Denmark summons US charge d’affaires over alleged attempts to interfere with Greenland’s status – as it happened

Appearing last, German chancellor Friedrich Merz also celebrated Moldova’s progress so far, noting “that should not be taken for granted [as] things could have turned out very differently,” making a reference to the ongoing Russian aggression on Ukraine.

Directly mentioning the upcoming parliamentary election, Merz stressed that “the door to the European Union is open” for Moldova, as he pledged to “continue to support you on this path to the best of our ability,” including by sending German experts to help with reforms.

He also said that Europe remained “with you in preserving your freedom and sovereignty,” remarking on Moldova’s concerns about Russia’s aggressive posture, and noting the Russian attempts to interfere with Moldovan democracy.

He said the war in Ukraine needed to end, but “not at any price.”

“We do not want Ukraine to capitulate. Such a capitulation would only buy Russia time, and Putin would use this time to prepare for the next war,” he warned.

And that ends the joint press conference in Chișinău.

Poland’s prime minister Donald Tusk delivered a wide-ranging speech, drawing on similarities between Poland’s path to join the European Union after 1989 and Moldova’s aspirations to join the bloc, and paying tribute to the country’s culture and history.

“The enlargement of the European Union to include Moldova, as well as other aspiring countries that are applying for membership and are in the accession process, is of course in the interest of those states – it is in Moldova’s interest, I am deeply convinced of that – but it is equally in the interest of all of Europe.

In this common effort, no one is doing anyone a favor or courtesy. A safe, prosperous, and stable Moldova as part of the European Union is in the vital interest of the European Union as a whole. Europe will be stronger with Moldova. Your resilience, your loyalty to values, and your voice will enrich the entire Union.

Simply put, there is no safe European Union – there is no safe Poland, there is no safe France or safe Germany – without an independent and secure Moldova.”

He added:

“Today’s Moldova is no longer a country somewhere in between, an intermediary land between different worlds. Today’s Moldova is a country that has chosen its path and is moving forward.

Some people told you that it could not be done. You faced numerous challenges, but you did not give up. You endured the cold when bad people turned off your gas – and you prevailed, you held on. When bad people caused a radical rise in prices, you endured and, also thanks to Europe’s help, you stabilized the situation. You also resisted the lies so pervasive in today’s politics, and hostile propaganda. …

In my opinion, you have chosen the right path – the European path – even if in your case it was not and is not an easy path. As is said here in Moldova: with patience, one can even cross the sea.”

(Safe to bet that Tusk’s repeated references to “bad people” are aimed at Russia.)

Responding to Sandu’s comments, France’s Emmanuel Macron said that the three leaders “wish to send the Moldovan people a message of respect, friendship, solidarity and confidence in the future.”

He also hailed Moldova’s pro-European aspirations, after a closely contested referendum last year that asked voters to choose whether to enshrine in the country’s constitution a path toward the EU.

“France fully supports this choice,” he said, as he acknowledged Moldova’s progressing process of reforms to meet the EU’s criteria.

“Please be assured that France will therefore continue to provide determined support to Moldova during the next stages of its journey towards membership,” he said.

Macron also strongly criticised Russian “lies” and propaganda about the EU, directly calling out Russian attempts to undermine the pro-European course.

Standing alongside the three leaders, Moldova’s Maia Sandu thanked Macron, Merz and Tusk for their presence, noting it as a sign of special respect for the country’s European aspirations, 34 years on from its independence.

She spoke about the country’s democratic journey and how it has finally “appeared on the map” for many, celebrating that “it was not and is not an easy road, but one that we are walking with our allies and friends by our side.”

In key message to the electorate, she stresses that “Moldova matters, and accession to the European Union is not a distant dream, but a project we are working on.”

She insisted “an unbridgeable chasm between us and Europe” must not be allowed to happen again, as she insisted that there is no alternative without the EU.

“Without the European Union, Moldova remains stuck in the past,” she said.

She also spoke about Russia’s alleged campaigns in the country, including electoral interference, disinformation campaigns, foreign financing of protests, and other attempts to undermine Moldova’s plans to join the EU.

“We will have the future we want only if we protect it. Only Moldovans must decide for Moldova,” she said.

Over in Moldova, the country’s pro-European president Maia Sandu is hosting three European leaders – French president Emmanuel Macron, German chancellor Friedrich Merz and Polish prime minister Donald Tusk – at an event marking 34th anniversary of Moldova’s independence in 1991.

Making a rare joint visit, the three leaders are about to appear at a joint press conference to celebrate the anniversary in a bid to send a pro-European signal to the Moldovan society ahead of next month’s much-anticipated parliamentary elections, with allegations of Russian attempts to interfere with the process.

Austrian president Alexander Van der Bellen sparked a controversy after criticising Viktor Orbán’s Hungary in his speech at the European Forum Alpbach last night.

