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The European Union executive on Wednesday announced plans for a major revamp of its economic strategy to meet demands of the bloc's captains of industry who have long complained about excessive taxation, sky high energy prices and an overbearing bureaucracy that makes the bloc unattractive. At the same time, environmental groups say that far-reaching deregulation and the boosting of conditions for energy-intensive companies will come at the cost to the EU's ambitious climate targets. Speaking to a conference of industrial leaders in the Belgian port city of Antwerp, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that “we want to cut the ties that still hold you back. So that Europe can be not only a continent of industrial innovation, but also a continent of industrial production.” EU Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra called it “a game changer for Europe’s economy," adding the package of plans was the reaction needed to reverse years of decline in the global marketplace. “We’re all too aware that our slow economic growth, our dependencies and the fragmented market we still operate in are increasingly a problem, particularly against a backdrop of volatile geopolitics,” he said. EU Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis said that with the United States becoming a more uncertain ally by the week, the plan should be seen as a “call to action” to set EU industries free from excessive constraints and provide them with aid where necessary. Trump warns Zelenskyy to quickly negotiate war's end with Russia or risk not having a nation to lead "Put simply, we cannot hope or expect to successfully compete in a perilous world with one hand tied behind our backs," Dombrovskis said. Under such conditions there are fears climate commitments could suffer, but Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, who spoke ahead of von der Leye,n insisted choices had to be made. “There is no point in subjecting our industries to regulations that push them out of the markets, forcing them to relocate to regions with less strict climate policies. Neither our economy nor the climate benefits from such an outcome,” he said. In the package of plans ranging from cutting red tape to containing energy prices, the executive commission came up with investments totaling hundreds of billions and savings totaling ten of billions of euros (dollars). For example, Hoekstra said, plans include a “industrial decarbonization” bank, which could raise up to 100 billion euros in the next 10 years. “But then, if you leverage that, if you put private sector money next to that, you could easily add up to a number of 400 billion.” The plans will now go to the EU parliament and the capitals of the 27 member states for further assessment before they can be turned into laws and regulations. Environmental groups already rang the alarm, arguing the plans stand to profit especially fossil fuel intensive companies like steel plants and cement factories. Migrant groups report surge in racist attacks across German city The European Environmental Bureau, which groups 180 nongovernmental organizations in 41 countries, said that Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had effectively reneged on her 2019 European Green Deal, which was long seen as a global standard-bearer. “The European Green Deal was hailed as a ‘man on the moon’ moment,” the EEB said in a statement. “Today, the narrative seems tailored primarily to energy-intensive industries and big corporations. But industrial policy should prioritise public interest, not just industry demands.” Von der Leyen said she would make sure that the environment, or social justice, wouldn't suffer from her deregulation plans. “Let me be clear. Our climate and social goals do not change. Because our commitment to the social market economy is unwavering,” she said.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday warned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that he “better move fast” to negotiate an end to Russia's invasion of Ukraine or risk not having a nation to lead. The rhetoric from Trump toward Ukraine comes amid an escalating back-and-forth between the two presidents and rising tensions between Washington and much of Europe over Trump's approach to settling the biggest conflict on the continent since World War II. Trump's harsh words for Zelenskyy drew criticism from Democrats and even some Republicans in the United States, where Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression has had bipartisan support. Zelenskyy said Trump was falling into a Russian disinformation trap — and was quickly admonished by Vice President JD Vance about the perils of publicly criticizing the new president. Trump, who is trying to bring the fighting to a close on terms that Kyiv says are too favorable to Moscow, used an extended social media post on his Truth Social platform to lash out at Zelenskyy and call the Ukrainian a “dictator without elections." “Think of it, a modestly successful comedian, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, talked the United States of America into spending $350 Billion Dollars, to go into a War that couldn’t be won, that never had to start, but a War that he, without the U.S. and ‘TRUMP,’ will never be able to settle,” Trump said of Zelenskyy, who was a popular television star in Ukraine before running for office. The