Russia ‘seeking to prolong war’, says Zelenskyy as Kremlin aide says proposed ceasefire just ‘temporary respite’ for Ukraine – Europe live
No ‘meaningful’ response from Russia shows they ‘seek to prolong war,’ Zelenskyy says
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has now weighed in the debate on the US proposals for ceasefire in Ukraine, accusing Russia of “seeking to prolong the war” and urging the US to “compel” Moscow to end the war.
Zelenskyy particularly stressed that “for more than a day already, the world has yet to hear a meaningful response from Russia to the proposals made.”
“This once again demonstrates that Russia seeks to prolong the war and postpone peace for as long as possible. We hope that U.S. pressure will be sufficient to compel Russia to end the war,” he said.
Here is his social media update in full:
The Ukrainian delegation provided me with a detailed report on its meeting with US representatives in Saudi Arabia, including the progress of negotiations and key aspects.
It is good that the conversation was entirely constructive. Ukraine is committed to moving quickly toward peace, and we are prepared to do our part in creating all of the conditions for a reliable, durable, and decent peace. I thank our teams for the fact that military aid and intelligence sharing resumed.
Our representatives informed the U.S. side about Ukraine’s principled positions. Ukraine was ready for an air and sea ceasefire, but the US proposed extending it to land. Ukraine welcomes this proposal. The control of such a ceasefire remains an important issue, and we appreciate the United States’ willingness to organize the technical aspects of such control.
We discussed the need to guarantee security, as well as our cooperation with European partners and further joint steps.
Regrettably, for more than a day already, the world has yet to hear a meaningful response from Russia to the proposals made. This once again demonstrates that Russia seeks to prolong the war and postpone peace for as long as possible. We hope that U.S. pressure will be sufficient to compel Russia to end the war.
Our team is prepared to continue working constructively with all partners in America, Europe, and other parts of the world who are committed to bringing peace closer. We are grateful to Saudi Arabia and personally to the Crown Prince for providing a platform for our delegations to work.
Key events
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No ‘meaningful’ response from Russia shows they ‘seek to prolong war,’ Zelenskyy says
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Delays to German spending plans would be ‘irresponsible,’ chancellor-in-waiting Merz warns
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Trump threatens EU with 200% tariffs on wines, champagnes and alcoholic products
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Deal on Merz’s ‘bazooka’ plans for spending ‘far from being realised’ – snap analysis
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Rocky start in Bundestag debate on debt break reform
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Proposed US ceasefire only a ‘temporary respite’ for Ukraine, ‘imitates peace actions,’ senior Kremlin aide says
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German parliament set to discuss Merz’s ‘bazooka’ proposals, constitutional changes
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Early signals from Russia on US ceasefire proposal ‘unsatisfactory,’ Polish PM Tusk says
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Finland signs new defence cooperation deal with Ukraine, sends €200m aid
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Talks with US on Ukraine proposals possible ‘as early as today,’ Russian foreign ministry spokesperson says
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Putin ‘may have international call’ later, Kremlin says
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Italy’s Campi Flegrei hit by 4.4-magnitude earthquake
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Morning opening: What do you think, Mr Putin?
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Russia says it downed 77 Ukrainian drones overnight
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G7 ministers to meet in Canada on Thursday
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Poland calls for US to transfer nuclear weapons to its territory as a deterrent – report
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Multiple Ukrainian cities under attack Thursday morning, one killed in Kherson
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Russian operation in Kursk is in final stage, Kremlin claims, as US negotiators head to Moscow
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Opening summary
Jakub Krupa
By the way, the broader issue of Europe’s rush to rearm is the main topic of this week’s Guardian Weekly.
Just saying!
Europe has changed. Call it a watershed, a turning point or, if you prefer German, Zeitenwende, but the continent is reassessing its defence priorities in response to the Trump administration’s brutal shift in attitude to the 80-year-old transatlantic relationship and US support for Ukraine.
This week’s issue plots how, with unaccustomed speed, Paris, Berlin and London, along with the European Commission, are stepping up with a new “whatever it takes” mentality to create a framework for their own defence.
