it won't 'accept any blackmail, even less from ally', Swedish PM says
Swedish prime minister Ulf Kristersson also says the recent spat “has been damaging for the trust between European countries and the US.”
But he says he hopes both sides can now go back to “serious discussions” on increasing security in Greenland, but also on economic matters.
He adds:
“I think the necessary precondition [for moving forward] is for the European Union to [have] a very, very clear stance that we stand united behind Denmark and Greenland, and we do not accept any blackmail [from] any country, and even less so from an ally.”
Europe 'not willing to junk 80 years of good relations' with US despite Trump's behaviour, EU's Kallas says
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas says that “although everyone is relieved with recent announcements, we have also seen in this one year period [that’s a reference to Trump’s term] we need to be ready for a lot of unpredictability.”
“So we need to still discuss … our plans for different scenarios,” she says.
But she says the latest Trump’s U-turn offers a chance to “focus back on where the problems really lie, and this is the war in Ukraine that is still going on.”
She concedes the transatlantic relations have “taken a big blow over the last week,” but says it’s been clear over the last year that “these relations are not the same as they were.”
But she says Europe is “not willing to junk 80 years of good relations, and we are willing to work for this.” She says that most Americans also see Europe as their allies.
We need cooperation, not confrontation with US, Lithuania's Nausėda says
Lithuania’s president Gitanas Nausėda is now speaking in Brussels.
Asked about recent tensions with the US, he says “this is critically important that all security issues have to be solved together and cooperation should be the main key word, instead of confrontation.”
He welcomes “some good developments” – a reference to Trump’s U-turn on tariffs – and says “it’s very important to understand that we can achieve much more by stopping the aggression of Russia and China and securing the stability in Arctic and North Atlantic region, if we do it together.”
He says Lithuania understands that well given the presence of US troops in the country and on the Eastern Flank of Nato, and says it’s important to keep the focus on “the constructive agenda, and avoid these misunderstandings.”
But he also pointedly says he supports the territorial integrity of Denmark going forward.
Updated
Makers of Macron’s sunglasses deluged with demand
in Paris
The world leaders and company executives meeting in Davos this week were meant to be discussing the most complex and alarming geopolitical crisis most could remember.
Instead, all eyes were on Emmanuel Macron.
The French president’s appearance in reflective Top Gun-style aviator sunglasses was the image that launched a thousand pithy jokes, memes and questions. Had he been injured while sparring in the boxing ring? Had he injured himself while working out in the gym? Did he simply, some wondered, want to avoid looking Donald Trump in the eye?
Few could have blamed Macron for channelling Tom Cruise in a mission impossible to neutralise the US president’s plan to take over Greenland and impose 200% trade tariffs on French wine and champagne. Some, like the communication specialist Philippe Moreau Chevrolet, saw the president’s decision to wear the French-made eyewear as symbolic in the context of France’s strained relations with the US.
The real reason was more prosaic: Macron was stylishly disguising a subconjunctival haemorrhage, a burst blood vessel in his right eye – a condition he described as “totally benign”.
But even he was not immune to cliches. Addressing French troops at a military event last week, Macron had described the problem as “l’oeil du tigre” (the eye of the tiger). The comment referenced the 1982 song by the rock band Survivor used in the boxing film Rocky III starring Sylvester Stallone. For those too young to get the reference, it was a “mark of determination”, he added.
For the artisan workers at Maison Henry Jullien in the département of Jura in eastern France, where glasses have been made for more than 100 years, it was publicity impossible to buy.
Stefano Fulchir, the president of iVision Tech, the Italian company that owns Henry Jullien, said the first he knew of the presidential endorsement was when French opticians rang him to say: “The president’s wearing our glasses!” When news spread, the company website crashed for most of the day.
“My first reaction can be summed up in three letters: wow! It has not been a typical day. I feel very honoured that the president is wearing our glasses,” he said.
Macron’s office had contacted the company in 2024 to buy a pair of €659 Pacific S 01 Double Gold sunglasses as a diplomatic gift during the G20 summit and a second pair for himself, he said.
“I said I would be happy to send him a pair but they said no. He did not accept them as a gift, but wanted to purchase them personally. The French president paid a lot of attention to whether the glasses were entirely made in France.”
Macron says Europe's unity worked against Trump's threats
France’s Emmanuel Macron is next, still sporting his shades to cover that nasty eye infection.
He says today’s meeting demonstrates the unity in support of Denmark, its territorial integrity and sovereignty.
“When Europe is united, strong and reacts quickly, things return to normal and calm,” he says.
But he says Europe needs to stay “vigilant” and continue acting in “united manner,” showing that it has “instruments at its disposal” if threatened to “command respect.”
He also says France is open to participating in more Nato missions, presumably in the Arctic.
Updated
Merz hails Europe's 'unity and determination' in defence of Greenland
German chancellor Friedrich Merz also stressed the that “unity and determination” on the European side has showed to make a difference against Trump’s Greenland aspirations.
He says he is “grateful” that the US president dropped his “initial plans to annex Greenland” and his tariff threats.