U.S. has obligated about $183 billion since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, according to the U.S. special inspector general, conducting oversight of American assistance to Ukraine. Trump accused Zelenskyy of being “A Dictator without Elections!!" Due to the war, Ukraine did delay elections that were scheduled for April 2024. He later repeated many of the criticisms of Zelenskyy, who he said has done a “terrible job," during an address before a meeting in Miami of business executives hosted by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund. Trump also contended that Zelenskyy was misusing American aid intended for the war effort and had taken advantage of Democrat Joe Biden's administration. The Republican president was riled by Zelenskyy's charge that Trump "lives in this disinformation space” fostered by Moscow. “We have seen this disinformation. We understand that it is coming from Russia,” Zelenskyy said. US top diplomat Rubio visits the UAE after landmark talks with Russia over Ukraine war Vance told the Daily Mail that Zelenskyy's criticism of Trump was not helping his cause. “The idea that Zelenskyy is going to change the president’s mind by bad mouthing him in public media, everyone who knows the president will tell you that is an atrocious way to deal with this administration,” Vance said. Ukrainian officials, however, continue to raise their concerns about Trump's approach. “Why should dominance be handed over to a country that is an aggressor, a violator of international law, and the author of aggression against Ukraine?” said Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Zelenskyy. “We still do not understand this strategy.” U.S. and Russian officials meeting in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday agreed to negotiate a settlement to an end to the war. Ukrainian and European officials were not included. Trump said Zelenskyy should have worked out a deal earlier. “Zelenskyy better move fast or he is not going to have a Country left,” Trump said. "In the meantime, we are successfully negotiating an end to the War with Russia, something all admit only ‘TRUMP,’ and the Trump Administration, can do. Biden never tried, Europe has failed to bring Peace, and Zelenskyy probably wants to keep the ‘gravy train’ going,” Trump wrote. The rhetoric from Trump went even further than the false charges he made Tuesday against the Ukrainians when he suggested Kyiv was responsible for starting the war. Russia invaded its smaller neighbor. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York was appalled that Trump was blaming Ukraine for Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion. “It’s disgusting to see an American president turn against one of our friends and openly side with a thug like Vladimir Putin,” Schumer said. Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., said he disagreed with Trump's suggestion that Ukraine was responsible. “I think Vladimir Putin started the war," Kennedy said. “I also believe, from bitter experience, that Vladimir Putin is a gangster. He’s a gangster with a black heart” who has Soviet dictator Josef Stalin's "taste for blood.” Trump labels Zelenskyy a 'dictator' amid rising tensions over Russia-Ukraine war Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said Trump's words were insulting to the thousands of Ukrainians who have died in the war and he accused the president of parroting Putin. “I would call on President Trump to apologize to the people of Ukraine, but it would be a waste of breath," Durbin said. “Donald Trump is a pushover for Putin.” Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota is among the Republican lawmakers who have supported Ukraine over the course of the war. He said the Trump administration needed space as it seeks a resolution. “The president speaks for himself,” Thune said about Trump's sharpening rhetoric toward Zelenskyy. "What I want to see is a peaceful result, a peaceful outcome.” The administration has also shown frustration with Zelenskyy for directing his ministers last week not to sign off on a proposed agreement to give the United States access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals. The Ukrainians said the document was too focused on U.S. interests. The proposal, a key part of Zelenskyy’s talks with Vance on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, did not offer any specific security guarantees in return. Trump during his speech in Miami fumed about the Ukrainians walking away from an agreement. “They broke that deal,” Trump charged. Trump, speaking with reporters aboard Air Force One after his speech Wednesday evening, said the U.S. believed it had a deal on accessing Ukraine's critical minerals when Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent travelled to Kyiv last week. Trump added the Ukrainians "agreed to it more or less and then Scott Bessent went there and was treated rather rudely because essentially they told him no.” Ukrainian officials met Wednesday in Kyiv with retired U.S. Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, Trump's special envoy to Ukraine and Russia. Trump living in Russian-made disinformation space: Ukraine's Zelenskyy “It’s an egregious war in the sense of the length of time and casualties there and he understands the human suffering,” Kellogg said of Trump's thinking. “He understands the damage that we can see and we want to see an end to it.”