Our coverage, led by Toby Helm and with contributions from our correspondents in Kyiv, Brussels and Berlin, examines how fiscal shibboleths are being shed to allow for increased military spending, and from Berlin a growing enthusiasm for Germany’s chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz to consider sheltering under France’s independent nuclear umbrella.
But even as leaders firm up their approach to Washington and Moscow, diplomatic editor Patrick Wintour reports on how their populist opponents, whose rhetoric has tended towards support of the strongman diplomacy of Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, are left fumbling as to how to counteract this new geopolitical landscape.
Back in Bundestag, speaking for the Greens, Katharina Dröge criticised Merz for repeatedly rejecting the party’s proposals to work on the debt brake reform, even after Trump’s election in the US, and the previous coalition falling apart.
She blamed him for party political thinking and “political calculations,” and putting the electoral prospects of CDU/CSU ahead of the country’s interest.
She told him that the negotiations are not progressing as he would want to see them as they believe they can’t take his word seriously, but instead focus on what is written down on paper.
Dröge also criticised Merz suggesting he is trying accounting tricks moving money around, but the total for climate protection would not actually go up, “an offer that will not work.”
But despite the fierce rhetoric and criticism, there were also suggestions that the party was still willing to engage in further talks on how to amend the proposal to make it work.
No ‘meaningful’ response from Russia shows they ‘seek to prolong war,’ Zelenskyy says
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has now weighed in the debate on the US proposals for ceasefire in Ukraine, accusing Russia of “seeking to prolong the war” and urging the US to “compel” Moscow to end the war.
Zelenskyy particularly stressed that “for more than a day already, the world has yet to hear a meaningful response from Russia to the proposals made.”
“This once again demonstrates that Russia seeks to prolong the war and postpone peace for as long as possible. We hope that U.S. pressure will be sufficient to compel Russia to end the war,” he said.
Here is his social media update in full:
The Ukrainian delegation provided me with a detailed report on its meeting with US representatives in Saudi Arabia, including the progress of negotiations and key aspects.
It is good that the conversation was entirely constructive. Ukraine is committed to moving quickly toward peace, and we are prepared to do our part in creating all of the conditions for a reliable, durable, and decent peace. I thank our teams for the fact that military aid and intelligence sharing resumed.
Our representatives informed the U.S. side about Ukraine’s principled positions. Ukraine was ready for an air and sea ceasefire, but the US proposed extending it to land. Ukraine welcomes this proposal. The control of such a ceasefire remains an important issue, and we appreciate the United States’ willingness to organize the technical aspects of such control.
We discussed the need to guarantee security, as well as our cooperation with European partners and further joint steps.
Regrettably, for more than a day already, the world has yet to hear a meaningful response from Russia to the proposals made. This once again demonstrates that Russia seeks to prolong the war and postpone peace for as long as possible. We hope that U.S. pressure will be sufficient to compel Russia to end the war.
Our team is prepared to continue working constructively with all partners in America, Europe, and other parts of the world who are committed to bringing peace closer. We are grateful to Saudi Arabia and personally to the Crown Prince for providing a platform for our delegations to work.
Delays to German spending plans would be ‘irresponsible,’ chancellor-in-waiting Merz warns
German chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz has told lawmakers that any delay to massive ramping up of defence investment would be “irresponsible” as he argued for his proposed changes to the constitutional debt brake.
He said that strenghtening Germany’s defence capabilities was “the absolute priority” given an increasingly challenging security environment, saying “deterrence must be quickly and credibly backed by military force.”
Merz also argued that the proposal would help Germany’s struggling economy and were backed by a panel of economists.
“We don’t want to spend money for nothing, but we this as part of a comprehensive reform agenda for our country,” he said.
In a bid to win over the Greens, he said that climate funding will be added to the infrastructure fund, offering a chance to make a “giant leap” in climate protection in Germany.
“The whole world is looking to Germany these days,” he said, adding that lawmakers “must live up to this responisbility” with “a far-reaching, historic decision for our country.”
Speaking earlier, Lars Klingbeil, of SPD, warned that “the postwar order was beginning to falter,” as he reminded them that the Russian invasion on Ukraine is happening “two hours’ flight from here.”
But he stressed that “the international situation dramatically deteriorated in recent weeks.”