Denmark's Frederiksen reiterates red line on sovereignty, says open to ramping Arctic security
Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen has just arrived for the summit.
She begins with thanks to other EU countries for their support.
“When Europe is not divided, when we stand together, clear and strong, also in our willingness to stand for ourselves, the results show.”
She adds “so I think we have learned something during the last couple of days and weeks.”
She then says Denmark wants to “find a solution” and has asked Nato to be more active in the Arctic region, and “everybody in Nato agrees with that.”
“And then we will discuss in a more traditional political, diplomatic way with the US … our bilateral relationship between the Kingdom of Denmark and the US.”
But she repeats the Denmark has its red lines and “we are a sovereign state and we cannot negotiate about that,” but it’s open to talks about strengthening cooperation in the Arctic region.
“We are willing to work together with the US, of course, as we have always done about security, but our red lines that are our also our democratic rules, cannot be discussed.”
Asked if she still trusts the US administration, she hesitates for second, and says diplomatically:
“We have been working very closely with us for many years, but we have to work together respectfully without threatening each other, and therefore, I of course, hope to find a political solution within the framework of democracy.”
In almost every single answer, she reiterates Denmark’s red lines on sovereignty.
Updated
We need to de-escalate Greenland and not 'lose focus' on Ukraine, Irish PM says
Irish prime minister Micheál Martin is up next, saying the meeting comes after a few “challenging weeks” on Greenland.
But he welcomes Trump’s pledge to not use force against Greenland and drop retaliatory tariffs against a number of European countries.
He says:
“There is an existing treaty between Denmark and the US, and clearly that provides a framework to enable discussions to take place. I think it’s important, now that it’s in a process, that we de-escalate tensions around this and seek to deal with it and through the framework that has been agreed.”
He says the US-EU relationship is “still very critical” in many ways, “because it is, if you look at the trade between US and Europe, at the interdependence, economically, it is so strong and so vast that any undermining of that would have very serious repercussions for European citizens and for American citizens.”
Just like Tusk, he says leaders “cannot lose focus on the situation in Ukraine”.
“The situation in Ukraine is desperate. Hundreds and thosuands of people have lost their lives. At the very moment, because of the attacks on energy infrastructure and through a very difficult winter, many, many people in Ukraine are freezing and no heating and so on. There’s a desperate need to bring this to an end on a fair and sustainable way.”
He says Europe’s relationship with the US is “critical” to achieving “a just and fair and sustainable peace in Ukraine”.
Updated
US needs to understand difference between 'domination and leadership,' Poland's Tusk says
Poland’s Donald Tusk is one of the first leaders to arrive.
He says the key, “I think it’s obvious for all of us, is to keep Europe united – it works.”
He says the EU’s unity and cooperation with other non-EU partners, like the UK, Canada, Iceland and Norway, is “the only way to show this very strange problem we have today in international politics.”
In a pointed swipe at Trump, he says “coercion is not a good method, especially in our relations with … transatlantic partners.”
He stresses that he is “very dedicated” to transatlatic relations and the US is strategically important for Poland.
But then he says:
“We always accepted leadership of the United States as something absolutely natural but … it is important for all of us, also our partners in Washington, to understand the difference between domination and leadership. Leadership is okay.”
In further comments in Polish, he says he’s not expecting any fireworks today, and notes the meeting had been called before Trump’s last night U-turn on tariffs and Rutte’s “difficult and still uncertain” mission to “try and resolve the Greenland issue in a civilised way.”
But he says it’s still very important to show EU’s unity in response to Trump’s comments, and he says Europe’s focus – beyond the EU – should be on protecting the relations with the US against “collapsing.”
He also warns leaders against losing sight of the worsening situation in Ukraine as a result of “unneeded” distractions on other issues.
He says he had hoped to see more progress on Ukraine and regrets Davos was bit of a wasted chance to progress these issues, and adds he hopes to see renewed focus on Ukraine from now on.
Responding to questions, he pointedly says that the EU should not seek to “appease” Trump and stand tall in defence of its values, but he equally warns against any anti-US sentiments in a kneejerk reaction to the current administration.
He says mutual trust, not coercion, is the basis of any good relationship between allies.
Updated
EU leaders meet to discuss 'new normal' is US relations after Greenland threats - analysis
in Brussels
EU leaders are gathering in Brussels for an emergency summit to discuss the volatile “new normal” in transatlantic relations, after weeks of escalating threats from Donald Trump over Greenland.
Although the US president dropped his tariff threat over a vague deal on Arctic security, EU leaders still have plenty to talk about over dinner, which was hastily convened earlier this week in response to the trade threats, widely seen as attempted coercion.
Trump’s decision to step back from tariffs “evidently changes a little the context of this European Council, but does not remove its interest”, said a European diplomat, who evoked shifting tectonic plates in the geopolitical order. “We are in a world of uncertainty,” said the diplomat. “We shouldn’t be surprised if there are surprises.”
