Europe armours Zelensky: still no agreement with US. Today the meeting with Meloni

von der Leyen: Moscow pretends to seek peace and buys time

It is time for the EU to listen to Trump to save itself. This is what Kirill Dmitriev, Russian presidential advisor for economic cooperation with foreign countries and one of Moscow's main negotiators, says about the clash between Washington and Brussels. "Biden's team," Dmitriev writes in X, "has completely managed Brussels, pushing the EU down the wrong path: mass immigration, soft stance towards crime, economic and civilisation decline. "Now," he adds, "suddenly the EU bureaucrats 'don't want interference from the US "under Daddy Trump. It's time to listen to Daddy and save Europe'.

The Ukrainian Air Force has announced that one of its pilots was killed during a combat mission in the Donbass, in the east of the country. In a brief statement posted on Telegram, the Air Force specified that Lieutenant Colonel Yevhen Ivanov died aboard a Su-27 fighter jet, without adding further details on the circumstances that led to the incident.

The London summit in support of Ukraine, which was attended by British Prime Minister Keir Starner, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, in addition to President Volodymyr Zelensky, has just concluded. While the Elysée Palace let it be known that the meeting allowed 'joint work on the US plan' for peace in Ukraine to continue, 'with a view to completing it with European contributions, in close coordination with Kiev', Macron on the other hand declared that Europe 'holds many cards' - a clear echo of the famous White House meeting in February in which Trump had told Zelensky that he had no cards to play - referring in particular to the impact that sanctions are having on the Russian economy and the Ukrainian army's resistance on the battlefield. For his part, Merz said that 'these could be decisive days for all of us' and admitted to being 'sceptical' about some of the US proposals. Starmer, on the other hand, reiterated that 'if there is to be a ceasefire, it must be a just and lasting ceasefire' and that 'the issues that concern Ukraine are up to Ukraine'. Addressing Ukrainian leader Starmer, he added: 'We are here to support you in the conflict and support you in the negotiations, and to ensure that this is a just and lasting agreement, if we can get there'. Zelensky himself said that 'unity between Europe and Ukraine, and also between Europe, Ukraine and the United States' was of paramount importance to the ongoing negotiations. "We cannot do it without the United States... We cannot do it without Europe," he added.

"That's why we have to make some important decisions," Zelensky said before thanking Starmer for organising the meeting and Macron and Merz for their participation.

"The meeting of the European leaders in E3 format with President Zelensky has allowed for the continuation of the joint work on the American plan with a view to its completion with European contributions, in close coordination with Ukraine": this was learned from an Elysée Palace source. The work - the source continued - "is being finalised with a view to exchanges between Europeans, Americans and Ukrainians that should allow the strengthening of convergence in the coming days". The work will 'deepen' these hours 'to provide Ukraine with strong security guarantees and provide measures for the reconstruction of Ukraine', the source further learns.

The meeting convened in Downig Street by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer together with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has ended. At the end of the summit, British media reported, none of the participants made any statements to the press. Starmer and Zelenskyy then returned to the British prime minister's residence for further individual talks, while Macron and Merz left Downing Street. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian president published a post on X stating that 'ensuring real security is always a shared challenge and effort', thanking the participants of the meeting for their support.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has ruled out any kind of pressure on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to accept the peace plan proposed by the US to end the conflict with Russia. The prime minister said this in an interview with broadcaster Itv before the ongoing summit in Downing Street with Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Starmer instead reiterated the importance of an agreement for a 'just and lasting' peace.

"The main problem is convergence" with the US over Ukraine. This was stated by French President Emmanuel Macron speaking to the media before a summit in Downing Street with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Throwing a dig at the Trump administration, he said that Europe has 'many cards in its hand' to ensure its support for Kiev against Moscow. As well as stating that 'the Russian economy is starting to suffer' after the latest Western sanctions.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer greeted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with a warm embrace in front of the entrance to No. 10 Downing Street and next to a large Christmas tree for the four-way summit with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who had earlier arrived at the prime minister's residence in London. The focus of the meeting was the latest round of negotiations to reach an end to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.