Pointedly referencing JD Vance’s speech in Munich and Zelenskyy’s clash with Vance and Trump in the White House, he mentioned concerns about the unpredictability of the American president and the reliability of the transatlantic relationship.
Picking up the US-led ceasefire talks, he said it was “unclear” what the consequences would be for Germany, but insisted that “we must be prepared.”
“If Ukraine falls, then peace in the EU will also be at risk,” he said.
He acknowledged that multiple politicians had previously called for similar investments, without effect, but said it was now “not about whether you feel good about it; it is about responsibility that we share.”
In what seemed like a pointed call to the Greens, he said that “negotiating hard … demanding change is the right thing to do,” but warned them against “carelessly squandering a historic opportunity” to secure that investment.
Trump threatens EU with 200% tariffs on wines, champagnes and alcoholic products
Elsewhere, US president Donald Trump has just threatened the European Union, “one of the most hostile and abusive taxing and tariffing authorities in the world,” with 200% tariffs on “all wines, champagnes and alcoholic products coming out of France and other EU represented countries.”
In a post on Truth Social, he said this would be a response to the EU’s plans to put “a nasty” 50% tariffs on US whisky.
He said the proposed US retaliation would be “great for the wine and champagne businesses in the US.”
Not sure if US consumers and drinkers will be equally excited, though.
Deal on Merz’s ‘bazooka’ plans for spending ‘far from being realised’ – snap analysis
Kate Connolly
in Berlin
Amid expectations of Germany relaxing a key element of its strict fiscal rules known as the “debt brake”, its allies have responded favourably and markets have rallied. Economic forecasters have said a public spending boost is likely to help the country emerge from two years of economic doldrums.
Merz has argued that raising defence spending has become a matter of urgency due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, not just for Germany, but for the whole of Europe. With Donald Trump in the White House, he has argued, the continent must become more independent.
However, the deal is far from being realised, with Merz’s CDU/CSU alliance and his probable future coalition partner, the Social Democrats (SPD), needing to secure the support of the Greens in order to muster the two-thirds majority required to change the constitution.
Merz has faced accusations he intends to use the new money to finance projects which will please the new government’s conservative voter base, and has been called on to provide guarantees, including commitments to much-needed widespread reforms.
The far-right Alternative für Deutschland and the far-left Die Linke have, meanwhile, lodged complaints with the constitutional court, which might deliver its ruling this week.
But early indications from the Greens aren’t great for Merz:
Senior Greens legislator, Irene Mihalic, dismissed as hipocrisy calls by Merz and the Social Democrats for the Greens to live up to their constitutional responsibilities, saying Merz had refused to enable necessary reforms before the elections when he was in opposition.
A senior Greens legislator said there would still be a sufficient, albeit different, majority to reform Germany’s debt brake once the newly elected parliament had been seated, in an indication they might continue to block conservative chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz’s plan for reform, Reuters reported.
Let’s see how the debate evolves – I will bring you some key lines there as we wait for more updates on Ukraine and Russia’s response to US proposals.
Rocky start in Bundestag debate on debt break reform
The German parliamentary debate is off to a rocky start as Bernd Baumann, of the far-right Alternative für Deutschland, accused other parties for “showing contempt to democracy” and “abuse of parliament” by attempting to push the constitutional amendments through the old Bundestag.
Responding, Katja Mast of SPD, said that the move was in response to growing concerns about the international security situation, which call for “significantly more investment” in defence capabilities.
CDU/CSU’s Thornsten Frei argued that the changes were needed to send a signal that “Germany is back, ready to assume responsibility.”
The AfD’s motion gets rejected, so we’re moving on to the main business.
Proposed US ceasefire only a ‘temporary respite’ for Ukraine, ‘imitates peace actions,’ senior Kremlin aide says
Senior Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov has been speaking in the last few minutes on the US proposal, stressing numerous Russian issues about the plan.
We’re getting some key lines from his speech, via Russian news agencies Ria and Tass.
He said:
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Russia seeks long-term settlement that takes its interests and concerns into account;
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Proposed ceasefire is nothing more than temporary respite for Ukrainian forces;
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‘No one needs steps that just imitate peace actions’ in Ukraine;
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Ukraine joining Nato cannot be discussed in the context of crisis resolution;
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Russia hopes the US will take into account its demands.
