#Hungary's #Orban urged the #EU to start direct discussions w/ #Russia on a ceasefire in #Ukraine & drop plans for a joint declaration at an extraordinary EU #summit.
Orban said there are "strategic differences in our approach to Ukraine that cannot be bridged".
"I am convinced that the European Union - following the example of the #UnitedStates - should enter into direct discussions w/Russia on a ceasefire & sustainable peace in Ukraine," Orban, a #Trump ally, said.
#CzechRepublic PM Petr Fiala says "#Europe faces a historic test" & has to be able to take care of itself: "Nobody else will do it."
#Fiala said Saturday that Europe has to increase its #military support for #Ukraine & European countries have to increase their arms spending to reach "at least" 3% of GDP.
"If we don't increase our effort fast enough & let the aggressor dictate its conditions, we won't end up well," he said.
#geopolitics #NewWorldOrder #Russia #US
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/european-leaders-back-zelenskyy-trump/
#Slovakia populist PM Robert #Fico repeated his country won't provide #Ukraine any military or financial support that would help it fight #Russia. Fico also demanded that an emergency EU summit in Brussels on Thurs agree to a call for an immediate ceasefire, "which is something that President #Zelenskyy & a majority of #EU member states refuse to do." Fico said his country also wants the summit to specifically request Ukraine to reopen the transit of Russian #gas to #Europe.
#Poland's President Andrzej #Duda has called on #Zelenskyy to return to the negotiating table in order to ensure the #security of his country, arguing that only the #UnitedStates is able to stop #Russia aggression. Duda is a strong supporter of #Ukraine & has friendly ties w/ #Trump.
"Volodymyr Zelenskyy should return to this table, sit calmly at this table, remain calm, negotiate a solution that will make Ukraine safe," Duda said.
[He knows that if Ukraine falls, Poland is next]
French minister of the armed forces says #France's #nuclear deterrent will remain the prerogative of the country's president as #Europe’s leaders mull ways to bolster their #security amid *uncertainty* over #US support. Sebastien Lecornu posted a clarification on social media after French president Emmanuel #Macron said he was ready to open discussions on a possible European nuclear deterrent.
#geopolitics #Zelensky #Ukraine #Putin #Russia #Trump #UnitedStates #NewWorldOrder #ForeignPolicy
Future #Germany leader Friedrich #Merz has suggested that #Britain & #France could "share" their #nuclear weapons in the future.
German Foreign Minister Annalena #Baerbock said "a new era of nefariousness" had begun in the wake of #Trump's treatment of #Zelenskyy at the White House, but vowed that it would only increase her country's commitment to #Ukraine.
#geopolitics #Russia #UnitedStates #NewWorldOrder #ForeignPolicy
"Many of you will have slept fitfully tonight in the face of the unspeakable videos from the White House. Frankly, so did I. Unfortunately, this was not a bad dream, but a violent reality," #Germany’s #Baerbock said. "Our horror is greater today than before, but so is our commitment to the people of #Ukraine, to our own #security & to #peace in #Europe."
She described Ukraine as "part of free & #democratic Europe" & said there is no question who the aggressor is & who is "the brave defender.”