Opening a bloc of debate on the theme of Austria’s role in Europe, he spoke about competing visions for Europe as expressed by different countries, pointing to Latvia as a positive example, and Hungary – as a negative one.

He said:

“In which direction do we, as the European Union, actually want to go? And in which direction can Austria as part of the EU go? Anyone who has ever lost their way knows what to do when they want to get their bearings. Exactly: look around!

If we look one way, we see, for example, a neighbouring country where media freedom is increasingly curtailed. Where the rule of law and the judiciary are undermined and fundamental rights restricted. Where events such as the Pride parade are banned. A country that is no longer a liberal democracy. Is that our direction? Or should we keep looking to find another path?”

His comments prompted an angry reaction from Hungary’s foreign minister Péter Szijjártó, who responded on social media saying:

“Austria’s President @vanderbellen made unfounded accusations about Hungary’s democracy at an international forum. The same person who worked with foreign political actors to deny the winning party the chance to govern should be the last one to lecture others on democracy.”

His comments appeared to relate to the process of forming new government in Austria earlier this year, after far-right Freedom party could not reach a deal with potential coalition partners.

Over in the UK, Keir Starmer’s lead negotiator on Europe has enthused about how excited he is by the prospect of an EU youth mobility scheme, as he signalled a broader government shift towards embracing closer ties with the bloc.

Nick Thomas-Symonds, the Cabinet Office minister in charge of negotiating Britain’s relationship with the EU, said on Wednesday he was looking forward to signing a deal to let young people travel and work more freely across Europe.

His tone contrasted with that struck just a few months ago, when the government would not even say whether it was willing to enter negotiations over such a scheme.

He made the comments during a speech in which he promised to agree a new agricultural export deal by the start of 2027, as ministers begin to talk more openly about their desire to move closer to Brussels.

“I’m very excited that the youth experience [scheme] gives us great opportunities for Brits to be able to go overseas to experience different cultures. Its going to be fantastic,” Thomas-Symonds said.

“I would say to parliamentary colleagues, it’s going to be all about MPs of all parties actually showcasing the opportunities of young British people.”

Thomas-Symonds has led negotiations over Starmer’s reset in EU relations, which culminated earlier this year in an agreement to start talks over both an agricultural deal and a youth mobility scheme.

He said on Wednesday he wanted to have the new export agreement in place by the start of 2027, giving the government 18 months to complete the negotiations.

in Berlin

The German cabinet has signed off on a controversial draft bill to build up the ranks of military volunteers, in a bid to create Europe’s strongest conventional army to help face down the Russian threat.

The legislation leaves the door open to a resumption of conscription, which was suspended indefinitely in 2011 as Germany reaped the benefits of the end of the Cold War.

On Wednesday, the chancellor, Friedrich Merz, presided over the first cabinet meeting at the Bendlerblock defence ministry building in 19 years to green light the bill, and underlined the security challenges facing Germany.

“Russia is and will remain for a long time to come the greatest threat to freedom, to peace and to stability in Europe,” Merz told reporters. “And the German government is responding with determination.”

He underlined the goal for Germany to “have the largest conventional army on the European side of Nato”.

The aim of the “conscription lite” scheme is to double the number of trained reservists to 200,000 and encourage many of the volunteers to pursue a career in the military.

Under the legislation, which must still pass parliament, all 18-year-old men will from next year receive a mandatory questionnaire designed to assess their fitness for and interest in military service. Women can also fill out the form but are not required to.

The measure has proved divisive in Germany’s cross-party “grand coalition” government, and may still face a rocky road through parliament.

Key members of the conservative CDU/CSU bloc including the foreign minister, Johann Wadephul, expressed doubts whether Germany could meet its defence needs without resuming compulsory military service, and argued the country did not have the time to wait to establish the effectiveness of the voluntary scheme.

However the Social Democrats (SPD), junior partners in Merz’s administration, expressed confidence that an array of sweeteners – including attractive pay, free use of public transportation, assistance in acquiring driving licences and language classes – could draw young Germans to military service.

Germany has increasingly sounded the alarm over the dilapidated state of its armed forces, both in terms of personnel and equipment, particularly since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The popular defence minister, Boris Pistorius of the SPD, aims to boost the total number of soldiers to 260,000 by the early 2030s from 180,000 at present as part of a pledged surge in military spending to meet Nato commitments.

“The Bundeswehr must grow,” Pistorius told reporters. “The international security situation, above all Russia’s aggressive posture, makes this necessary.”

If the military fails to meet its staff targets, the government could pursue resuming conscription, which would require the approval of both the cabinet and parliament.

Outside the ministry building, the cabinet ministers were met as they arrived by a small group of protesters warning against any reintroduction of military conscription.

The Bundeswehr has already reported some success in attracting new recruits thanks to a targeted advertising campaign, career fairs and open-day events at regional barracks.

It reported a 28% rise year-on-year in recruitment, to nearly 14,000 people from January to late July.

Merz has frequently stressed the need for military strength as a deterrent against potential aggressors.