Leaders were meeting in a context, said a senior EU official, “that was more positive than it was 24 hours ago to discuss how they understand this new reality” citing “a new normal of this very important and structural relationship between Europe and the United States”.
While the threat to Greenland has subsided, for now, European leaders are also expected to share their concerns about Trump’s proposed board of peace, amid fears he is seeking to create a rival to the United Nations.
Launched in Davos on Thursday, the board of peace was initially part of Trump’s peace and reconstruction plan for Gaza, but is morphing into an organisation with a sprawling geopolitical role under his direct control. So far, Hungary and Bulgaria are the only EU member states to accept an invitation to join the board of peace, while France, Sweden and non-EU Norway and the UK have declined.
A very large majority [of EU member states] have said they are not in a position to join the board as it stands,” the EU official said, when asked whether European governments could join a board of peace that included Vladimir Putin, who is wanted for war crimes against Ukraine. The Russian president has not confirmed whether he intends to take up Trump’s invitation.
EU leaders expected in Brussels for emergency summit on Greenland
We are expecting the EU leaders to start arriving in Brussels for their emergency summit on Greenland shortly.
The meeting starts 7pm local time, but they usually come a bit early and chat to reporters as they arrive.
I will bring you all the key lines here, obviously.
But first, let’s go to our Brussels correspondent, Jennifer Rankin, so she can set the scene for us.
Danish PM rules out talks over sovereignty in red lines for US talks
Just a reminder that earlier today, the Danish prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, has ruled out any negotiations on the sovereignty of Denmark and Greenland.
She said in a statement it was “good and natural” that Arctic security was discussed between the US president and the Nato secretary general in Davos last night as it is an issue affecting all, but reiterated that Nato cannot make decisions on the sovereignty of Denmark and Greenland.
“I have been informed that this has not been the case.”
We should hear from her again later tonight as she is expected in Brussels for the emergency EU summit on Greenland.
Earlier today, she was in London to meet with UK prime minister Keir Starmer, praising – as my colleague Andrew Sparrow reported – what she called the “British way of doing things”.
“You are very pragmatic. You have a cup of tea and then you think a bit about everything. You get the facts on the table, and then you find a way forward, and that’s exactly what we’re doing now.”
Frederiksen ended her remarks with a Beatles reference.
“So just to finalise, I think we’ve got to get by with a little help from our friends, also in this situation.”
Talks on Greenland are 'fine,' JD Vance says, as he stresses Trump always gets what he wants
US vice-president JD Vance has also been speaking about Greenland this afternoon at an event in Toledo, Ohio.
He said this:
“Greenland matters to American national security because our entire missile defence relies on security.
This is something the media who’s obsessed with Greenland, Greenland, Greenland, they completely forget why Greenland matters.
What if, God forbid, I’m not saying it’s going to happen anytime soon, but what if a foreign country launched a missile at the United States of America? We would need control over the Arctic in order to shoot that missile down. Our entire missile defence system defends depends on that arctic security.”
It seems that JD Vance has inexplicably and unfortunately missed Dan Sabbagh and mine’s explanation of this very point on Europe Live last week (there is even a map!) and our amazing maps on Greenland if he says the media “completely forget” to make that point, so here they are again:
He then continued:
“Meanwhile, the Chinese and the Russians and even the Danes who control Greenland admit that they want to control that facility, that island, that land mass.
That would make us weaker, that would make our country more in danger. That would mean that if the President is negotiating with a foreign leader, he would have less leverage, because they would be able to realistically threaten the sovereignty and the territorial safety of the United States of America.
We’re not going to let that happen.”
He then claimed that talks with Nato are going “fine,” before adding:
“I believe, having seen this for the past year, that when the President sets his mind to accomplish something in negotiation, he accomplishes it.”
Updated
Greenland’s Nielsen also says that “one thing we all agree on is [that] the security of the Arctic and our region is important.”
“That’s something everybody agrees on. Let’s talk about how we then do it better.”
He says he is “glad” that Trump said he would not use force against Greenland.
He says all conversations should take place through the working group, in a way showing “mutual respect.”
Updated
Greenlandic PM says doesn't know details of rumoured deal, calls for respect for Greenland's red lines and calm talks
Greenlandic prime minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen is speaking now ahead of tonight’s EU summit on Greenland.
He repeats his key lines demanding respect for Greenland and its red line on sovereignty and territorial integrity, even as he is willing to talk with the US to find a solution.
“I want a respectful and good dialogue where we can discuss that kind of things,” he says in response to a question on whether he would welcome increased US military presence. He says there is already a defence agreement with the US in place.
He says the Greenlanders are “peaceful” but as they are alarmed to “hear and see in the media every day that somebody wants to take your freedom.”
He says:
“We are a trusted ally, have been for many years. The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States stood side by side for many years, also in tough times, and that’s what we need to bring back.”
He adds:
“This is actually about something much bigger. It’s about the world order, the principle we have built it, the world on the western alliance on that have kept the world safe for many, many years. That’s nothing to gamble on.”