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni visited Pope Francis in the hospital Wednesday and reported he was “alert and responsive” and full of good humor, despite his diagnosis of pneumonia and a complicated bronchial infection that has sidelined the 88-year-old pontiff for six days. Meloni said she wanted to bring get-well wishes to the pope on behalf of the government and the entire nation. ”We joked around as always. He has not lost his proverbial sense of humor,” she said in a statement issued by her office. Meloni's visit marked the first confirmed outside visitor known to have called on the pope, beyond his secretaries and medical team, since his admission Friday at Rome's Gemelli hospital, where popes have their own suite on the 10th floor. The Vatican has said Francis, who had part of one lung removed as a young man, was up, eating and had gotten out of bed after a tranquil night, a day after tests confirmed he had pneumonia in both lungs on top of asthmatic bronchitis. The visit by Meloni appeared aimed at sending a reassuring message, especially to Italians who haven't seen even a photograph of Francis since Friday. The Italian premier, who came to power in 2022 with a message touting her Christian credentials, has referred in glowing terms to Pope Benedict XVI, who was a reference point for European conservatives like herself. She also has teamed up constructively with Francis on a campaign to reverse Italy’s low birthrate, though they don’t necessarily see eye-to-eye on her government's crackdown on migrants. Her visit came as prayers were pouring in for Francis' recovery. On Wednesday, Francis' vicar for Rome urged all the faithful to devote an hour of silent prayer for the pope before evening vespers services, some visitors to Gemelli lit a candle in his honor and pilgrims who had planned to attend his weekly general audience came to St. Peter's Square anyway to offer a prayer after it was cancelled. “I think many people are disappointed but I think more importantly we really have to pray for his health," said Sister Charlene, a nun from Singapore who was in the piazza. Francis also received another get-well wish from U.S. Vice President JD Vance, whom Francis has recently targeted in criticizing the Trump administration’ s plans for mass deportations of migrants. “Let’s all say a prayer for Pope Francis, who appears to have some serious health issues,” Vance, a Catholic, posted on X from his private account. Double pneumonia shows a more serious infection Francis was admitted to the Gemelli hospital Friday after a weeklong bout of bronchitis worsened. On Monday, medical personnel determined that he was suffering from a polymicrobial respiratory tract infection, meaning a mix of viruses, bacteria and possibly other organisms had colonized in his respiratory tract. Late Tuesday, the Vatican said a chest CT scan showed the onset of bilateral pneumonia on top of asthmatic bronchitis, which is being treated with cortisone and antibiotics. “I think the key will be how how well and quickly he responds to treatment,” said Dr. Andrew Chadwick, a respiratory and intensive care specialist at Oxford University Hospitals. Bronchitis can lead to pneumonia, which is a deeper and far more serious infection of the lungs’ air sacs. Pneumonia can develop in part or all of one lung or in both lungs. It tends to be more serious when both lungs are affected because there isn’t healthy tissue to compensate. Treatment varies by severity but can include providing oxygen through a nasal tube or mask, intravenous fluids — and treatment of the underlying cause of the infection. To date, Francis is breathing on his own and his heart function is said to be good. He has eaten breakfast every day, gotten out of bed, read the newspapers and done some work from his hospital room. “Pope Francis is a strong man who does not let difficulties get him down,” said the Rev. Enzo Fortunato, who heads a new Vatican committee on children. The fact that Francis is keeping up with his ordinary routine, including receiving the Eucharist, “is a sign of a man who wants to experience the ordinariness of illness in the hospital.” Pope at risk of complications The Vatican hasn't provided any information about how Francis is responding to any of the drugs he has been given other than to say he isn't running a fever. The Argentine pope, who has previously admitted to being a non-compliant patient, has a number of conditions that make him particularly at risk for complications: Aside from his age, he is not physically active and uses a wheelchair, limiting his ability to clear the fluids building up in his lungs. Dr. Meredith McCormack, director of pulmonary and critical care medicine at Johns Hopkins University, said doctors will be looking to see if Francis responds to the therapy, which can include physiotherapy to help clear the lungs. Severe cases of pneumonia are typically treated for about one to two weeks, but recovery in an older person could extend beyond that. "Lack of worsening would be an encouraging sign,” said McCormack, who is not involved in Francis' care. The Vatican has given no indication of how long the pope might remain hospitalized, only saying that the treatment of such a “complex clinical picture” would require an “adequate” stay. Pilgrimages continue despite pope's canceled engagements Despite the less than positive news about Francis' condition, Francis was receiving get-well drawings and cards from children being treated in the hospital's oncology ward. And at the Vatican on Wednesday, Holy Year pilgrimages continued, with groups of faithful walking through the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica on a chilly and cloudy day. “We are very happy to be here but we are also sad for the pope’s sickness," said Amparo Alcala’, who was leading a large group of pilgrims from Valencia, Spain. "He is doing great things, most of all for the women in the church, and this gives us a lot of joy. We are praying for his recovery and that he might come back, if this is God’s will.” A group of South Korean pilgrims in traditional costumes had planned to attend Francis' weekly Wednesday general audience and show off their national dress, as pilgrims often do for the pope's weekly appointment. When it was cancelled, they came anyway. “The Lunar New Year was very recent so we also wanted to bow traditionally and formally in front of him," said Junhee Christina Kim, a pilgrim from Seoul, South Korea. "It was too good of a chance to pass up so we came anyway so that we can be in the Vatican in our traditional costumes.”

