Europe

• Ukraine / USA: Trump says Zelensky will sign mineral resources agreement 27 February 2025
  Donald Trump is to meet Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington on 28 February to sign a preliminary agreement on sharing Ukraine’s mineral resources. While Trump touts the deal as a way for the USA to recoup aid given to Ukraine, Zelensky is seeking broader agreements, including security guarantees. However, Trump has…
• Germany: chancellor-elect criticises Trump, struggles to form coalition 27 February 2025
  Following the 23 February election, Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader Friedrich Merz has criticised Donald Trump, calling for European defence independence. He warned that NATO’s future was uncertain and called for urgent action on European security. Despite strong rhetoric, his party won only 28.6% of the vote - its weakest…
• Ukraine: Russia refuses to accept NATO peacekeepers 20 February 2025
  At high-level talks with the USA in Saudi Arabia, foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has declared that Russia will not accept NATO peacekeeping forces in Ukraine under any peace agreement. The discussions marked the first known face-to-face meeting between Russian and American delegations since the invasion began. Both sides agreed to…
• Poland: a response to Vance’s criticism of European leaders 20 February 2025
  Former foreign minister Radosław Sikorski has responded to US vice-president JD Vance’s critique of Europe regarding migration and free speech. Vance, speaking at the Munich Security Conference, criticised European leaders for disregarding the will of their citizens, undermining elections, and failing to protect religious freedoms. He also questioned Britain's abortion…
• Vatican: Pope Francis suffering from pneumonia 20 February 2025
  After being admitted to hospital on 14 February, Pope Francis has developed pneumonia in both lungs, and his condition remains ‘complex’. The 88-year-old pontiff has been battling a respiratory infection for over a week. A follow-up CT scan confirmed bilateral pneumonia, prompting adjustments to his treatment. Despite the serious nature…