Asked about the details of the rumoured US deal on Greenland, he says he doesn’t know what is in it, and he expected this to be followed up in a Danish-Greenlandic working group with the US later.
He says Greenland is ready to negotiate, but sovereignty and territorial integrity remain Greenland’s red lines.
He adds:
“If you just say you want something, without talking about it using diplomacy and in a respectful manner, of course, it will be a tense, intense partnership, but we are ready to talk.”
Asked specifically on minerals, he says that anyone willing to exploit Greenland’s resources would have to “respect our legislation and our very high environmental standards,” because “that’s a part of our culture.”
Time and time again he points to the Danish-Greenlandic-US working group as the right channel for any future talks.
Outstanding issue of territorial changes 'most difficult,' Zelenskyy says
Zelenskyy says the remaining issue with Russia is “all about the eastern part of our country,” about “the land”, which he concedes is “the most difficult.”
He says in the trilateral meetings they will discuss different “variants.”
Zelenskyy also talks about the separate business deal with US, which he says is progressing and would be helpful for reconstruction of Ukraine.
Zelenskyy says US security guarantees document is 'finished,' needs to be signed and implemented
Zelenskyy says the much-awaited document on US security guarantees for Ukrainev is “finished,” but still needs to be formally signed by the presidents and go through the national parliaments in Ukraine and the US.
Zelenskyy also says that if all sides engage in good faith, they should be able to end this war, but warns against people “playing games” to complicate the process. But he welcomes the meeting as a “positive step.”
He also picks up on a question about Greenland, saying he doesn’t necessarily feel Ukraine was so much as ignored this week, but it’s important to stay focused on resolving it as “this is a real war in Europe, already (going) longer than the second world war.”
“And we need to stop Putin,” he says.
Updated
'Up to them to continue ... or not, but we want to stop this war,' Zelenskyy says about Russia
Zelenskyy is now also speaking with journalists in Davos.
He says he hopes for an end of this war, with “really strong security guarantees,” but he’s not sure if Russia will be willing to come to the table. He says he’s not sure that Putin wants to end the war as it is, without the goals he wanted to achieve met.
“But their economy is really tired, and their economy is really tired,” he says. 45,000 Russian soldiers were killed last month. “It’s up to them to continue this war or not, but we want to stop this war,” he says.
He stresses that president Trump has “dialogue with Putin” and so he can push Russia to ending the war.
“Russians will not win this war,” he says.
He confirms the Ukrainian delegation will take part in the trilateral talks with Russia and the US this week in the United Arab Emirates.
He separately repeats his argument for a much stronger Europe, which he says should have a “three million army” to project strength to Russia as he urges leaders to step up defence and security investments.
Updated
'Exactly kind of resolve needed' to stop oil financing Russia's war, Zelenskyy says of French tanker interception
Meanwhile, back to the seized tanker, Zelenskyy takes to social media to quickly give credit to France’s Macron as he says “this is exactly the kind of resolve needed to ensure that Russian oil no longer finances Russia’s war.”
“Russian tankers operating near European shores must be stopped. Sanctions against the entire infrastructure of the shadow fleet must be tough. Vessels must be apprehended. And wouldn’t it be fair to confiscate and sell the oil carried by these tankers?” he says.
Trump questions European Nato allies commitment to help US, says they 'stayed little back' in Afghanistan
Speaking of Europe’s reliance on the US and Nato, particularly under Trump, expect some attention to be given to Trump’s comments to Fox News earlier today.
He said of Nato allies (from 6:00):
“But I’ve always said, … will they be there if we ever needed them? And that’s really the ultimate test. And I’m not sure of that. I know that we would have been there or we would be there, but will they be there?
And let’s hope that that never happens.
We’ve never needed them. We have never really asked anything of them, you know, they’ll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan, or this or that, and they did. They stayed a little back, little off the frontlines.”
Trump keeps repeating this line – which will be seen by many as openly disrespectful – despite repeatedly being explicitly told, also this week, by many leaders, including Nato’s secretary Mark Rutte, that allies would always be there for the US.
And you will obviously remember that it’s not just a hypothetical question: way over 800 European soldiers died in Afghanistan helping the US in the “war on terror”, after it triggered Nato’s Article 5, the only time it has ever been used.
Updated
French navy boards alleged Russian shadow fleet tanker in Mediterranean, Macron says
Curiously, on that specific point of Zelenskyy alleging Europe’s inability to move against Russian oil tankers, France’s Emmanuel Macron has announced – just as the Ukrainian president was speaking – that the French navy boarded one such tanker.
In a post on X, Macron said the tanker was “subject to international sanctions and suspected of flying a false flag.”
He added:
“The operation was conducted on the high seas in the Mediterranean, with the support of several of our allies. It was carried out in strict compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
A judicial investigation has been opened. The vessel has been diverted.”
Local maritime authorities quoted by AFP said the navy seized an oil tanker called “Grinch” between Spain and Morocco.
