‘Nato is stepping up,’ Trump acknowledges as he praises secretary general Rutte
Trump also gets asked about Nato, and he praises Rutte for making the alliance step up.
Nato is stepping up through this man.
This man is a man that only knows how to step up. And we have the same goal in mind.
We want the war ended, and he’s doing his job. He only knows how to do a good job. That’s one thing. That’s why I fought for him to get that job, because they had some other candidates that I’ll tell you would not have done a very good job.
Rutte jokes he will need a clip of his comments for his family archives.
Trump then repeats his line that US spends too much even though “we are on the other side of the ocean.”
But he adds that the new minerals deal with Ukraine “will get us something back, a lot back,” even as he complains “we were treated very unfairly” by Europeans.
Key events
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Putin set out ‘sweeping conditions’ for truce – analysis
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Ukraine ‘will not go for frozen conflict,’ top Zelenskyy aide says
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Fears of Russian invasion on Nato allies ‘not justified’, Trump says
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Trump says he has leverage on Russia, but doesn’t want to use it for now
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‘Boat landed there 200 years ago and they have rights to it?,’ Trump mocks Denmark’s rule over Greenland
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‘Nato is stepping up,’ Trump acknowledges as he praises secretary general Rutte
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‘Very disappointing’ if Russia rejects proposals, Trump says; adds he is open to talk to Putin
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‘We will make sure’ Russia does not attack US allies, Trump says
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Annexation of Greenland ‘will happen,’ says Trump
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Putin’s statement ‘promising, not complete,’ Trump says as he hopes ‘Russia will do right thing’
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Putin could put forward maximalist demands in talks with US
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Behind Putin’s apparently positive rhetoric on ceasefire, there is a trap on ‘root causes’ – snap analysis
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Putin’s comments on Ukraine and US ceasefire proposals – summary
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Putin and Lukashenko joke about Europe being ‘done for’ on energy
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If Russia and US agree, ‘Ukraine and Europe will be done for,’ Lukashenko says
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‘There are issues we need to discuss,’ Putin says about ‘good’ US ceasefire proposal as he hints at phone call with Trump
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Putin says Russia ‘agrees’ with proposals, but need to ‘remove root causes of crisis’
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Putin and Lukashenko give press conference in Moscow
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Russia, US ‘yet to agree’ on presidential phone call, not expected today
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Sweden confirms its ‘largest ever civilian aid programme’ for Ukraine
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Ukraine needs guarantees as Putin’s ambitions ‘are barely disguised,’ UK’s Starmer says
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New graft scandal rocks European Parliament with probe into alleged corruption
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Putin aide Ushakov’s comments on US ceasefire proposal on Ukraine – video
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‘Entire world is ripping us off,’ Trump says after multiple digs at the EU
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‘Nothing’ for Russia in US ceasefire proposal, Putin aide says
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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
Putin set out ‘sweeping conditions’ for truce – analysis
Pjotr Sauer
Russian affairs reporter
Vladimir Putin has said he has many questions about the proposed US-brokered ceasefire with Ukraine and appeared to set out a series of sweeping conditions that would need to be met before Russia would agree to such a truce.
The Russian leader suggested that Ukraine should neither rearm nor mobilise and that western military aid to Kyiv be halted during the 30-day ceasefire.
At the same time, Putin said that he agreed in principle with US proposals to halt the fighting and complemented Trump for his efforts to stop the war.
By avoiding an outright rejection of Trump’s ceasefire proposal, Putin appears to be balancing between not openly rebuffing Trump’s push for peace while also imposing his own stringent demands – potentially prolonging negotiations.
Ukraine ‘will not go for frozen conflict,’ top Zelenskyy aide says
In the meantime, Andriy Yermak, the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, said that Ukraine will not agree to a frozen conflict with Russia.
“We will not go for a frozen conflict, our US partners are also against such a scenario. We are against Minsk 3, and Europe will be included in the peace process,” he said.
In a TV clip, posted also on his social media accounts, he further said that Ukraine had agreed with the US that representatives from Europe will definitely take part in the peace process.
Jakub Krupa
And that’s it for comments from Trump-Rutte meeting at the White House.
Fears of Russian invasion on Nato allies ‘not justified’, Trump says
Trump also gets asked about fears among some Nato allies about the aggressive position of Russia and if he thinks these fears are justified.
No, I think [so].
When this gets done, it’s done, they’re going to all want to go home and rest.
I don’t see it happening.
And we’ll make sure it doesn’t happen. Not going to happen, but we’ll make sure it doesn’t happen.
Trump says he has leverage on Russia, but doesn’t want to use it for now
Trump also gets asked about his leverage on Russia.
He insists he “does have a leverage,” but doesn’t want to talk about it because “we’re talking to him and based on the statements he made today, they were pretty positive.”
I hope Russia is going to make the deal too. …
I don’t think they’re going back to shooting again. I really believe if we had … if we get a peace treaty, a ceasefire treaty I think that leads to peace, that’s going to really lead to peace.
I don’t think anyone wants to go back [to shooting]. …
And I think if, if President Putin agrees and does a cease fire, I think we’re going to … be in very good shape to get it done.
