EU to hold talks on Ukraine peace plan; US to send officials to Moscow and Kyiv – Europe live

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen will debrief EU lawmakers on the talksOn the latest talks, von der Leyen pointedly welcomes Trump-led peace efforts, and says that “we know that much more effort is needed, but … thanks to the work of Ukraine, the US, and us Europeans over the last few days in Geneva, we have a starting point.”She says the deal needs to deliver “a just and lasting peace” and “real security for Ukraine and Europe,” with no limitation on Ukraine’s armed forces, which she warns “would leave the country vulnerable to future attacks.”“From the start, Russia has always believed that they can outlast Ukraine, Europe and all of its allies. And it is why, every time there is serious progress towards negotiations that can bring about a real peace, the violence escalates. We have seen this before. This is a pattern, and the noises from the Kremlin in the last few days say a lot about its real intentions.For them, Ukraine remains a first step in a much bigger game for Russia. Any peace deal is about permanently redrawing maps; it is about returning to great power relations and spheres of influence. Continue reading...