For balance, there’s also possibly another way of reading Zelenskyy’s speech as you can imagine some EU leaders that are more critical of him – not just Hungary’s Viktor Orbán – will pick up, namely: how does he dare to criticise us that way despite everything we do for Ukraine.
To be fair, he kind of addressed that point in the speech already, though.
Zelenskyy takes Carney's ideas and translates their meaning for Europe in urgent, wake-up call speech in Davos - snap analysis
This was a very strong speech from Zelenskyy, a truly European follow-up to Mark Carney’s viral speech on Tuesday in which the Canadian prime minister talked about the threats the new, emerging world power poses for “the middle powers”.
Zelenskyy has gone a step further, translating these ideas into practical examples for here and now and Europe specifically, painfully pointing out when the continent couldn’t or didn’t want to meaningfully respond properly to some major events, often getting drowned in processes or looking for help from elsewhere, particularly the US: Iran, Belarus, Ukraine, Russia.
In the context of recent weeks, Zelenskyy’s warning about Europe’s blind faith that the US would always come to its help is particularly urgent.
“If Putin decides to take Lithuania or strike Poland, who will respond? Nato exists thanks to the belief that the United States will act, that it will not stand aside and will help. But what if it doesn’t?” he asked.
He also bruisingly, but with care, pointed out the EU’s inability to move fast enough to shape, not just chase, the world’s agenda, and respond to whatever comes next. His comments about the EU being in “Greenland mode” and just waiting to see what the US will do were particularly sharp.
You can understanding his frustration when he asked why the US can move quickly on Venezuela and seize tankers in international waters, while Europe doesn’t do the same with the Russian shadow fleet going “right along the European shores” and funding Moscow’s war against Kyiv and Putin’s “sick” agenda.
He rightly stressed that “you cannot build a new world order out of words only,” seemingly frustrated with endless statements expressing “concern” or solidarity, but rarely actually moving the dial.
“We should not degrade ourselves to secondary roles, not when we have a chance to be a great power together,” he said.
Many of these lines will no doubt stick in minds of many leaders as they meet in Brussels tonight for the latest in line of emergency EUs summits.
Or, as Zelenskyy argued, at least they should.
Updated
Zelenskyy gets asked how people can help Ukraine and he says defending the country is “very expensive,” as he urges business leaders to mobilise and open offices in Ukraine to help the country’s economy.
He jokingly accepts that there is “a little bit” of risk associated with business operations in Ukraine, but says it shows “real support” through “jobs, money, investment” for Ukraine as its people defend their independent way of life.
And that ends his Q&A.
Zelenskyy also references the recent Russian attacks on energy infrastructure, as he says “their goal is to cause blackouts in Ukraine” and affect civilians.
“This is the face of Russia. And really, this is the face of this war,” he says.
He says he reminded US president Trump of the need to strengthen Ukraine’s air defence.
“I can’t say that they these attacks make us stronger, because it’s about our people. The people, I mean this, they’re surviving, … but they’re heroic people, civilians and soldiers. … They fight for their families, houses, and, of course, for the freedom.”
Ukraine, US, Russia to hold talks in UAE over weekend, Zelenskyy says
Zelenskyy then says the US delegation waited with travelling to Moscow to take to him first, and he talks about trilateral technical Ukraine, US, Russia meetings in the United Arab Emirates later this week.
He says it will be the first trilateral meeting of this sort and that he hopes Russia will be ready for compromises and this will lead to the end of the war.
'Last mile' is 'difficult,' but Zelenskyy praises 'good' talks with Trump
In Q&A, Zelenskyy says he had a “good” meeting with Trump, and he hopes they are moving towards peace.
But he notes that “last mile” is always “very difficult.”
“During any dialogue with any president, I have to defend the interests of my country. That’s why the dialogue is maybe it’s not simple, but it was today. It was positive,” he says.
But he shuts down any further questions on this saying “that’s enough,” and audience laughs in response.
Zelenskyy gets a long, standing ovation.
Documents aimed at ending Ukraine-Russia war 'nearly ready,' Zelenskyy says
Zelenskyy then mentions his meeting with US president Trump and says “the documents aimed at ending this war are nearly ready,” and says Ukraine “is working with full honesty” to end the conflict.
He says “Russia must become ready to finish this war” and repeats his call to increase pressure on Moscow.
He says his meetings with Trump and Europeans focused on protecting Ukraine’s skies.
He then comes back to his rallying cry for Europe as he says:
“World order comes from action, and we just need the courage to act. Without action now, there is no tomorrow. Let’s end this Groundhog day.”
And we move on to Q&A.
Updated
Zelenskyy urges leaders to act and make Europe 'global force'
He then moves on to a rallying cry to make Europe “a global force.”
“Europe can help build a better world. Europe must build a better world, and a world without war, of course. But for that, Europe needs strength.”
He says leaders must have “strength” and “act in time,” and not wait for others to resolve their problems as he warns Europe needs Ukraine’s independent “because tomorrow you might need to defend yourself.”