Trump repeats again that he stepped up the US support for Ukraine and “stopped” the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.
‘Boat landed there 200 years ago and they have rights to it?,’ Trump mocks Denmark’s rule over Greenland
On Greenland, Trump gets asked about his vision for potential annexation of the island.
“Well, I think it will happen. I’m just thinking, I didn’t give it much thought before, but I’m sitting with a man that could be very instrumental,” he says, as he turns to Rutte saying “Mark, we need that for international security … as we have a lot of our favourite players, cruising around the coast.”
Rutte distances himself from his comments on annexing Greenland, but says Trump is right talking about growing risks in the North Arctic.
Trump is then asked about the recent elections in Greenland, and says “it was a good election for us.”
“The person that did the best is a very good person as far as we are concerned, so we will be talking about it and it is very important,” he says.
The president says the US “is going to order” 48 icebreakers, and that would help to strengthen US position “as that whole area is becoming very important.”
“So we are going to have to make a deal on that and Denmark is not able to do that [offer protection],” he says.
He then mocks Denmark saying they have “nothing to do with that” as “a boat landed there 200 years ago or something, and they say they have rights to it?” “I don’t know if that is true.”
“We have been dealing with Denmark, we have been dealing with Greenland, and we have to do it,” he says.
He again suggests Nato could be involved given its bases there, asking defence secretary Pete Hegseth if he should send more troops there. “Don’t answer that Pete,” he laughs.
‘Nato is stepping up,’ Trump acknowledges as he praises secretary general Rutte
Trump also gets asked about Nato, and he praises Rutte for making the alliance step up.
Nato is stepping up through this man.
This man is a man that only knows how to step up. And we have the same goal in mind.
We want the war ended, and he’s doing his job. He only knows how to do a good job. That’s one thing. That’s why I fought for him to get that job, because they had some other candidates that I’ll tell you would not have done a very good job.
Rutte jokes he will need a clip of his comments for his family archives.
Trump then repeats his line that US spends too much even though “we are on the other side of the ocean.”
But he adds that the new minerals deal with Ukraine “will get us something back, a lot back,” even as he complains “we were treated very unfairly” by Europeans.
‘Very disappointing’ if Russia rejects proposals, Trump says; adds he is open to talk to Putin
Trump reveals a bit more of what was going on in negotiations on the ceasefire as he says that “a lot of individual subjects have been discussed.”
Well, we’d like to see a cease fire from Russia. And we have, you know, not been working in the dark.
We’ve been discussing … Ukraine land and pieces of land that would be kept and lost, and all of the other elements of a final agreement. There’s a power plant involved. You know, very big power plant involved. Who’s going to get the power plant and who’s going to get this and that?
And so, you know, it’s, it’s not an easy process. But phase 1 is the ceasefire.
He goes on:
We’ve been discussing concepts of land because you don’t want to waste time with the ceasefire, if, it’s not going to mean anything. So we’re saying: look, this is what you can get, this is what you can’t get.
They discuss Nato, and being in Nato, and everybody knows what the answer to that is, it. Know that answer for 40 years, in all fairness.
So a lot of the details of a final agreement have actually been discussed. Now we’re going to see whether or not Russia is there, and if they’re not, it’ll be a very disappointing moment for the world.
On Putin’s first reaction, he says it was “a very promising statement, but it wasn’t complete,” and adds “I would love to meet with him or talk to him, but we have to get it over with fast.”
As part of his opening statement, Trump talks about Nato and how countries need to step up and pay their fair share (including, once again, a pointed praise of Poland for spending above targets).
He says that his comments that “I won’t protect if you are not paying” got you criticism from Russia, but “if [I didn’t say that,] nobody would have paid.”
He then goes back to Ukraine and Russia, and says:
We’re getting words that things are going okay in Russia, but that doesn’t mean anything until we hear what the final outcome is.
But they have very serious discussions going on right now with President Putin and others, and hopefully they all want to end this nightmare.
…
So we hopefully are going to be in a good position sometime today to have a good idea.
We’ll have we know where we are with Ukraine, and we are getting good signals out of Russia as to where we are with Russia, and hopefully they’ll do the right thing.
Trump opens the meeting welcoming Nato secretary general Rutte – “a friend of mine” – to the White House.
He says the pair will be discussing what is happening with respect to Ukraine and Russia, as he stresses that “at this moment, we have people talking in Russia,” “in serious discussions.”
“As you know, Ukraine has agreed subject to this what’s happening today to a complete cease fire, and we hope Russia will do the same,” he says.
In response, Rutte says that Europeans are “commiting to much higher defence spending,” but says “we need to do more,” including on “producing more weaponry.”
“We are not doing enough, not in the US, not in Europe, and we are lacking behind when you compare to the Russians and the Chinese,” he said.
Rutte also commands Trump for “breaking the deadlock” on Ukraine.
Jakub Krupa
Just to give you a glimpse of what is going on and a peek behind the scenes explaining why we cannot immediately bring you Trump’s comments in full.
The way it works is that there is only a handful of reporters inside the Oval Office who report the key lines – and that’s what we have been bringing you over the last half hour – but we only get to see the full record of their meeting on delay, once it is over.
