Europe News Digest (1-15 March, 2025)

Free Trade Deal with India Could Come This Year - EU Commission Chief

The EU Commission chief visited India on February 27-28, accompanied by the entire College of Commissioners - the first such visit after the European parliamentary elections in June 2024. The head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen said EU and India were pushing to get a free trade agreement during this year. "I am well aware it will not be easy. But I also know that timing and determination counts," von der Leyen said in Delhi, adding that such an agreement would be the largest deal of this kind anywhere in the world. She met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday. Speaking in the Indian capital, she said the two sides wanted to deepen trade and investment collaboration in wide ranging areas like semiconductors, AI and cleantech. India and EU relaunched talks on a long pending free trade agreement in 2021 and are set to hold another round in March. An India-EU summit is also being held later in the year. Click here to read… [2]

Trump, Zelenskyy and Vance’s Heated Argument in the Oval Office

U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance on Friday (February 28, 2025) berated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over the war in Ukraine, accusing him of not showing gratitude after he challenged Mr. Vance on the question of diplomacy with Russia's Vladimir Putin. A high-stakes meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump erupted into a fiery confrontation, with shouting, sharp accusations, and an abrupt dismissal. Zelenskyy was hoping to secure critical minerals deal but no deal was signed, no joint statement was issued, and Zelenskyy’s delegation was asked to leave the White House. Trump doubled down, branding the Ukrainian leader “disrespectful” and questioning his commitment to peace. The explosive White House meeting has cast uncertainty over US-Ukraine relations.

Trump has not ruled out an agreement, but only when Ukraine is ready for a constructive conversation. Click here to read… [3]

‘A Crossroads in History’: Europe Seeks to Take Control of Ukraine Negotiations at Pivotal London Summit

The West is at a “crossroads in history,” Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer told European leaders at a pivotal summit in London on Sunday, as the continent sought to wrestle control of negotiations over the Russia-Ukraine war away from the US and present a united front amid a meltdown in relations between Kyiv and Washington. ” This is not a moment for more talk. It’s time to act,” Starmer said after a monumental day of diplomacy in London, which saw leaders on the continent attempt to forge a path towards a ceasefire in Ukraine. The urgency of the summit in London’s ornate Lancaster House was heightened after US President Donald Trump chastised Zelensky in the Oval Office, appalling the West and delighting Moscow in the process. Zelensky and an ensemble of European leaders were in attendance, at a moment of intense anxiety in the conflict. Starmer told reporters he was working with France and a small number of other nations to craft a plan to stop the fighting, which would then be presented to the US. Click here to read… [4]

Trump Condemns Zelenskyy’s Remarks that War’s End is ‘Far Away’

A statement by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky saying a deal to end the war with Russia was "very far away" has drawn a furious response by Donald Trump. "America will not put up with it for much longer," the US president said in a social media post, before accusing Zelensky of not wanting peace. A summit of mostly European leaders in London on Sunday agreed a four-point plan to guarantee Ukraine's defence in the event of a peace deal with Russia. "Probably not a great statement to have been made in terms of a show of strength against Russia. What are they thinking?" Trump said, apparently referring to the summit held two days after his fiery clash with Zelensky at the Oval Office. The summit - hosted by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer - was intended as a show of support for Ukraine and an attempt to reduce differences between Western countries over Ukraine. Britain and France said they were working on a European-led solution to the conflict. Click here to read… [5]

Trump Pauses US Military Aid to Ukraine following Disastrous Oval Meeting

President Donald Trump has directed a “pause” to US military assistance to Ukraine after a disastrous Oval Office meeting as Trump seeks to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to engage in peace talks with Russia. A White House official said Trump is focused on reaching a peace deal to end the more than three-year war sparked by Russia's all-out invasion of Ukraine, and wants Zelenskyy “committed” to that goal. The official added that the US was “pausing and reviewing” its aid to "ensure that it is contributing to a solution.” The pause is not believed to be a permanent end of US assistance. Trump in the leadup to his 2024 election win vowed to quickly end the war in Ukraine. He's expressed increasing frustration with Zelenskyy over the war, while simultaneously expressing confidence that Russian President Vladimir Putin can be trusted to keep the peace if a truce in the conflict is reached. Click here to read… [6]

EU Pitches €800-bn Plan to ‘ReArm Europe’ as Trump Suspends Military Aid to Ukraine