Updated
'You can't build new world order out of words,' Zelenskyy tells European leaders
Zelenskyy continues his speech telling European leaders that “we need something to replace the old world order, but where is the line of leaders who are ready to act,” as he warns “you can’t build a new world order out of words only – actions create real order.”
He contrasts Europe’s position with the US determination to act, saying that the EU doesn’t even seem to have a clear view on the US “Board of Peace” for Gaza.
He also mentions Nato’s Rutte’s chat with Trump on Greenland last night, as he warns Europeans that “things move faster than we, move faster than Europe.”
“We should not degrade ourselves to secondary roles, not when we have a chance to be a great power together.”
In another bruising comment, he says:
“We should not accept that Europe is just a salad of small and middle powers, seasoned with enemies of Europe.”
Europe remains 'beautiful but fragmented kaleidoscope of small and middle powers'
Zelenskyy says he is often told not to raise Tomahawks missiles with Americans “not to spoil the mood,” or not mention Taurus missiles, or be careful talking to Turkey and Greece.
He says:
“In Europe, there are endless internal arguments and things left unsaid that stop Europe from uniting and speaking honestly enough to find real solutions. And too often, Europeans turn against each other, leaders, parties, movements and communities, instead of standing together to stop Russia.”
He warns, in a European adaptation of Carney’s speech from Tuesday, that Europe “remains a beautiful but fragmented kaleidoscope of small and middle powers.”
He says the problem is European mindset, with leaders not always standing up for truly European interests.
“And Europe still feels more like a geography, history, a tradition, not a real political force, not a great power. Some Europeans are really strong, it’s true, but many say we must stand strong, and they always want someone else to tell them how long they need to stand strong, preferably until the next election.”
Ouch.
Zelenskyy then warns that Russia “tries to freeze Ukrainians now” at -20 degrees, and says that despite sanctions it continues to get support from partners in Europe as it finds ways to bypass sanctions.
“Europe says almost nothing. America says nothing, and Putin makes missiles.”
He helps for all support for Ukraine, but says “would it not be cheaper and easier to just cut Russia off the components it needs for missiles production or even destroy the factories making them?”
Zelenskyy continues:
“We all see that the forces trying to destroy Europe … They operate freely, even operate inside Europe.
Every Viktor who lives off European money while trying to sell out European interests deserves a smack upside the head, and if he feels comfortable in Moscow it does not mean we should let European capitals become little Moscows.”
I will let you deduce for yourself which particular European leader he’s thinking about there.
Zelenskyy criticises EU's soft response on Greenland, calls for serious approach to Arctic security
Zelenskyy then says that sending 40 soldiers to Greenland doesn’t send a strong signal to Putin’s Russia or Xi’s China – or even to Denmark, Europe’s close ally.
“You either declare that European bases will protect the region from Russia and China and establish those bases, or you risk not being taken seriously, because 40 … soldiers will not protect anything.”
He says Ukraine can help with expertise as it knows how to “sink [ships] near Greenland, just as [we] do near Crimea.”
He then pointedly criticises Europe for not doing enough in Belarus, allowing Moscow to expand its sphere of influence and station Russian missiles there. “When you refuse to help people fighting for freedom, the consequences return, and they are always negative?”
He mockingly summarises European response as “maybe someday someone will do something.”
He then calls for more sanctions on Russia, warning:
“If Europe is not seen as a global force, if its actions don’t scare bad actors, then Europe will always be reacting, catching up with new dangers and attacks.”
Updated
'Nato exists thanks to belief that US will act,' Zelenskyy warns, as he asks 'what if not?'
Zelenskyy then turns to Europe’s defence and says the continent needs “united armed forces that can truly defend Europe today.”
He says “Europe relies only on the belief that if danger comes, Nato will act. But no one has really seen the alliance in action.”
“If Putin decides to take Lithuania or strike Poland, who will respond? Right now, Nato exists thanks to believe that the United States will act, that it will not stand aside and will help. But what if it doesn’t?”
He says some European leaders “hope the problem will disappear,” and others start acting, but it’s only thanks to the US that they are actually ramping up its defence and security arrangements.
Zelenskyy continues.
“Europe loves to discuss the future, but avoids taking action today, action that will define what kind of future we will have.”
Zelenskyy then points to the US success in stoping oil tankers, contrasting this with “Russian oil being transported right along European shores” uninterrupted.
Zelenskyy criticises Europe's inability to focus, respond to challenges
Zelenskyy also briefly mentions Iran, saying there was “so much talk about the protests in Iran, but they drowned in blood” as “the world has not helped enough the Iranian people” as everyone was distracted by Christmas and New Year celebrations.
“By the time politicians came back to work and started forming a position there, Ayatollah has already killed 1000s.
And what will Iran become after this bloodshed? If the regime survives, it sends a clear signal to every bully, kill enough people and you stay in power.”
He contrasts the EU’s inability to stay focused and be effective with Trump’s Venezuela operation, saying that for all the different opinions about it, Maduro is on trial in New York “and Putin is not.”
“And this is the fourth year of the biggest war in Europe since the second world war. And the man who started it is not only free, he is still fighting for his frozen money in Europe.”