He said he passed on his concerns to the US negotiators, too.
German parliament set to discuss Merz’s ‘bazooka’ proposals, constitutional changes
The German parliament is about to open a special session to debate proposals on reforming the constitutional debt brake and new multi-billion spending packages for defence and infrastructure.
The proposal, put forward by the conservative CDU/CSU parties and their likely coalition partners in the next government, the SPD, will be debated today – still in the old Bundestag! – alongside two alternative plans put forward by opposition parties.
But the challenge Merz has set himself in trying to shoehorn the legislation into this tight time frame includes still having to win over the Greens to the plan to vote with them if they are to have any chance of securing the required 2/3 majority to pass the changed. The party sent mixed signals as to their intentions, with negotiations reportedly still taking place late last night…
He will hear from presumed next chancellor Friedrich Merz, and senior representatives of other parties today as they discuss the merits of the proposal.
There isn’t much time: after today’s debate, the parliament is expected to meet again next Tuesday, 18 March.
The process needs to be wrapped up before Germany’s new parliament, elected last month, is set to convene on 25 March.
Early signals from Russia on US ceasefire proposal ‘unsatisfactory,’ Polish PM Tusk says
Polish prime minister Donald Tusk has said that early indications from Russia as to its answer to the US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire are “as expected … , to put it mildly, unsatisfactory, not to say cryptic and mysterious.”
“In truth, no one really knows if Russia accepts the early proposal … or will it keep coming up with conditions which are not acceptable for other partners,” he said.
Tusk spoke with reporters upon his return from talks with Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara, where the two discussed Turkey’s involvement in any security guarantees for Ukraine in the future.
Tusk continued:
It is good that after the talks in Saudi Arabia, there is no doubt not only as to who is the aggressor and who is the aggressed, but also who really wants a truce and peace, and who wants to continue the war.
But he added he remained hopeful that the US, Ukrainian and European diplomatic efforts will lead to the end of the war.
Tusk also publicly commented on the Polish president Andrzej Duda’s call for US to transfer nuclear weapons to its territory as a deterrent.
“The borders of Nato moved east in 1999, so 26 years later there should also be a shift of the Nato infrastructure east. For me this is obvious,” Duda said in an interview with the Financial Times (£).
Tusk said he had doubts about the effectiveness of any appeals made through the media, and he would rather see similar requests be made “when we have confidence or have reasons to believe that such appeals will be listened to.”
Asked if Duda’s proposal was consulted with the government, he declined to comment further.
Listening to Russian foreign ministry’s spokesperson Maria Zakharova it does not seem like the Russian red lines are getting any softer…
In the last few minutes, she has said that any peacekeeping deployment of western troops or building bases in Ukraine would be “unacceptable,” mean direct involvement into the conflict with Russia, and it would respond with “all available means.”
Finland signs new defence cooperation deal with Ukraine, sends €200m aid
Meanwhile, Ukraine signed a new memorandum of understanding on defence cooperation with Finland on Thursday, which includes provisions on data sharing, ammunition production, and joint defence projects.
Finland’s defence minister Antti Häkkänen said that the agreement builds on the support given to Ukraine over the last three years, as Finland “shares the same view of the Russian threat in light on our historical experiences.”
“This memorandum of understanding is an indication that we want to further expand and deepen this cooperation for the benefit of both countries,” he said.
Separately, Finland also announced a new €200m aid package for Ukraine, pending final approvals, which will increase the total value of the country’s aid to €3.3bn.
Talks with US on Ukraine proposals possible ‘as early as today,’ Russian foreign ministry spokesperson says
Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Russia was ready to talk to the United States about a peace initiative discussed between the US and Ukraine, and contacts could take place as early as Thursday, Reuters reported.
After talks with top US diplomats in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, Ukraine said it was ready to accept a 30-day ceasefire and the United States said it was putting the proposal to Moscow.
“We are ready to discuss the initiatives set out there in future contacts with the United States. Such contacts are already possible as early as today,” Zakharova said.
The Kremlin said earlier that US negotiators were flying to Russia. It said Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov and US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz had spoken by phone on Wednesday.
