After attending the rapprochement between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, Europe activates. This Wednesday, Volodymyr Zelensky and his American counterpart announced the finalization on Friday of a framework agreement on the operation of Ukrainian minerals. In Italy, Giorgia Meloni, on the other hand, asked for “security guarantees” for kyiv.
Today, it is Keir Starmer’s turn to work in favor of Europe in Washington, where he will meet Donald Trump. And this, at a time when negotiations between the Americans and the Russians continue in Türkiye.
Info to remember
⇒ The annexation of the Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia is “non -negotiable”, warns Moscow
⇒ New negotiations between Russian and American diplomats in Istanbul
⇒ Keir Starmer visiting Washington in search of guarantees on Ukraine
10:55 am
The annexation of the Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia is “non -negotiable” according to the Kremlin
The Kremlin insisted this Thursday on the fact that the annexation claimed by Russia of the Ukrainian territories which it occupies is “non -negotiable”, while the efforts are multiplying behind the scenes with a view to the start of a settlement of the conflict in Ukraine. “The territories which have become subjects of the Russian Federation are included in the constitution of our country, they are an integral part of our country. It is absolutely undeniable and non-negotiable,” the spokesman for the Russian presidency, Dmitri Peskov said.
He also said that Moscow did not expect “easy and quick” solutions in relations with Washington, despite an accelerated rapprochement for two weeks under the leadership of Russian presidents Vladimir Putin and American Donald Trump. “President Trump speaks on his behalf and is ready to listen to others. This is very important,” he noted.
10:45 am
Paris discusses access to its raw materials with kyiv
France is, in addition to the United States, in discussion since last October with Ukraine to obtain access to certain Ukrainian raw materials, notably for military purposes, said the French Minister of Defense on Thursday
“We are not gone to the discussion with regard to the United States (and Ukraine Editor’s note), but you have to know that myself, with my counterpart of Ukrainian defense, we are talking about this question for our own French needs”, and in particular for “our defense industry”, said Sébastien Lecornu on Franceinfo.
The Minister also said that France was going to offer European States to constitute “stocks of weapons” on their territory, which can be ceded to Ukaine if necessary to dissuade Moscow against a resumption of the conflict. “This is an idea that we are going to put on the table so that the different European countries seize it,” he said. But “the best security guarantee for Ukraine is the Ukrainian army,” he insisted. “What is also played out in the discussions currently is to ensure that the Ukrainian army continues to be able to defend itself not only at the moment, but even when the weapons will be silent,” he said.
9:20 am
Beginning of talks between Russian and American diplomats in Istanbul
The talks between Russians and Americans about the work of their diplomatic missions began Thursday morning in Istanbul, in full rapprochement between Moscow and Washington with the desire to settle the conflict in Ukraine. This closed -door meeting, led by Russian and American diplomats at the residence of the American consul general, is the second meeting between representatives of the two powers, after a first on February 18 in Saudi Arabia.
The first Russian-American talks since the start of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022 intervened a few days after an appeal between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, who broke the isolation policy carried out by Washington and the West for three years. In the process, Russians and Americans said they wanted to overlook their bilateral relationship, making kyiv and its European allies fears to be put aside in the settlement of the conflict in Ukraine.
08h00
Keir Starmer visiting Washington
After Emmanuel Macron, the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the turn of trying an exercise in diplomatic aerobatics against Donald Trump on Thursday, to whom he wants to ask for security guarantees for lasting peace in Ukraine, all against the background of intense diplomatic negotiations in Europe. “I want a lasting peace, and I do not believe that this is possible if there is not an effective deterrent mechanism against Putin. The United Kingdom will play its role with others but we need an American security net,” the Labor leader said on Wednesday, on the plane bringing him to Washington.
Keir Starmer arrives with a guarantee of good will for his interlocutor, who regularly deplores the military spending deemed too low from Europeans: he indicated Tuesday that the United Kingdom would increase its defense budget by 2.3 % to 2.5 % of GDP by 2027.
06:00
North Korea strengthens its military presence in Russia, according to Seoul
Pyongyang sent additional troops to Russia and again deployed North Korean soldiers in the Koursk region, an official of the South Korean spy agency told AFP on Thursday. “Teare North Korean, after a lull of about a month, was redeployed on the front line in the Koursk region […] And some additional deployments of troops seem to have taken place, “said this source, without advancing a number.
In early February, the South Korean intelligence services said that the troops deployed by North Korea in Russia had not been seen in combat in the Koursk region since mid-January. According to kyiv, they had been removed from this area after undergoing heavy losses. Neither Moscow nor Pyongyang have to date confirmed the presence of North Korean soldiers in Russia. The two countries, however, concluded a security and defense treaty in June 2024 during a visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin in North Korea.