"The path to peace in Ukraine is difficult but we are making progress". This was stated by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer before the summit in Downing Street with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Starmer, in addition to reiterating the need for 'strict' security guarantees for Kiev, emphasised the role played by US President Donald Trump with respect to the ongoing negotiations to reach an end to the conflict: 'he has managed to achieve in the last few weeks the most important result in the last four years'. The prime minister meanwhile welcomed Merz and Macron to No.10 awaiting Zelensky's arrival.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has not yet seen the new amendments to the peace plan because of the risk of interception, and the head of the negotiating team Rustem Umerov will explain them to him today in London, explaining the details of the negotiations only in person. Rbc Ukraine writes this, citing sources. "There are difficult issues in the talks, especially regarding territory, and this requires work," the source said, stressing that Umerov will only be able to brief the Ukrainian president on all the details today when he arrives in London, where Zelensky is currently visiting. "This cannot be done over the phone: let's see how many interceptions are made. And only now will they be able to talk in person," the source explained, stressing in any case that Umerov constantly reports to the Ukrainian president on the progress of all negotiations. "But he has to go through all the draft documents: there is more than one," he added.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will receive the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, at 3pm on Tuesday 9 December at Palazzo Chigi.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has landed in the UK to take part in a summit in London with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, focusing on negotiations to reach a peace agreement in the conflict with Russia and security guarantees in Kiev by the so-called coalition of the willing. The meeting is scheduled to take place in Downing Street from around 12.30 pm (1.30 pm in Italy). Meanwhile, British Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper is expected in Washington for talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio focusing on efforts to end the war in Ukraine. "The UK and US will reaffirm their commitment to reaching a peace agreement," reads a Foreign Office note.

This evening European Council President Antonio Costa and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will attend a dinner organised by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, together with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. This was announced by the spokesmen of the two EU presidents.

"When Moscow says that it largely agrees with the US strategy document, we have to ask ourselves questions. And one can understand why Moscow supports it. Because on Ukraine the aim is not a just and lasting peace but the cessation of hostilities in order to have stable relations with Russia. We had found it before 2014, we then began to doubt with the seizure of Crimea, and after 2022 Russia became a threat to our security'. This was said by European Council President Antonio Costa.

Today, the EU Council formally adopted the European Defence Industry Programme (EDAP), the instrument aimed at strengthening EU defence readiness by enhancing the competitiveness and responsiveness of the European defence industrial and technological base. The adoption marks the final stage of the legislative procedure and will enable the timely implementation of the programme. The EoP is the cornerstone of the EU's renewed commitment to enhancing its defence readiness.

Edip will strengthen the capacity of Member States to deal with current and future threats, improve the competitiveness of the industrial sector and ensure the availability and timely supply of defence products throughout the Union. The programme provides EUR 1.5 billion in grants for the period 2025-2027. Out of this amount, EUR 300 million is earmarked for a support facility for Ukraine, a key and unique instrument aimed at modernising and supporting the Ukrainian defence industry and facilitating its integration into the wider European defence industrial ecosystem. Edip also allows for potential further budget reinforcements in the future, for instance through voluntary financial contributions from Member States or third parties. Under the programme, the EU will finance: - Joint procurement actions by at least three countries (of which at least two must be Member States), including those related to the creation and maintenance of defence industrial readiness pools. - industrial reinforcement actions, consisting of activities to increase the production capacity of critical defence products. - the launch of European Defence Projects of Common Interest, collaborative industrial projects aimed at contributing to the development of Member States' military capabilities critical to the Union's security and defence interests. - support actions, including activities to increase interoperability and interchangeability and activities to facilitate access to the defence market for SMEs, mid-capitalisation companies and start-ups.

The territorial issue remains 'the most problematic' in the negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, a representative close to the dossier explained in an interview with Afp. The issue "remains open," he added. "Vladimir Putin does not want to conclude an agreement without Ukraine ceding territory" in the Donbass.

In the last 24 hours, Russian troops have captured the villages of Novodanilovka and Chervone in Ukraine. This was reported by the Russian Defence Ministry, according to the Tass news agency. "Units of the Dnipro Group of Forces have liberated the village of Novodanilovka in the Zaporizhzhia region. Units of the Southern Group of Forces, following active and decisive actions, liberated the village of Chervone, in the Donetsk People's Republic," a statement read.

British Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper will meet with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington in the coming hours, the Foreign Office reported. "The US and Britain will reaffirm their commitment to reaching a peace agreement for Ukraine," the Foreign Office explained, expressing London's support "for Donald Trump's efforts to secure a just and lasting peace".

"If we are allies we must act as allies, and allies do not threaten to interfere in the internal political life of allies, they respect it: we cannot accept this threat of interference in the political life of Europe". European Council President Antonio Costa said this at the annual conference of the Delors Institute, stressing that the US and the EU now "do not share the same vision of the international order".

The Ukrainian Air Force claims to have intercepted 131 of the 149 drones launched by Russia overnight. This was reported by the BBC, pointing out that no missiles were involved in the air attack and the number of Uavs is relatively low compared to the 175 launched the night before and the 585 between Friday and Saturday. According to the Ukrainian authorities, unintercepted Russian drones last night killed a 51-year-old civilian in Kryvyi Rih, central Ukraine, and wounded seven residents of a high-rise building in Okhtyrka, northern Sumy region. In addition, the raids wounded three residents of an apartment building in Chernihiv, also in northern Ukraine, and caused a fire in Fastiv, a town about 70 km south-west of Kiev.

