US-Ukraine peace talks a ‘work in progress’, says Zelenskyy’s most senior aide, as officials meet in Jeddah – Europe live | Ukraine

In a very 2025 development, Yermak just posted a further update: two pictures of both Ukrainian and US delegations in Jeddah with an emoji of a handshake.

What does he mean? Could this be the US-Ukraine minerals deal done? Let’s see.

*Suspicious side-eye emoji*

We will bring you more if and when the two sides choose to use words instead of emoji.

Andriy Yermak, most senior aide in Zelenskyy’s presidential office, posted a social media update from under the table as US-Ukraine talks continue:

Work in progress.

The Kremlin warned Russians not to get carried away by what the administration of US president Donald Trump is doing over Ukraine even though its actions may sometimes look hopeful for Moscow and to always “prepare for the worst,” Reuters reported.

“Don’t rush to put on rose-tinted spectacles,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told an audience at Moscow’s Higher School of Economics on Tuesday, delivering a reality check to Russians excited by Trump’s apparently friendlier behaviour towards them, which has completely upended the policy of the previous U.S. administration.

“We always need to hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. And we must always be ready to defend our interests,” said Peskov.

His warning came as US and Ukrainian officials held talks in Saudi Arabia that are partly designed to determine whether Ukraine is willing to make material concessions to Russia to end the war. If the talks go well, Kyiv hopes Trump may resume military aid and full intelligence sharing, Reuters noted.

Polish prime minister Donald Tusk has just offered more detail on his plans for voluntary large-scale military training of Poland’s adult population as the country scales up its preparedness in the context of continuing Russian aggression in the region and its invasion of Ukraine.

He said the government’s plans to expand existing training programmes as soon as possible, so that everyone who wants to take part can do so in 2026, and expanding the target to be able to train 100,000 people in 2027.

Anyone taking part in the month-long training gets a one-off salary of 6,000 Polish złoty (€1,431), Tusk said.

The scheme will be open to all adults between 18 and 60 years old. They will also get additional dual-use training opportunities, for example an expedited course to get a driving licence for larger transport vehicles.

Further details of the draft law implementing these plan are expected “by the end of March,” he said.

Back to Ukraine, Dutch defence minister Ruben Brekelmans also spoke at the Paris conference this morning, warning that “Europe is standing at the crossroads,” as “the treats imposed by Russia is only growing” and “we don’t have much time to get this right, we only have one shot.”

In a very pointed reference, Brekelmans alluded to Trump’s recent comments on Nato’s Article 5:

Nato was established in 1949 to prevent future wars through unified strength.

And nowadays, when we walk towards the entrance of the Nato headquarters, we pass a large piece of the Berlin Wall on the left side, it’s a symbol of the end of the Cold War, [and] to the right side, we see a twisted and mangled piece of steel from the twin towers, a reminder of 9/11 and a reminder of the impact of terrorism.

It’s also a reminder of our American allies asking for help, and a reminder of European allies answering that call.

In a stark reminder of what is at stake, he added:

I cannot help but wonder, what relics of war will come to stand next to these five to 10 years from now?

Will it be a piece of concrete from an apartment building in Kharkiv?

Will it be a section of a internet cable from the North Sea?

It’s impossible to predict, but what I do already know is that our actions in these coming days and coming weeks will be crucial in shaping the next five to 10 years.

On Ukraine specifically, Brekelmans said:

President Zelensky should not have to agree to a deal that would result in some sort of interbellum, with aggression constantly looming on the horizon.

He needs to negotiate from a position of strength.

He then directly warned about Russia’s president Vladimir Putin saying:

Putin has made very clear that Ukraine is not his final stop on his campaign to the imperial past.

He will continue his aggressive, aggressive efforts to increase the influence and the territory of the Russian Empire towards his dream to reestablish a Russkiy Mir, or a Russian world.

It’s a dream for Putin, and it’s a nightmare for the rest of Europe.