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented a plan to ‘ReArm Europe’ on March 4, which could see the European Union (EU) Member States mobilise around €800 billion. The announcement comes hours after US President Donald Trump suspended US military aid to Ukraine to pressure Kyiv to engage in negotiations with Russia. “In the various meetings in the last few weeks—most recently two days ago in London—the answer from European capitals has been as resounding as it is clear. We are in an era of rearmament. And Europe is ready to massively boost its defence spending,” von der Leyen said in a statement. The plan was shared in a letter to the leaders of the 27 member states ahead of a 6 March emergency European Council meeting, where European defence and support for Ukraine will be under discussion. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been invited to the special summit. As part of the plan, von der Leyen proposed a new €150 billion common defence fund, which would allow member states to raise money from the EU to invest in their defence capabilities. Click here to read… [7]

Ukraine’s Zelenskyy Appeals to Trump after US Suspends Military Aid

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he wants to “make things right” with President Donald Trump to secure a lasting peace in Ukraine after the US leader suspended military aid to Kyiv. Zelenskyy said his clash with the US president last week was “regrettable” and called for a partial truce as a first step to securing an end to Russia’s three-year-long war. “Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than Ukrainians. My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump’s strong leadership to get a peace that lasts,” Zelenskyy said in a post on X. He said Ukraine was ready to agree to a “truce in the sky – ban on missiles, long-ranged drones, bombs on energy and other civilian infrastructure – and truce in the sea immediately, if Russia will do the same. The statement came after Washington paused military aid to Kyiv in a stunning move overnight, days after Zelenskyy’s talks with Trump in the White House descended into acrimony, prompting the US secretary of state to call on the Ukrainian leader to apologise. Click here to read… [8]

Russia has Become a Threat to France and Europe: French President Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron warned that Russia has become a “threat to France and Europe” in a televised address on March 5. The French president said Russian aggression “knows no borders” and urged European leaders to prepare for a future where the United States may not offer the same level of support. He also called on the continent to strengthen its defence capabilities as the global order shifts, stating that Europe needs to be able to defend itself. His late-evening speech in France was the president’s effort to reassure the people about the Ukraine conflict, European security, and the escalating trade dispute with the US. “I’m speaking to you tonight because of the international situation and its consequences for Europe … I know you are legitimately worried, faced with the historic events that are shaking the world order,” he said. He assured that France and Europe were taking necessary steps to address these challenges. Click here to read… [9]

Zelensky Hopes US-Ukraine Talks Next Week will be ‘Meaningful’

US-Ukraine talks will be held in Saudi Arabia next week, President Volodymyr Zelensky has said, expressing hopes that it will be "a meaningful meeting". The Ukrainian leader, who will be in the Gulf kingdom but not take part in the talks, said Kyiv was working to reach a "fast and lasting" peace. US President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, said the American team wanted to discuss a "framework" for peace to try to end the Russia-Ukraine war. The Ukrainian president has expressed regret about the incident at the Oval Office and tried to repair relations with the US - the country's biggest military supplier. On March 6, Witkoff said Trump had received a letter from Zelensky that included an "apology" and "sense of gratitude". "Hopefully, we get things back on track with the Ukrainians, and everything resumes," Witkoff said. Zelensky has been under strong US pressure to make concessions ahead of any peace talks, while the Ukrainian president has been pushing for firm security guarantees for Kyiv. Click here to read… [10]

At Jaishankar meet with UK PM, trade, tech & Ukraine

Days after he hosted an emergency meeting of European leaders in support of Ukraine and its President Volodymyr Zelenskyy — after the latter’s public showdown with US President Donald Trump and Vice-President J D Vance at the White House — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer “shared UK’s perspective” on the conflict with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in London on March 4. Besides bilateral ties, including on trade and technology, Jaishankar, who is on a six-day visit to the UK and Ireland, also discussed the Ukraine conflict in a meeting with his counterpart, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy. The leaders agreed to formulate the next steps to further strengthen and structure strategic coordination, political cooperation, trade deal negotiation, education, technology, mobility and people-to-people exchanges. The UK-India partnership is expected to strengthen further with the opening of two new Indian consulates in Belfast and Manchester, boosting regional economic ties and delivering on the growth agenda, the British High Commission said in a statement. Click here to read… [11]

Breach of Security during S Jaishankar's UK Visit by Pro-Khalistan Protesters, India Reacts

A demonstration was staged by pro-Khalistan protesters outside Chatham House in London, where S Jaishankar participated in a discussion on March 5. The Centre strongly condemned a security breach during External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar's visit to the United Kingdom, denouncing the actions of a "small group of separatists and extremists." A demonstration was staged by pro-Khalistan protesters outside Chatham House in London, where Mr Jaishankar participated in a discussion on March 5. The protestors, carrying flags and loudspeakers, chanted slogans as the minister engaged in talks inside the venue. "We have seen the footage of a breach of security during the visit of EAM to the UK. We condemn the provocative activities of this small group of separatists and extremists. We deplore the misuse of democratic freedoms by such elements. We expect the host government in such cases to fully live up to their diplomatic obligations," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement. Despite the protests, Mr Jaishankar continued his diplomatic engagements, meeting UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Foreign Secretary David Lammy, and other senior leaders. Click here to read… [12]