The Vatican reported that Pope Francis had a restful night and had breakfast on Wednesday after being diagnosed with pneumonia in both lungs, adding to concerns about the 88-year-old pontiff’s ability to combat the infection, reports AP. A Vatican spokesperson shared an early morning update on Wednesday, stating that Francis spent his fifth night at Rome's Gemelli hospital without issues. "He had a peaceful night, woke up, and had breakfast," the spokesperson said. Pope Francis has named the first woman to head a major Vatican office On Tuesday, the Vatican confirmed the pneumonia diagnosis and added that Francis' respiratory infection is accompanied by asthmatic bronchitis, requiring cortisone antibiotic treatment. "Laboratory tests, chest X-rays, and the Holy Father’s clinical condition continue to present a complex picture," the Vatican said. Despite the situation, the pope, who had part of his right lung removed in his youth, remains in good spirits and is thankful for the prayers for his recovery, according to a late update from Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni. Francis was admitted to the Gemelli hospital on Friday in "fair" condition after his bronchitis worsened. On Monday, doctors determined that he had a polymicrobial respiratory tract infection, meaning a mix of viruses, bacteria, and potentially other organisms had infected his airways. A follow-up CT scan on Monday revealed the development of bilateral pneumonia, prompting the need for additional medication, Bruni noted. Bronchitis can lead to pneumonia, a serious infection of the lungs. Pneumonia is more dangerous when it affects both lungs, as there is no healthy tissue to compensate for the damage. Treatment depends on severity but may involve oxygen support, intravenous fluids, and addressing the underlying infection. So far, Pope Francis has not needed supplemental oxygen, has had breakfast daily, read the newspapers, and worked from his hospital room. Pope Francis reprimands Vatican staff for gossiping in annual Christmas message The Vatican has not disclosed how the pope is responding to his medication, other than confirming he does not have a fever. Dr. Carmelo D’Asero, an infectious disease expert, pointed out that the absence of a fever is not necessarily a good sign given the severity of the infection. "A high fever indicates the body’s immune response," he said. "A low fever in the presence of a serious bronchial infection suggests a weaker immune response, which is concerning. It might actually be better if he had a fever." The Vatican has not specified how long the pope might stay in hospital, but noted that his treatment for this "complex clinical picture," which has already led to multiple changes in his medication, will require an "adequate" period of hospitalization. In a hopeful sign, a rainbow appeared over the Gemelli hospital on Tuesday afternoon, and Francis received well-wishes in the form of drawings and cards from children in the hospital’s oncology ward.

