Morning opening: The week after the week before
Jakub Krupa
Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the negotiations with the US over a security guarantees agreement were “100%” done and the deal was just waiting to be signed, as Russia has praised the trilateral talks with Ukraine and the US over the weekend as held in “constructive spirit.”
“It would be a mistake to expect any significant results from the initial contacts … But the very fact that these contacts have begun in a constructive spirit can be viewed positively. However, there is significant work ahead,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told journalists.
As is often with these things, nothing is agreed until everything is agreed. The talks will continue next weekend.
Meanwhile, we are expecting a bit of a debrief after last week’s series of crises, as we will get to see Nato’s secretary general Mark Rutte giving evidence at the European parliament later today, trying to offer a bit more detail on his talks with Donald Trump on Greenland and plans for the security of the Arctic.
Separately, the parliament’s trade committee will consider if it wants to progress with the implementation of the EU-US trade agreement so painfully negotiated last summer, or wait just a bit longer to see if Trump’s change of heart on tariffs and Greenland will stick.
Separately, the EU is also expected to say a bit more about its investment plans for Greenland as part of stepping up its presence there. Jozef Síkela, the European commissioner for partnerships, is in Denmark today.
Lots for us to cover.
It’s Monday, 26 January 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
Key events
European Commission declines to comment on ‘US internal matter’ of Minneapolis killing
The European Commission has declined to comment on the current situation in the US after the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.
The EU’s foreign affairs spokesperson Anitta Hipper said:
“No comments to be made on this US internal matter. But, of course, we deplore any loss of innocent lives.”
After reporters picked up the use of the word “innocent” in her sentence, she backtracked on the comment, and said:
“I have said innocent lives, but it’s not for us to judge, innocent or not innocent. Any life lost, we deplore it, in general, and it is, of course, for the justice system in the US to establish the facts.”
Confirming the probe at the European Commission’s daily midday briefing, EU’s digital spokesperson Thomas Regnier has been very clear about the strength of the EU’s anger with the output seen on X.
He said:
“We have seen non-consensual deepfakes of women, and we have seen child sexual abuse material. In Europe, no company will make money by violating our fundamental rights. One will argue that has limited this to premium subscribers. Let’s be very clear: child sexual abuse material is not a premium privilege because such output has no place in Europe and we need to protect our citizens from potential future harms.
This is why this investigation into Grok will allow us to look deeper into the matter to protect our women, our children and our citizens.”
EU opens new probe into Elon Musk’s X over manipulated sexually explicit images
Jennifer Rankin
in Brussels
The European Commission has launched an investigation into Elon Musk’s X over manipulated sexually explicit images and possible child sexual abuse material spread by the platform’s AI Grok feature.
The formal inquiry launched on Monday also extends an ongoing investigation into X’s recommender systems, algorithms which help internet users discover new content.
Sparking international outrage, the Grok chatbot allowed users to digitally strip women and children and put them into provocative poses. Grok AI generated around 3m sexualised images in less than two weeks, including 23,000 that appeared to depict children, according to researchers at the Center for Countering Digital Hate.
The commission said its new investigation “will assess whether the company properly assessed and mitigated risks” with Grok’s functionalities in the EU, including risks on the sharing of illegal content such as manipulated sexually explicit images and “content that may amount to child sex abuse material”.
The investigation is launched under the EU’s digital services act, relatively new legislation intended to protect internet users from a wide range of internet harms.
Speaking to reporters, an official said the European Commission had not been convinced by mitigating measures put in place by X to remedy the issue. EU officials are investigating whether X has systems to mitigate risks properly.
Announcing the investigation, Henna Virkkunen, the European Commission’s top official for tech sovereignty, security and democracy, said:
“Non-consensual sexual deepfakes of women and children are a violent, unacceptable form of degradation. With this investigation, we will determine whether X has met its legal obligations under the DSA, or whether it treated rights of European citizens – including those of women and children – as collateral damage of its service.”