"We worked for several days in the US together with Andrii Hnatov with President Trump's representatives. I am grateful for the constructive work. The main task of the Ukrainian team was to obtain full information from the American side about their talks in Moscow and all drafts of the current proposals, in order to discuss them in detail with the president of Ukraine. Together with all partners, we must do everything possible for a dignified conclusion to this war. Today we will provide the President of Ukraine with complete information on all aspects of the dialogue with the American side and all documents'. Secretary of the Ukrainian National Security and Defence Council and head of the Kiev negotiating team Rustem Umerov writes this on X. "We are working as intensively as possible," he stressed.

The leaders of Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Sweden, Finland and Ireland write to the President of the European Council, António Costa, and the President of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, expressing support for the proposal of a reparation loan for Kiev and stressing the urgency of taking a decision at the summit scheduled for 18 December in the face of Russia's "imperialistic ambitions" that "threaten European security beyond Ukraine's borders". "Considering the current scale and urgency of Ukraine's budgetary and military needs, we strongly support the Commission's proposal for a repair loan financed by cash balances from Russian assets tied up in the EU," the leaders write. "Besides being the most financially feasible and politically realistic solution, it responds to the fundamental principle of Ukraine's right to compensation for the damage caused by aggression," they add. "Time is of the essence. By taking a decision on the reparation loan at the December European Council, we will have the opportunity to put Ukraine in a stronger position to defend itself and in a better position to negotiate a just and lasting peace," the leaders emphasise, saying they are "ready to work constructively" with EU leaders to achieve this goal.

France, which supported the granting of a reparation loan to Ukraine, has refused to include the funds frozen in the republic's private banks in it, writes the Russian news agency Tass, citing the Financial Times newspaper. According to the publication, private banks ;are subject to different contractual obligations than the Belgian depository Euroclear. An anonymous official stated that French banks are not willing to participate in discussions on the possibility of transferring Russian assets to Kiev. French banks hold around EUR 18 billion in Russian assets, the second highest figure in Europe, the newspaper said. Belgium, the largest holder of Russian assets, holds about EUR 7 billion in private bank accounts. The names of the banks are confidential. Currently, about EUR 210 billion in Russian sovereign assets are frozen in Europe. Of these, EUR 185 billion are held in accounts with the depositary Euroclear in Belgium. Neither the European Commission nor the EU countries have officially announced the exact location of the remaining EUR 25 billion.

Russian drones struck Chernihiv, Okhtyrka and the Dnipropetrovsk region of Ukraine overnight. The toll is one person dead, several injured, including children, as well as numerous fires and damaged houses. This was announced by the authorities, according to the Kyiv Post. The Dsns, Ukraine's State Emergency Service, confirmed that one person died and five others were injured in the attacks launched by Moscow in the Dnipropetrovsk region, including two children. In addition, a Russian drone crashed near an apartment building in Chernihiv early this morning, injuring three people and causing extensive damage, according to Dsns. The drone exploded near a residential building, shattering windows and starting a fire.

In London today Zelensky will see Starmer, Macron and Merz. Meloni won't be there, however, who let it be known that she has heard from the Ukrainian leader, explaining that she will host him in Rome in the coming days. 'We are already starting a new diplomatic week: there will be consultations with European leaders. First of all, security issues, support for our resilience, support packages for our defence', then 'air defence, long-term financing for Ukraine. Of course, we will also talk about a common vision, common positions in negotiations,' the Ukrainian president wrote in a post on Telegram.

The changes adopted by Donald Trump on the national security strategy - which harshly criticises Europe evoking the risk of "erasure of civilisation" - are "consistent" with Moscow's vision and can ensure "constructive work" with the US on the Ukrainian solution. This was said by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov quoted by Tass. "The adjustments are largely consistent with our vision," he noted. "Perhaps we can hope that this can be a modest guarantee that we will be able to constructively continue the joint work to find a peaceful solution in Ukraine."

A friend in Washington who had been following the Gaza ceasefire negotiations explains how the American negotiator Steve Witkoff had asked who was the Marwan Bargouti whose release Hamas was insistently demanding. This is not a far-fetched episode, it is the new normal. With the second Trump administration, the era of professional diplomacy is over, replaced by one based on transaction: it is not the details of a conflict, however important they may be, nor the moral principles that must lead to peace that count, but business opportunities.

The 33-page National Security Strategy, America's foreign policy guide for the three-year period and - perhaps - beyond, is the epitome of this new worldview. Some time ago Ursula von der Leyen stated that 'the West as we know it no longer exists'. The document that bears Donald Trump's signature definitively confirms this. Unless in a fortnight the president changes his mind again: this too is a constant of the new normality in which we live, disoriented.

"We are talking to Putin and Ukrainian leaders, including Zelensky. I have to say I'm a bit disappointed that Zelensky hasn't read the proposal yet. I think Russia agrees, I'm not sure Zelensky agrees, his likes it." This was said by Donald Trump responding to those asking him about the latest developments in the Ukraine peace talks and the next steps.