When Haben Gebregergish moved to the German city of Magdeburg seven years ago, the Eritrean immigrant was on her way to the supermarket with her child when an intoxicated woman approached her on the street, reports Ap. At the time, Gebregergish did not know enough German to understand the woman’s words. However, when the woman threw a beer bottle at her head, the message became immediately clear. Bangladeshis among 235 undocumented immigrants detained in Malaysia It was one of her earliest encounters with racism, but far from the last. Following a deadly attack at a Christmas market in Magdeburg late last year, Gebregergish and other migrants living in the city say they have witnessed a sharp rise in racism and anti-immigrant sentiment. “We are just like you,” Gebregergish said earlier this month. “We are no different. Like you, we have emotions. Sometimes we feel sad, sometimes we feel happy, just like everyone else.” The Christmas market attack was one of five high-profile incidents involving immigrants over the past nine months, making migration a central issue as the country heads towards an early election on Sunday. The suspect, a Saudi doctor, drove into the crowded holiday market, killing five women and a nine-year-old boy and injuring 200 others. The suspect arrived in Germany in 2006 and was granted permanent residency. Authorities say he does not fit the typical profile of those responsible for extremist attacks. He remains in custody as investigations continue. Pakistan says at least 16 nationals died in migrant boat sinking near Libya A day after the December 20 attack, a large right-wing demonstration took place in Magdeburg, and verbal and physical assaults on people of migrant backgrounds have increased significantly in the city since then, according to the German-Syrian Cultural Association in Magdeburg. “The migrant community and advice centres report that attacks have risen by more than 70% in the city,” said Saeeid Saeeid, a member of the association who moved to Germany from Syria seven years ago. “Racism already existed here and elsewhere. But since the attack, it has escalated dramatically.” Ketevan Asatiani-Hermann, recently elected chair of the board for the Advisory Council for Integration and Migration in Magdeburg, stated that victims of racist attacks in the city often feel unsupported by politicians or the police. “The hatred has always been there, but people were not as open about expressing it before,” said Asatiani-Hermann, who relocated to Magdeburg from Georgia in 2011. She claimed that officers sometimes search or question victims before addressing the perpetrator, and many migrants fear that reporting an attack could negatively affect their residence status. The Magdeburg Police Department did not respond to multiple requests for comment. In a statement, Mayor Simone Borris said: “Cohesion and community are fundamental values of a city that must remain inviolable.” She also directed media to online services for migrants and announced that the city’s cooperation with the Advisory Council for Integration and Migration would be expanded. Magdeburg is situated in the former communist east, a region where the far-right and anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party enjoys its strongest support. Heading into the election, the party is polling in second place with around 20% support and is fielding its first candidate for national leadership. Although it is unlikely to gain power soon, the party has become a force that other politicians cannot ignore, significantly influencing Germany’s migration debate. The election’s outcome—and a potential increase in AfD’s influence—could have a profound impact on Magdeburg’s politics and daily life, Asatiani-Hermann said. Saeeid stated that the city’s migrant community feels isolated and wants direct engagement from elected officials to address their concerns. “We will not allow Magdeburg to become a battleground for racism and hatred,” he said.

 Four candidates are bidding to be Germany's next leader in Sunday's election. The would-be chancellors are the incumbent, the opposition leader, the current vice chancellor and — for the first time — a leader of a far-right party. Olaf Scholz The 66-year-old has been Germany's chancellor since December 2021. The center-left Social Democrat has a wealth of government experience, having previously served as Hamburg's mayor and as German labor and finance minister. As chancellor, he quickly found himself dealing with unexpected crises. He launched an effort to modernize Germany's military after Russia's invasion of Ukraine and made Germany Ukraine's second-biggest weapons supplier. His government prevented an energy crunch and tried to counter high inflation. But his three-party coalition became notorious for infighting and collapsed in November as it argued over how to revitalize the economy — Europe's biggest, which has shrunk for the past two years. Germany's economy shrinks again Friedrich Merz Germany's 69-year-old opposition leader has been the front-runner in the election campaign, with his center-right Union bloc leading polls. He became the leader of his Christian Democratic Union party after longtime Chancellor Angela Merkel — a former rival — stepped down in 2021. Merz has taken his party in a more conservative direction. In the election campaign, he has made curbing irregular migration a central issue. Merz lacks experience