But we’re getting it now, so expect more quotes any moment now.
‘We will make sure’ Russia does not attack US allies, Trump says
In more quotes coming out from that meeting, Trump is quoted as saying he did not think Russia would attack US allies.
“It’s not going to happen. We’ll make sure it doesn’t happen,” he said.
Annexation of Greenland ‘will happen,’ says Trump
In other news lines coming from that meeting, Trump is quoted by Reuters as saying about the annexation of Greenland that “I think that will happen.”
“We are going to have to make a deal on Greenland,” he reportedly added.
These words are likely to prompt a strong reaction from Copenhagen and from Nuuk, as both have publicly rejected Trump’s interest.
Again: we will bring you more as soon as we have it.
Putin’s statement ‘promising, not complete,’ Trump says as he hopes ‘Russia will do right thing’
We are getting first lines from inside the Oval Office, where Donald Trump is meeting Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte.
Reuters is reporting that Trump said that Putin “put out a very promising statement but it wasn’t complete,” and that he was willing to talk to the Russian president to secure a ceasefire.
“Hopefully Russia will do the right thing,” he is quoted as saying.
We will bring you full quotes as soon as we have them.
Putin could put forward maximalist demands in talks with US
Pjotr Sauer
Russian affairs reporter
Observers believe Vladimir Putin is determined to put forward a string of maximalist demands before agreeing to any ceasefire, which is likely to prolong negotiations.
These demands could include the demilitarisation of Ukraine, an end to western military aid, and a commitment to keeping Kyiv out of Nato. Moscow may also push for a ban on foreign troop deployments in Ukraine and international recognition of Putin’s claims to Crimea and the four Ukrainian regions Russia annexed in 2022.
Putin could also revisit some of his broader demands from 2021, which go beyond Ukraine, including a call for Nato to halt the deployment of weapons in member states that joined after 1997, when the alliance began expanding into former communist countries.
Many in Europe fear these conditions for peace could weaken the west’s ability to increase its military presence and could allow Putin to expand his influence across the continent.
Moscow’s confident rhetoric is reinforced by its recent battlefield gains.
On Thursday, the Kremlin said its forces were in the final stages of expelling Ukraine’s army from the Kursk region, where Kyiv had seized Russian territory last year in the hope of using it as leverage in peace negotiations.
Behind Putin’s apparently positive rhetoric on ceasefire, there is a trap on ‘root causes’ – snap analysis
Jakub Krupa
Putin’s response to the ceasefire proposals throws a number of questions back at the White House and Donald Trump.
While on-the-surface theoretically signalling his support for the ceasefire, the Russian president has raised a number of serious issues with the US proposal, including on Kursk, policing of the ceasefire, and – perhaps most significantly – on “removing the root causes of this crisis,” as he sees them.
That phrase in particular will raise eyebrows in a number of European capitals, not only Kyiv, given Putin’s previous comments on what he claimed “provoked” Russia, both in Ukraine, and even going beyond that, back to Nato’s expansion eastwards in 1997.
He will no doubt expand on his issues with the proposed deal in his meeting with US special envoy Steve Witkoff, which is expected to be under way imminently, according to Reuters.
But it feels like, for once, Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko’s warning that “the negotiating process between America and Russia holds Europe’s fate in their hands,” should be absolutely treated seriously.
We are likely to hear from Trump soon, as he is about to welcome Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte to the White House.
Putin’s comments on Ukraine and US ceasefire proposals – summary
Russian president Vladimir Putin has said that Russia was technically “in favour” of the proposed ceasefire on Ukraine, but heavily caveated that with “nuances” and “serious issues” that need to be resolved before the proposal can be progressed further.
During the press conference with Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko:
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Putin said that the ceasefire should “lead to an enduring peace, and remove the root causes of this crisis,” which could suggest Russia’s maximalist demands towards Ukraine and the US on broader security environment in eastern Europe.
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He lauded Russian troops for “advancing in practically all areas of the contact line,” and pointed out that the ceasefire must not be used to rearm Ukrainians to mobilise more troops and rearm for further confrontation.
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He further listed a number of practical issues, including on resolving the Ukrainian “incursion” in Russia’s Kursk region and on monitoring any violations.
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He suggested that he would need to negotiate outstanding issues “with our American colleagues and partners,” suggesting “maybe a phone call with President Trump.”
Putin also goes back to his Kursk visit yesterday noting progress made by Russian troops there, as says that next steps on ceasefire will be decided “depending on how the situation on the ground will develop.”
Putin and Lukashenko joke about Europe being ‘done for’ on energy
It appears that the two has now turned to jokes.
Putin says:
I want to add to what Mr Lukashenko said about Europe being done for if Russia and America agree.
Yes, indeed, if Russia and America agree to cooperate on energy, and this is, this is a pun, because a pipeline in Russian means also being done for, so this will be to Europe’s benefit, because they will get cheap Russian gas. So they will have a pipeline.
(The audience laughs at this point.)
“That’s what I meant,” says Lukashenko
“Yes, that’s what I thought you did,” adds Putin.