Regina Doherty, an Irish MEP, said she welcomed the formal investigation: “When credible reports emerge of AI systems being used in ways that harm women and children, it is essential that EU law is examined and enforced without delay,” Doherty said.
In response to the investigation, the company provided a link to a statement published on 14 January: “We remain committed to making X a safe platform for everyone and continue to have zero tolerance for any forms of child sexual exploitation, non-consensual nudity, and unwanted sexual content.”
Why Germany is racing to rebuild its army? – podcast
Kate Connolly
And since we’re on the subject of the German army, it’s worth listening to this podcast with our Berlin correspondent Kate Connolly on the vast military expansion under way in Germany and the geopolitical landscape that prompted it.
Speaking to Annie Kelly, Kate discusses the current rearmament and recruitment campaigns, the political and economic pitfalls the German government faces, and the wider question of national identity that Germany is grappling with.
“Not so long ago, to be a German soldier dressed in German uniform was quite a difficult role to embody. I mean, you could be going down the street and you could be spat on, or you could have names called at you.
“I’ve recently seen people get into conversation with soldiers, which I hadn’t seen in the past, [and] more recently, somebody going up to a soldier and actually getting him into conversation about his role, and at the end of the conversation, thanking him.”
Senior EU leaders continue to criticise Trump for ‘disrespecful’ Afghanistan comments
Meanwhile, German defence minister Boris Pistorius has called on U.S. President Donald Trump to apologise for remarks suggesting that America’s Nato allies in Afghanistan avoided frontline service, Reuters reported.
Over the weekend, Trump appeared to partially backtrack on his comments, pointedly praising UK soldiers, but did not offer any apology to other US Nato allies, who were prominently involved in Afghanistan, including Canada, France, Italy, Germany, Poland and Denmark.
“It’s just not right and it’s disrespectful to talk about the dead of your allies in that way. They all stood there, at the side of the United States. To claim something else today is simply not true,” Pistorius told a talkshow on Germany’s ARD public broadcaster late on Sunday.
He said he would bring the issue up when he next speaks to US defence secretary, Pete Hegseth.
Over the weekend, numerous other continental leaders also raised their concerns about Trump’s remarks.
Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni noted Trump’s comments with “astonishment,” saying that “our nation has borne a cost that cannot be disputed,” with 53 killed and more than 700 injured in the line of duty.
“For this reason, statements that minimise the contribution of Nato countries in Afghanistan are unacceptable, especially if they come from an allied nation,” she said, adding: “friendship requires respect, a fundamental condition for continuing to ensure the solidarity at the heart of the Atlantic alliance.”
Retired chief of Danish defence Knud Bartels, who served as the chair of Nato’s military committee between 2012 and 2015, also criticised Trump’s “unfounded disregard” for Danish solders, saying the US president’s comments were “an insult to the families of the soldiers killed in action in Afghanistan,” causing “inexcusable pain.”
Czech Republic’s president Petr Pavel, a retired Nato general, also pointedly said he wanted to “recall the deployment and sacrifices” of allied forces in Afghanistan.
Estonian prime minister Kristen Michel also noted that “Estonia has never wavered in answering the call of our US allies.”
EU countries sign off on Russian LNG, pipeline gas ban
The 27 EU countries have given their final approval to fully ban Russian liquefied natural gas imports by 1 January 2027, and Russian pipeline gas by 30 September 2027.
The European Council’s press release this morning added that “the ban will start to apply six weeks after the regulation enters into force,” but added:
“Existing contracts will have a transition period. This stepwise approach will limit the impact on prices and markets. A full ban will take effect for LNG imports from the beginning of 2027 and for pipeline gas imports from autumn 2027.”
The council added that “before authorising entry of gas imports into the Union, EU countries will verify the country where gas was produced.”
Reuters noted that the ban was designed to be approved by a reinforced majority of countries, allowing it to overcome opposition from Hungary and Slovakia, who remain heavily reliant on Russian energy imports and want to maintain close ties with Moscow.