He says Putin is even “having some success,” as he appears to be successful in deciding “how the frozen Russian assets should be used,” referencing last month’s inability of the EU to move ahead with seizing Russian assets.
He also says there is little progress on establishing a special tribunal on Russian crimes in Ukraine.
In a particularly bruising passage, he says:
“Many meetings have taken place, but still, Europe hasn’t reached even the point of having a home for the tribunal with staff and actual work happening inside.
What’s missing time or political will; too often in Europe something else is always more urgent than justice.”
'Everyone waiting for America to cool down' on Greenland, Zelenskyy says
He says every year throws new challenges to Europe, diverting attention from other problems.
“Everyone turned attention to Greenland, and it’s clear most leaders simply are not sure what to do about it. And it seems like everyone is just waiting for America to cool down on this topic, hoping it will pass away. But what if it will not? What then?”
Ukraine has been living through its 'Groundhog Day' for 'weeks, months, years' under Russian aggression
Zelenskyy opens by saying “everyone remembers the great American film Groundhog Day.”
“But no one would want to live like that, repeating the same thing for weeks, months, and of course years, and yet that’s exactly how we live now.”
He says that a year ago, he said “Europe needs to know how to defend itself,” but “a year has passed and nothing has changed.”
Zelenskyy about to speak at Davos after Trump talks
I will bring you all the key lines from his speech here.
You can also watch along here:
As we wait for Zelenskyy, it’s worth noting a cheeky social media post from Poland’s outspoken foreign minister Radosław Sikorski.
He posted a video of his comments from a side event on Ukraine at Davos, in which he argued that “you have to put pressure not on the victim of the aggression, but on the aggressor,” and added this comment:
“The person to the left to whom I was giving side glances was Steve Witkoff.”
It is likely to be seen as a swipe at what central and eastern Europeans see as Witkoff’s troubling willingness to accept Putin’s explanations and his tendency to present both sides of the conflict as if they were equally responsible for the continuation of the war.
In his comments for Bloomberg on Wednesday, Witkoff said:
“They’re in a war and so they’re shooting at each other. And we don’t condone that. We think it’s unfortunate.”
Witkoff is expected in Moscow today, and he told Bloomberg the Russians “have invited us to come, and that’s a significant statement from them.”
“Everybody is embeded in the process and wants to see a peace deal happen,” he claimed.
He also claimed the US negotiators “made more progress in the last six or seven weeks since Geneva than we have made, according to the Ukrainians now, … than in the last three of four years.”
Updated
Zelenskyy’s speech looks to be slightly late, as Indonesia’s president Prabowo Subianto is still speaking.
Don’t worry: I’m keeping an eye on this for you.
European parliament to consider its decision to freeze ratification of EU-US trade deal next week
in Brussels
The European parliament will next Monday review its decision to suspend the ratification of the US tariff deal in protest against Donald Trump’s threat to acquire Greenland.
MEP Bernd Lange, chair of the international trade committee, who announced the indefinite freeze yesterday after a decision of the main political groupings in parliament said they remain circumspect however.
“Hardly any details are known yet about the proposed Greenland deal. But we need them in order to decide how to proceed with the implementation of the EU-US trade deal. @EP_Trade will revisit the issue on Monday and discuss the way forward.”
Lange said he remains circumspect, warning there was no room for a false sense of security, following Trump’s climbdown on Wednesday night when he emerged from a meeting with Nato chief Mark Rutte scrapping the threat of tariffs on eight European allies and declaring a “forever” deal on Greenland.
“It is good that the planned additional US tariffs are off the table for now. Instead of falling into a state of shock, we in the EU and the EP have recently taken a clear stance. This has certainly contributed to the concession,” he said in a social media post on Bluesky.
“However there is no room for false security. The next threat is sure to come. That’s why it is even more important that we set clear boundaries use all available legal instruments&apply them as appropriate to the situation. We must continue to act with this level of confidence.”
Trump’s comments will matter as any indication of new escalation – on either side – could further affect the already significantly damaged trust between the US and the EU in their trade talks as both sides try to figure out a way forward in this volatile and very sensitive environment.
For example, in the context of the EU-US trade deal that is very much up in the air at the moment…
Trump also said that the Greenland deal “is really being negotiated now,” repeating that it gives the US “total access” – but not much more in terms of details.
Updated
Trump warns Europe against dumping US treasury bonds
Earlier today, Trump also told Fox Business Network that he would go ahead with “big retaliation” against European countries if they dumped their holdings of US treasury bonds to pressure Washington to drop its territorial ambitions on Greenland.
“If that would happen, there would be a big retaliation on our part, and we have all the cards,” he said.
'War has to end,' Trump says after Zelenskyy talks
We are getting the first few lines emerging from Trump’s meeting with Zelenskyy in Davos.
Speaking to reporters, he said the meeting was “very good” and noted “it’s an ongoing process,” but he asserted that “the war has to end,” adding that his team will also be meeting with Putin in Moscow later today.