Putin ‘may have international call’ later, Kremlin says
We’re getting some news lines out of the Kremlin, confirming that the US has “provided certain information” about the proposed ceasefire, and that president Putin “may have an international phone call later” on Thursday.
No details were offered on who the phone call will be with, but I think it is fair to note, as Reuters did too, that US president Donald Trump is awaiting word from Putin on whether he will agree to a 30-day truce in Ukraine, so that’s one possible scenario.
AFP added that Putin and Trump’s aides spoke by phone on Wednesday.
The Kremlin also declined to comment on whether Russia had presented the US with a list of its demands to end the war in Ukraine.
Italy’s Campi Flegrei hit by 4.4-magnitude earthquake
Lorenzo Tondo
Foreign correspondent
Italy’s Campi Flegrei, a highly seismic area near Naples, next door to the supervolcano Vesuvius, was rocked by a 4.4-magnitude earthquake in the early hours of Thursday.
The overnight’s tremor reached the same intensity as the one recorded on 20 May 2024, which was considered the strongest in the last 40 years.
After the first earthquake tremor, six milder ones followed.
Firefighters intervened in the Bagnoli district, where a ceiling collapsed inside an apartment and one person was trapped inside. Inspections on the buildings are still under way.
Many people were trapped in their homes and had to exit through the windows. Along the street, numerous piles of rubble and several car windshields were shattered. Damage was recorded to the bell tower of the Church of Sant’Anna. Schools will remain closed today. Many people poured out into the streets in panic. Some even attempted to enter the former Nato base to seek protection. Videos are circulating that show the collapse of a ceiling.
The Phlegraean Fields, where about five hundred thousand people live, have been in a state of unrest (volcanic agitation) for years. Since 2012, the Grandi Rischi commission has determined that the alert level should be raised from green to yellow based on recorded parameters: an increase in tremors and emissions, and ground uplift. According to volcanologists, the Phlegraean Fields are more dangerous than a potential eruption of Vesuvius.
The 7-mile Campi Flegrei caldera is a much larger volcano than the nearby, cone-shaped Vesuvius, which destroyed the ancient Roman city of Pompeii in AD79, and is much more active.
The supervolcano has been in a restless state for more than 70 years as a result of a phenomenon known as bradyseism, which scientists understand to be the gradual movement of part of Earth’s surface caused by the filling or emptying of an underground magma chamber or hydrothermal activity. The last time Campi Flegrei had a comparable burst of earthquakes was in the early 1980s.
Campi Flegrei was formed 39,000 years ago after an eruption emptied it of magma. Its last significant eruption was in 1538.
Morning opening: What do you think, Mr Putin?
Jakub Krupa
Ukraine, Europe and the US hold their breath as they wait for Russian president Vladimir Putin’s verdict on the US-led ceasefire proposal, already accepted by Ukraine, which could pause the hostilities for 30 days and potentially pave the way to a more comprehensive peace agreement.
Yesterday, the Russian president focused on projecting strength and power instead, as he donned military camouflage and expressed hope his army was on the brink of “fully liberating” the territory, and told senior commanders that Ukrainian soldiers captured in Kursk should be treated as terrorists.
Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff will be in Moscow today, with reports that he could be meeting with Putin to debrief him on conversations with Ukraine and to seek his answer to the plan. His plane has just crossed into Russia from Latvia, and we will keep an eye on this.
Meanwhile, European countries continue coordinating for a “coalition of the willing” that could provide some security guarantees required to support any peace arrangement, a temporary or a permanent one.
Last night in Paris, there was a sense of urgency among European defence ministers, with French armed forces minister Sébastien Lecornu confirming that about 15 countries had expressed interest in joining. This morning, president Emmanuel Macron will be hosting senior French government figures to discuss what’s next.
Nato’s secretary general Mark Rutte, dubbed by some as the Trump whisperer, will be in Washington to talk with the US president.
Separately, we will be also looking at events in Germany with a special Bundestag seating on the incoming government’s plans to reform the constitutional debt break provision. The negotiations on what can be done here were still going on late last night, so let’s see if they found a way forward. Presumed next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, is set to speak, of course.
Looks like a busy day ahead for us, so let’s get cracking.
It’s Thursday, 13 March 2025, and this is Europe live. It’s Jakub Krupa here.
Good morning.