in government. He joined the European Parliament in 1989 before becoming a lawmaker in Germany five years later. He took a break from active politics for several years after 2009, practicing as a lawyer and heading the supervisory board of investment manager BlackRock’s German branch. Germany extends border controls for six more months Robert Habeck The 55-year-old is the candidate of the environmentalist Greens. He's also Germany's current vice chancellor and the economy and climate minister, with responsibility for energy issues. As co-leader of the Greens from 2018 to 2022, he presided over a rise in the party's popularity, but in 2021 he stepped aside to let Annalena Baerbock — now Germany's foreign minister — make the party's first run for the chancellor's job. Habeck's record as a minister has drawn mixed reviews, particularly a plan his ministry drew up to replace fossil-fuel heating systems with greener alternatives that deepened divisions in the government. Alice Weidel The 46-year-old is making the first bid of the far-right, anti-immigration Alternative for Germany, or AfD, for the country's top job. An economist by training, Weidel joined the party shortly after it was founded in 2013. She has been co-leader of her party's parliamentary group since the party first won seats in the national legislature in 2017. She has been a co-leader of the party itself since 2022, along with Tino Chrupalla. In December, she was nominated as the candidate for chancellor — though other parties say they won't work with the AfD, so she has no realistic path to the top job at present.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday that NATO membership for Ukraine was unrealistic and suggested Kyiv should abandon hopes of winning all its territory back from Russia and instead prepare for a negotiated peace settlement to be backed up by international troops. Hours later, President Donald Trump said he and Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to begin negotiations on ending the Ukraine war. In a social media post that upended three years of U.S. policy toward Ukraine, the Republican disclosed a call between the two leaders and said they would “work together, very closely.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's office said Zelenskyy and Trump also had a phone conversation. Taken together, the statements by Trump and Hegseth offered the clearest look yet at how the new administration might try to end Europe's largest land war in generations. Hegseth’s warning to Ukraine that it should abandon its NATO bid and its push to reclaim all Russian-occupied territory signaled starkly to Kyiv that the administration’s view of a potential settlement is remarkably close to Moscow’s vision. Putin has declared that any peace deal must ensure that Ukraine gives up its NATO ambitions and withdraws its troops from the four regions that Russia annexed in September 2022 but never fully captured. In sweeping remarks to NATO allies eager to hear how much support Washington intends to provide to the Ukrainian government, Hegseth indicated that Trump is determined to get Europe to assume most of the financial and military responsibilities for Ukraine's defense, including a possible peacekeeping force that would not include U.S. troops. Making the first trip to NATO by a member of the new administration, the defense secretary also said the force should not have Article 5 protections, which would require the U.S. or the 31 other nations of the NATO alliance to come to the aid of those forces if they are attacked by Russia. The secretary's comments were sure to dim Ukraine’s hopes of making itself whole again and to complicate talks later this week between Zelenskyy and U.S. Vice President JD Vance and other senior American officials at a major security conference in Munich. “The United States does not believe that NATO membership for Ukraine is a realistic outcome of a negotiated settlement,” Hegseth told Kyiv’s backers as they gathered at NATO headquarters for a meeting to drum up more arms and ammunition for the war, which will soon enter its fourth year. All 32 allies must agree for a country to join NATO, meaning that every member has a veto. “Instead, any security guarantee must be backed by capable European and non-European troops,” Hegseth said. “To be clear, as part of any security guarantee, there will not be U.S. troops deployed to Ukraine.” At the White House later in the day, Trump commented briefly on Hegseth’s pronouncements on no NATO membership for Ukraine and no return to the country’s previous boundaries. Without calling Hegseth by name, he said: “I know that a new secretary of defense, who is excellent, made a statement today saying that he thinks it’s unlikely or impractical. I think probably that’s true.” Other Western allies said the possibility of Ukraine joining NATO needs to stay on the table. Ukraine ‘may be Russian someday’, says Trump French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said NATO “is still the main guarantee of security for European countries.” Asked about Trump’s phone call with Putin, Barrot said that abandoning Ukraine would “entrench the law of the strongest. It would be an invitation to all the world’s tyrants and despots to invade their neighbors with complete impunity.” Hegseth insisted that NATO should play no role in any future military mission to police the peace in Ukraine and that any peacekeeping