Kremlin says ‘much to be done’ on Ukraine ceasefire deal as Zelenskyy warns Putin will manipulate plan – Europe live


Kremlin repeats Waltz’s line on ‘cautious optimism’ on ceasefire

The Kremlin said there were “reasons to be cautiously optimistic” in discussion on ceasefire, but “there is still much to be done,” in further discussions between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump.

People gesture as they look at the city’s skyline and the Kremlin, in Moscow, Russia. Photograph: Yuri Kochetkov/EPA

Speaking after last night’s visit of US special envoy Steve Witkoff, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters that “when Mr Witkoff brings all the information to President Trump, we will determine the timing of a conversation (between Trump and Putin).”

“There is an understanding on all sides that such a conversation is needed. There are reasons to be cautiously optimistic,” Peskov added.

Peskov’s line repeats the same language used by US national security adviser Mike Waltz in an overnight interview with Fox.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously accused Russian president Vladimir Putin of “manipulative” response to the US proposal for a ceasefire, saying Putin pretended to accept it “at the moment he is, in fact, preparing to reject it.”

“Putin does this often – he doesn’t say ‘no’ outright, but he drags things out and makes reasonable solutions impossible,” he said.

Key events

German parties reach agreement on spending, debt reform plans

German chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz attends a press conference after he reached an agreement with the Greens on a massive increase in state borrowing just days ahead of a parliamentary vote next week, in Berlin, Germany. Photograph: Axel Schmidt/Reuters

As it’s now confirmed: the three German parties involved in discussions on creating a new €500bn euros fund boosting public spending and relaxing the constitutional debt break have agreed on the final shape of the proposal, presumed chancellor Friedrich Merz confirmed.

The conservative CDU/CSU party, which won last month’s parliamentary elections, have agreed with the social democratic SPD, it’s likely next coalition partner, and the Greens, moving back to the opposition, on the structure of the proposal.

As a result of pressure from the Greens, who threatened to withhold their support and potentially derail the process, the Climate and Transformation Fund will be doubled from the originally proposed 50bn to €100bn. All new spending will also be subject to the additionality clause, meaning it will not be available for already existing projects.

In line with earlier proposals, defence spending above 1% GDP will be exempt from the debt brake, but the definition of defence expanded to cover more areas, including the German army, civil protection, intelligence services, data and information security, and – crucially – support for other states attacked under international law, like Ukraine.

The chance should enable Germany to quickly ramp up it defence spending from the current level of 2.12% GDP.

Or, as Merz put it, “this agreement is a message to our friends and opponents, the enemies of freedom: we are capable of defence, we are fully prepared …, there will be no shortage of resources to defend freedom and peace on our continent.”

“Germany is back,” he added.

The proposal also includes some fiscal flexibility for German states, amounting to 0.35% of GDP.

The co-leader of SPD, Lars Klingbeil, said the agreed plan marked “a powerful boost” for Europe’s largest economy.

“We have laid the foundation for Germany to get back on its feet and protect itself,” he said.

The Green party is expected to host is press conference a bit later, and we will bring you the key lines from their briefing then.

The Bundestag will vote on the plan on Tuesday.



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