“Everybody wants to have this war ended,” he said.
(Given the continuing daily Russian attacks on Ukraine, I would not be that sure about it.)
Updated
Greenland 'deal' has been always available to US and questions remain if it will stick - snap analysis
Diplomatic editor
The outline deal struck by the Nato secretary general, Mark Rutte, and the US president, Donald Trump, late last night in Davos on stepping up the Nato presence in the Arctic, so long as it does not undermine the sovereignty of Greenland or Denmark, has been available to the US for some time, but will require new resources being devoted to the central task of monitoring Russian ship movements in the region.
What remains in greater question is whether the deal will stick given Trump’s erratic behaviour and whether it gives the US president the access to Greenland’s critical minerals that he claims it does. The issue of a multi-billion dollar futuristic ‘Golden Dome’ defence shield partly housed in Greenland also remains unresolved.
That leaves the agreement in a fragile state. Over the past year Trump has launched endless impetuous confrontations with maximalist demands, only to back down, and then relaunch the fight weeks later, so it is quite possible that Trump is only midway through this exhausting process.
Plan for Greenland could involve rewriting 1951 Greenland treaty between US and Denmark - snap analysis
Defence and security editor
Details remain sketchy on what was discussed between US president Donald Trump and Nato secretary general Mark Rutte over Greenland last night.
However, emerging clues point to a rewriting of the existing 1951 Greenland defence treaty between the US and Denmark and the creation of an Arctic air policing mission involving European allies.
Public statements by Rutte and Nato have been relatively vague, though Nato insisted that Rutte “did not propose any compromise to sovereignty” in his conversation with Trump.
Diplomatic sources briefed to Associated Press that under discussion was a renegotiation of the 1951 treaty which already gives the US extensive military rights in the autonomous Danish territory.
The 1951 treaty allows the US to “construct, install, maintain, and operate” multiple bases rent free – though the US only currently operates one at Pituffik – which could allow missile defence facilities to be built.
A 2004 addendum says the US must consult with Denmark and Greenland before making “significant changes” to its military operations.
Nato also said that “discussions among Nato Allies on the framework the President referenced will focus on ensuring Arctic security through the collective efforts of Allies, especially the seven Arctic Allies”.
Denmark has asked Nato allies to support a new Arctic Sentry air policing mission, mirroring similar efforts on Nato’s eastern flank, to monitor Russian and Chinese activity. The idea already has the support of the UK.
Nato's Rutte says he didn't discuss Danish sovereignty with Trump; urges leaders to ramp up defence preparations
As we await more details on the Trump/Zelenskyy chat, everyone wants to know more about Nato chief Mark Rutte’s conversation with Trump yesterday after the US president announced that the “framework of a future deal” was agreed after a meeting between the pair. Details, however, have been scarce.
For his part, the Nato chief has been out on the airwaves to make clear that he didn’t discuss sovereignty with Trump – and he also sent a message to European leaders that suggested they should step up their preparations for future conflicts.
When asked about Danish sovereignty in an interview with Bloomberg TV, he said, “We didn’t discuss at all that issue,” adding that their discussions revolved around protecting Greenland and the wider Arctic region.
Pressed about Mark Carney’s comments about the geopolitical “rupture” in the world, he had this very strong message for European leaders:
“I would say to European colleagues: focus on implementing the agreements in The Hague. Build your defence industries. Get the spending done. Get your men and women in uniform.”
Zelenskyy/Trump meeting in Davos ends
The much-awaited bilateral meeting between US president Donald Trump and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of Davos has just ended, Zelenskyy’s office told reporters.
We will no doubt hear shortly about what, if anything, comes out of it.
Zelenskyy should be speaking on the main stage in the next half hour, too.
Updated
Opening: More questions than answers
As there are more questions than answers about the detail, I have my doubts whether (temporarily?) ending (are we sure about that?) the Greenland crisis counts as the ninth (and a half?) global conflict ended by the US president, Donald Trump, or not.
In the latest line to Fox News just minutes ago, he talked about “total access” to the territory. Remember: just yesterday, he argued that nothing stop of actual and full ownership would be enough. So, what does it all mean?
Despite the overnight developments, the emergency EU summit this evening is still going ahead, and expect the EU leaders ask themselves these very same questions.
I will bring you their comments as they arrive in Brussels and begin their talks on what to do with Donald Trump’s dream of owning Greenland.
But there is absolutely no doubt that there is still another one that continues to be unsolved: the Russian aggression on Ukraine.
Trump has been meeting with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos today, and we should hear from the Ukrainian president himself in the next hour. Let’s see what comes out of it.
Separately, a US delegation of Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner is back in Moscow for more talks with Russia’s Vladimir Putin.
For all the bombastic rhetoric from Trump that he will “settle” the war “soon,” there are still many questions about how he actually wants to achieve that as the two sides seem to be far away from an agreement on thorny issues on territory, for example.
I will bring you the latest from Zelenskyy’s speech and updates from talks in Moscow.
It’s Wednesday, 22 January 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good afternoon.