troops should not be covered by the part of NATO’s founding treaty that obliges all allies to come to the aid of any member under attack. Article 5 has been activated only once, when European allies and Canada used it to help the United States in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, al-Qaida attacks on New York and Washington. Hegseth also said Europe "must provide the overwhelming share of future lethal and nonlethal aid to Ukraine.” Ukraine currently relies equally on Europe and the U.S. for about 30% each of its defense needs. The rest is produced by Ukraine itself. Speaking with the allies of Ukraine known as the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, Hegseth also insisted that Ukraine’s Western backers must abandon the “illusionary goal” of returning the country to its pre-2014 borders, before Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula and seized parts of eastern Ukraine. “Members of this contact group must meet the moment,” Hegseth said to the approximately 50 member countries that have provided support to Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. In his social media post, Trump said he and Putin “talked about the strengths of our respective Nations, and the great benefit that we will someday have in working together. But first, as we both agreed, we want to stop the millions of deaths taking place" in the war. Trump said the two leaders “agreed to have our respective teams start negotiations immediately." Zelenskyy said he had a “meaningful conversation" with Trump about “opportunities to achieve peace.” He said Trump shared details of his conversation with Putin. Russian drone and missile attacks kill 8 in Ukraine “No one wants peace more than Ukraine,” Zelenskyy posted on X. "Together with the U.S., we are charting our next steps to stop Russian aggression and ensure a lasting, reliable peace. As President Trump said, let’s get it done. We agreed to maintain further contact and plan upcoming meetings.” Talking to reporters after the NATO meeting, U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey said Hegseth’s words would not go unheeded. “We heard his call for European nations to step up. We are, and we will,” Healey said. Healey underlined that “Ukraine’s rightful place is in NATO. That is a process that will take some time.” He also announced that Britain would provide Ukraine with a fresh $187 million “firepower package,” including drones, tanks and air-defense systems. Over nearly three years, those 50 countries have collectively provided Ukraine with more than $126 billion in weapons and military assistance, including more than $66.5 billion from the U.S., which has served as the chair of the group since its creation. Hegseth's trip comes less than two weeks before the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion on Feb. 24, 2022. Most U.S. allies fear that Putin won’t stop at Ukraine’s borders if he wins. Trump has promised to end the war quickly. He’s complained that it’s costing American taxpayers too much money and suggested that Ukraine should pay for U.S. support with access to its rare earth minerals, energy and other resources. Also on Wednesday, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was in Kyiv to discuss a potential economic cooperation agreement with Ukraine that Trump is pushing as part of the foundation for a larger peace deal.

Germany's outgoing government on Wednesday extended by six months the border checks it imposed on all its frontiers last fall as it attempts to cut the number of migrants arriving in the country, an issue that has become a top issue in the campaign for the Feb. 23 election. Chancellor Olaf Scholz said his government notified the European Union's executive commission of the extension to Sept. 15. “With the border controls, we are pushing irregular migration down successfully. The figures prove this," he said. Germany turned back 47,000 people back at its borders, seeing one-third fewer asylum requests year-on-year and arresting 1,900 smugglers. The country was already controlling its borders with Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria and Switzerland before it extended the checks last September to its remaining borders, with France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark. Ukraine ‘may be Russian someday’, says Trump The EU has a visa-free travel area known as Schengen that allows citizens of most member states to travel easily across borders for work and pleasure. Switzerland also belongs to Schengen although it is not an EU member. According to the EU, member states are allowed can temporarily reintroduce border controls in cases of a serious threat, like internal security. But it also says border controls should be applied as a last resort in exceptional situations, and must be limited in time. German opposition leader Friedrich Merz, the front-runner in the election, wants to go further than the current government. He has said that if he becomes chancellor, he would order the Interior Ministry on his first day in office to control all of Germany’s borders permanently and “turn back all attempts at illegal entry without exception.” He argued that EU rules are “recognizably dysfunctional” and Germany must exert a right to the primacy of national law. Scholz argues that Merz's proposal is incompatible with German and EU law and would lead to the EU’s most populous member undermining the bloc.

