Key events
Ukrainian negotiators to meet with US representatives on Thursday, Zelenskyy says
We are getting a line from Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, telling reporters that Ukraine’s negotiators are expected to meet with US representatives on Thursday, as they continue to look for ways to end the Russian aggression on the country, a day after the fourth anniversary, Reuters reported.
Morning opening
Jakub Krupa
The European Union continues to look for ways to get around Hungary’s block on the latest round of sanctions against Russia and on the release of the €90bn loan to Ukraine.
The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, said yesterday in Kyiv:
“The loan was agreed by 27 heads of state and government in the European Council, they have given their word. This word cannot be broken, so we will deliver on the loan one way or the other.”
Well, they better get creative as there is no sign that Hungary’s Viktor Orbán is willing to drop his veto, six weeks before the key election which could see him ousted after 16 years in power.
Responding to a letter from the European Council president, António Costa, who urged the Hungarian PM to stick by what was agreed in December, Orbán effectively told him “no” as he ramped up the pressure on Ukraine to restart oil transit via the Druzhba pipeline (Kyiv says the disruption was caused by a Russian drone strike, and has nothing to do with them.)
“We take a decision financially favourable to Ukraine that I personally disapprove, then Ukraine creates an energy emergency situation in Hungary, and you ask me to pretend that nothing happened.”
Separately, the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, is in Beijing today for talks on trade and security.
Joining the growing list of western leaders to visit China in recent months, he intends to use the trip to urge president Xi Jinping and prime minister Li Qiang, whom he met last night, to put further pressure on China’s ally Russia to end the war in Ukraine, among other things.
Lots of things for us to cover.
Oh, and if you need something to brighten your mood: it’s Sanremo week, everyone! I will come back to this later.
It’s Wednesday, 25 February 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
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