India-EU FTA Talks Set to Resume on March 10, Amid Trump’s Tariff Threats

India and the European Union (EU) will start the 10th round of negotiations for a bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on March 10, with a clear deadline from its top leadership to finalise the pact by this year-end. While the issues that were holding up the progress remain, the global tariff war set off by the US, change in approach of India to import duties reinforced in the latest budget and flexibility shown by EU on matters of carbon tax and related matters could push negotiations much further in this round, according to experts. The 10th round of talks in Brussels from March 10 to March 14 comes immediately on the heels of top-level engagement between the two sides with the European Commission’s President Ursula von der Leyen and a full college of commissioners visiting India in February 2025 for detailed talks on the entire spectrum of the relationship. For India, the EU is as big a market as the US with bilateral goods trade of $190 billion. While there is a lot of uncertainty on what a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) with the US would entail, talks with the EU have been going on since 2022 in the current phase. Click here to read… [13]

EU Strikes Back Against US Steel and Aluminium Tariffs with Retaliatory Package

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen announced a response to new US tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, unveiling a package of countermeasures aimed at US exports. The move comes in response to what the EU deems as unjustified and disruptive tariffs imposed by Washington, which have taken effect. “We deeply regret this measure. Tariffs are taxes. They are bad for business, and even worse for consumers. These tariffs are disrupting supply chains. They bring uncertainty for the economy,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. “Jobs are at stake. Prices will go up. In Europe and in the United States,” she continued. One month ago, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing a 25% tariff on imports of steel, aluminium, and related derivative products, affecting approximately €26 billion worth of EU exports. At the time, the EU condemned the move, stating that it would not hesitate to retaliate if the US proceeded with the new tariffs. Click here to read… [14]

Trump Vows 200% Retaliatory Tariff on European Wine and Spirits

United States President Donald Trump has warned he will impose tariffs of 200 percent on wine, champagne and other alcoholic products from European Union countries if the bloc goes ahead with a planned tariff on US whiskey. The EU announced tariffs on $28bn in US goods, including a 50 percent levy on US bourbon whiskey, on Thursday in retaliation after US tariffs on steel and aluminium imports came into effect the previous day. “If this Tariff is not removed immediately, the U.S. will shortly place a 200% Tariff on all WINES, CHAMPAGNES, & ALCOHOLIC PRODUCTS COMING OUT OF FRANCE AND OTHER E.U. REPRESENTED COUNTRIES,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform in response to the EU announcement. He singled out the 50 percent levy on US whiskey as “nasty”, describing the EU as “one of the most hostile and abusive taxing and tariffing authorities in the World”, which had been formed with “the sole purpose of taking advantage of the United States.” Click here to read… [15]

Kallas Pitches Plan to 'Potentially' Mobilise €40 Billion in Military Aid for Ukraine

High Representative Kaja Kallas has pitched an ambitious plan to mobilise up to €40 billion in fresh military support for Ukraine, which, if achieved, would represent a twofold increase from the defence assistance the European Union provided last year. The plan, already nicknamed "the Kallas initiative" in Brussels, seeks to fulfill Ukraine's priority needs to fight Russia's war of aggression, with special emphasis on artillery ammunition, air defence systems, missiles, drones and fighter jets. Non-lethal provisions, such as training and equipment for Ukrainian brigades, will also be taken into account to ensure the participation of neutral member states. The donations can be made through direct deliveries of hardware or financial contributions, ideally designed to foster purchases from Ukraine's defence industry, which has expanded at a rapid pace in the last three years. Click here to read… [16]

Germany's CDU and SPD Reach Historic Debt Deal to Jumpstart Defence Spending

The agreement reached with the Greens would allow Germany to spend up to €1 trillion on defence and infrastructure over the next decade. After days of intense debate, Germany's leading political parties have announced a historic deal on a spending programme to unlock hundreds of billions of euros for defence and infrastructure. The plan, proposed by the centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the centre-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), would mean defence spending above 1% of Germany's gross domestic product is effectively exempt from the country's constitutionally enshrined "debt brake". It would also create a €500 billion special fund to finance infrastructure projects outside of the ordinary budget over the next decade. The Greens had threatened to effectively torpedo the deal by withholding their support, demanding guarantees that the additional money would be spent on infrastructure rather than being diverted to fulfil the two main parties' campaign promises. Click here to read… [17]