US President Donald Trump has suggested that Ukraine may come under Russian control “someday” as he pushed for the war-ravaged country to offer its natural resources in exchange for continued US assistance. Speaking in an interview with Fox News on Monday, Trump claimed that he had proposed Kyiv hand over “$500 billion worth of rare earth” as a condition for US support. He further asserted that Ukrainian officials had “essentially agreed” to the proposal. “Ukraine has tremendously valuable land in terms of rare earth, in terms of oil and gas, in terms of other things,” Trump said. “I want to have our money secured because we’re spending hundreds of billions of dollars.” Trump’s remarks have sparked fresh concerns over the future of US aid to Ukraine, especially as his return to the political arena casts uncertainty over billions of dollars in future military and economic assistance to the embattled nation. “They may make a deal, they may not make a deal. They may be Russian someday, or they may not be Russian someday. But we are going to have all this money in there and I say I want it back,” Trump added. Russian drone and missile attacks kill 8 in Ukraine Diplomatic Developments Trump’s comments come just ahead of a planned meeting between Ohio Senator J.D. Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The meeting, reportedly scheduled to take place later this week, is expected to touch on US support for Ukraine and potential paths to ending the ongoing war with Russia. Meanwhile, Trump’s envoy to Ukraine and Russia, retired General Keith Kellogg, has announced that he will discuss US diplomatic efforts at the upcoming Munich Security Conference, set for February 14-16. Following the conference, Kellogg is expected to visit Kyiv on February 20 for what would be his first trip to Ukraine in this capacity, according to Ukrainian state media. Hungary wants the EU to intervene in gas dispute with Ukraine Ukrainian Response There has been no official response from Kyiv regarding Trump’s claims that they had “essentially agreed” to a resource-sharing arrangement. However, Ukrainian leaders have previously maintained that international support should be based on shared democratic values and security interests rather than economic transactions. As Trump continues to voice skepticism over continued US aid, analysts warn that his stance could further complicate Ukraine’s ability to secure long-term military and economic support from Western allies. Starmer pledges 100-year partnership with Ukraine International Reactions Trump’s latest remarks are likely to fuel debates in Washington and among NATO allies over the US’s role in the conflict. While some of his supporters argue for a more transactional approach to foreign aid, critics contend that his statements could embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin and weaken Ukraine’s negotiating position. With Kellogg’s upcoming visits to Munich and Kyiv, further clarity may emerge on the direction of US policy toward Ukraine, particularly if Trump secures a stronger foothold in shaping future diplomatic efforts. Source: Revised version of a CNN story

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis announced his resignation on Monday, succumbing to increasing pressure from populist opposition groups, just two months after a top court annulled a presidential election in the European Union nation, reports AP. "I am stepping down as president of Romania to spare the country from this crisis," Iohannis stated in an emotional speech, confirming he would leave office on February 12. Iohannis, 65, had been president since 2014, serving the maximum two five-year terms. However, his tenure was extended in December after the Constitutional Court invalidated the presidential election two days before the December 8 runoff. This decision followed an unexpected victory in the first round by far-right populist Calin Georgescu, which prompted allegations of Russian interference and electoral fraud. Several opposition parties, including the far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR), the nationalist S.O.S party, the Party of Young People, and some members of the reformist Save Romania Union (USR) party, filed a motion in Parliament seeking Iohannis' removal. It was expected that some members of the governing coalition would also support the motion. “This is a futile effort because, in any case, I will depart office in a few months after the new president is elected,” Iohannis said. “It is an unjustified move as I have never—repeat, never—violated the constitution. And it is a harmful effort because... everyone loses, and no one wins.” He warned that the consequences of his ouster would be “long-lasting and highly detrimental” to Romania, an EU member since 2007 and a NATO member since 2004. "None of our partners will understand why Romania is removing its president when the process for electing a new one is already underway," he said. New dates have been set for the presidential election, with the first round on May 4. If no candidate secures more than 50% of the vote, a second round will be held two weeks later, on May 18. It remains uncertain whether Georgescu will be eligible to participate in the new election. Following Iohannis' resignation announcement, clashes erupted between Georgescu’s supporters and police outside the government building in Bucharest. Elena Lasconi from the USR, who was set to face Georgescu in the runoff, expressed in a statement that Iohannis' resignation was "far too late to be seen as honorable." "I am glad that the pressure USR exerted in Parliament stirred Iohannis from his inaction, and we will not stop here," she said. "We must realign state institutions to serve the citizens, not temporary leaders holding power." She added, "We need truth, justice, and a true leader who will keep us firmly aligned with the West!" AUR leader George Simion posted on X, declaring, "The usurper is finally gone," and added that “if he had not resigned, he would have been impeached by the Romanian Parliament and thrown out.”