Explaining the need for the policy, the European Council said:
“Following Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the use of energy as a weapon, EU leaders agreed, in the Versailles Declaration of March 2022, to phase out dependence on Russian fossil fuels as soon as possible.
Consequently, gas and oil imports from Russia to the EU have both decreased significantly in recent years. However, while imports of oil have dropped to below 3% in 2025 as a result of the current sanctions regime, Russian gas still accounts for an estimated 13% of EU imports in 2025, worth over €15bn annually. This leaves the EU exposed to significant risks in terms of its trade and energy security.”
Finland warns about Russia’s continuing hybrid activities in region
Separately, Finland’s military intelligence has warned about the continuing hybrid activity by Russia and the worsening security situation in the Baltic, with Russia “preparing to strengthen its military presence in the vicinity of the Finnish border” when its resources allow for that.
In its annual review, published late last week, the intelligence service warned that Russia continues its “aggressive anti-western activities,” with “antagonism towards the west … also … more pronounced in the Baltic Sea region,” with a number of “hybrid” operations which it wants to be “deniable or difficult to link to Russia.”
It specifically warned about “intelligence, espionage and sabotage threats” against Finland and other countries, although it noted that “it is likely that Russia does not see Finland as a primary target.”
In another example, it pointed to a Russian-built Indian Talwar II class frigate sailing to the Gulf of Bothnia, the northernmost arm of the Baltic Sea, noting “it is extremely rare for foreign warships” to go there. “Even though the vessel was Indian, the activities serve Russian interests in testing Finnish and Swedish reaction,” it said.
In particular, Russia continues to “aggressively” protect its shadow fleet, including through the jamming of navigation systems, “increasing the risk of the intentional or unintentional escalation and accidents,” it said.
It also added that Moscow “will likely persist in its ambitions to damage the undersea infrastructure of the Baltic Sea.”
The report also stressed the impact of the on-going Russian invasion of Ukraine for the region’s security, saying that Moscow “has successfully used negotiations to postpone western countermeasures,” which means “it is highly likely it will continue the war.”
Finland steps up maritime surveillance with EU, Baltics to protect critical undersea infrastructure
Meanwhile, Finland’s Border Guard is setting up a maritime surveillance centre together with other Baltic Sea states and the European Commission for the protection of critical undersea infrastructure in the Gulf of Finland, Reuters reported.
“Competent authorities must have the capability and the authority to intervene in situations occurring in the territorial sea and the exclusive economic zone,” it said in a statement.
The Baltic Sea region is on high alert after a string of power cable, telecom link and gas pipeline outages since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, and Nato has increased its Baltic Sea presence with frigates, aircraft and naval drones.
Morning opening: The week after the week before
Jakub Krupa
Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the negotiations with the US over a security guarantees agreement were “100%” done and the deal was just waiting to be signed, as Russia has praised the trilateral talks with Ukraine and the US over the weekend as held in “constructive spirit.”
“It would be a mistake to expect any significant results from the initial contacts … But the very fact that these contacts have begun in a constructive spirit can be viewed positively. However, there is significant work ahead,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told journalists.
As is often with these things, nothing is agreed until everything is agreed. The talks will continue next weekend.
Meanwhile, we are expecting a bit of a debrief after last week’s series of crises, as we will get to see Nato’s secretary general Mark Rutte giving evidence at the European parliament later today, trying to offer a bit more detail on his talks with Donald Trump on Greenland and plans for the security of the Arctic.
Separately, the parliament’s trade committee will consider if it wants to progress with the implementation of the EU-US trade agreement so painfully negotiated last summer, or wait just a bit longer to see if Trump’s change of heart on tariffs and Greenland will stick.
Separately, the EU is also expected to say a bit more about its investment plans for Greenland as part of stepping up its presence there. Jozef Síkela, the European commissioner for partnerships, is in Denmark today.
Lots for us to cover.
It’s Monday, 26 January 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
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