It’s time we let Putin wake up to the fact that his dreams do not match reality.

…

No matter how brutal this war has become, Ukrainians cannot be silenced. They can be forced into submission.

Ukrainians are fighting at the frontline of our freedom and security against Russian tyranny and aggression. It’s the frontline of the freedom and security of Europe.

Voting is now under way in Greenland as the island’s population goes to the poll in a snap parliamentary election overshadowed by questions about its future relations with Denmark and the US.

The vote has attracted global attention after Donald Trump’s repeated assertions about acquiring the autonomous territory, using military and economic force if necessary.

Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen posted a social media note “wishing everyone in Greenland a very good election day.”

The polling stations have just opened at 9am local time (11am GMT) and the voting will continue until 8pm (10pm GMT). There are no exit polls, and we are expecting the results to filter through the night.

With an electorate of approximately 40,000 – of a population of 57,000 – the margins are small, and 31 seats in the Greenlandic parliament, Inatsisartut, are up for grabs.

There are six parties on the ballot. With 12 seats in the Inatsisartut, the biggest party going into the election was Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA), which, led by prime minister Múte Egede, ran the governing coalition.

Siumut, led by Erik Jensen, is the second biggest party with 10 seats. For the last two years the two parties have been in coalition government. Before that, IA was in coalition with Naleraq, which brings us on to another of the key players.

With four seats, Naleraq is the largest opposition party going into the election. The party, led by Pele Broberg, a former government minister, has been gaining traction with its promise to hold a snap vote on independence. It is the most open of the parties to collaborating with the US.

Even with all the external drama around Trump, the biggest talking points of the election have been perennial domestic ones: economy, welfare, job creation, healthcare, education, fisheries.

Independence and the relationship with Denmark and the US are also normal subjects in Greenlandic elections – but this time voters and politicians have had the additional pressure of the world watching and providing commentary.

(Extra shout out to Greenland’s national newspaper Sermitsiaq noting our coverage and our front page today, hello and Aluu!).

Read our Nordic correspondent Miranda Bryant’s full preview here:

Over in Paris, French armed forces minister Sébastien Lecornu has just opened the Paris Defence and Strategy Forum, which will see over 30 army chiefs coming together for a chat on what Europe and the west can offer in support of Ukraine as part of a peacedeal with Russia.

Lecornu said Europe was facing “a new period” in its history, distinctively different from both the cold war and “the period of peace dividends,” with multiple global powers fighting for influence.

In a pointed reference to the new US administration, he said that today’s discussions will look at how Nato and the west could defend the eastern flank “if tomorrow the contributions of certain countries – or one country in particular – were to decrease” their presence.

On Ukraine, he said that more planning was needed to back any potential ceasefire in Ukraine, knowing that Russia has a history of not respecting similar arrangements.

Crucially, the French minister said that France would “refuse any demilitarisation of the Ukrainian army,” considering it an important part of any future security architecture.

Andriy Yermak, the most senior adviser to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has also written for the Guardian about today’s talks in Jeddah.

As I arrive in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, a ceasefire in the three-year war the Russian Federation has waged on my country has never seemed closer. …

A ceasefire in Ukraine will not come through diplomatic gestures alone. A number of conditions are crucial beforehand in order to ensure that peace – when it comes – is lasting. This includes putting political and financial pressure on Russia to raise the cost of renewed conflict. …

A stronger, safer and more resilient Europe – militarily, politically and economically – is our shared goal. Securing a meaningful ceasefire is the first step. This requires a Europe that is economically and politically resilient. Europe must be prepared to act to deliver its own security, and Russia must understand the political and economic cost of using force to achieve its ends.

Read his thoughts in full:

Polish prime minister Donald Tusk has just posted a social media update, stressing the importance of today’s US-Ukraine talks in Jeddah.

He said:

Dear Americans, dear Ukrainians, don’t waste this chance. The whole world is watching you in Jeddah today. Good luck!