“We must be able to defend ourselves so we don’t have to defend ourselves,” he has said repeatedly since taking office in May.

The cabinet on Wednesday also approved the creation of a national security council, which Merz noted had been debated for more than three decades, as well as measures to better protect against hybrid warfare including cyber-attacks and sabotage to infrastructure.

Back in Denmark, the country’s prime minister Mette Frederiksen has spoken with a delegation of US Senate representatives this morning, telling them the alleged interference with Danish and Greenlandic issues (10:03) was “unacceptable.”

She added that the report highlighted the seriousness of the US president Donald Trump’s interest in Greenland, DR reported.

Separately, Frederiksen has apologised to more than 4,500 Greenlandic victims of Denmark’s forced contraception campaign aimed at reducing the Inuit birth rate.

AFP explained that from the 1960s until 1992, Danish authorities forced about half of the island’s 9,000 fertile Inuit women to wear a contraceptive coil – or intrauterine device (IUD) – without their or their family’s consent.

“We cannot change what has happened. But we can take responsibility. Therefore, on behalf of Denmark, I would like to say: I am sorry,” Frederiksen said in a statement.

Greenland’s prime minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen also apologised in the same statement for the cases that occurred under Greenland’s control, AFP noted.

Curiously, the issue is believed to have been identified by three American operatives as one that could be exploited further to drive Denmark and Greenland apart, according to DR investigation published earlier today.

Meanwhile in France, the government spokesperson briefed the media after today’s cabinet meeting there.

Sophie Primas said president Emmanuel Macron gave his “full support” to prime minister François Bayrou, who has requested a risky confidence vote from a divided parliament next month.

During a cabinet meeting, Macron also called on France’s political parties “to act responsibly,” Primas told reporters, via AFP.

The president also responded to a slump in the French stock and bond markets, insisting that “France is a solid country with solid economics ... but we must take the reins of our destiny,” she said.

Picking up on some speculations, Primas also said that Macron did not discuss the option of dissolving parliament.

In his comments, defence minister Pistorius says that “big events are known to cast their shadows,” as he talks about the new voluntary military service (12:13).

He says the Bundeswehr “must grow” to respond to “the international security situation,” in particular “Russia’s aggressive behaviour.”

“We not only need a well-equipped force – we’ve been working on that for two and a half years now, and we won’t stop. But we also need a Bundeswehr with strong personnel. Only then will deterrence as a whole be truly credible vis-a-vis Russia,” he says.

He says the numbers are already rising, but more needs to be done there, including reservists.

He says the government will propose a number of incentives to reach new targets, including improved pay, to “improve the attractiveness compared to the status quo.”

Opening the press conference, Merz says he wanted to revive the tradition of cabinet discussions on security to show the issue is treated seriously and to “send a signal” to EU and Nato allies.

Merz says before the meeting, they met with Nato’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Alexus Grynkewich, to discuss the military situation.

“His situation report was very clear. Russia is and will remain, for the long term, the greatest threat to freedom, peace, and stability in Europe,” he says.

Merz says the country’s security policies are shaped partially in response to this, starting from new Nato commitments adopted at The Hague summit earlier this year.

He also makes it clear that Germany “stands firmly by Ukraine’s side.”

But he points out that with Russia “long conducting” hybrid attacks, sabotage, cyber-attacks, targeted disinformation and other actions, there is need to do more.

As part of that, it will create a centralised National Security Council to coordinate security and defence discussions and plan for threats in the future.

Germany’s cabinet passed a draft bill that would introduce first a voluntary military service, and could lead to conscription if recruitment goals are missed, the government said in a statement, reported by Reuters.

The defence ministry hopes the voluntary six-month scheme will help double the number of trained reservists from the current level of around 100,000 and that some of the volunteers will go on to have a career in active service.

Minister Boris Pistorius wants to increase the number of soldiers in service from 180,000 to 260,000 by the early 2030s to meet new Nato force targets and strengthen its defences – part of a planned surge in military spending, Reuters said.

Merz and Pistorius are speaking now about the details, so let’s listen in.

As we are waiting for Merz and Pistorius to show up, we are getting some news lines from Moscow, with the Kremlin saying its focus is on preparing Vladimir Putin’s “unprecedented” visit to China later this week.

It added that it supported the US efforts to end the war in Ukraine and hoped they would continue.

But at the same time the Kremlin appeared dismissive about European plans for security guarantees for Ukraine, saying Russia had a “negative” view of the proposals, and rejecting any plans for western troops to be stationed in Ukraine.

It also added that it wouldn’t be helpful to discuss these issues publicly, Reuters reported.

Meanwhile over in Germany, chancellor Friedrich Merz and defence minister Boris Pistorius are about to give a press conference on plans to strengthen the country’s army.

You can watch it live below, and I will bring you any key news lines here.

in Paris

France is braced for another political crisis as the minority government of François Bayrou appears almost certain to be toppled in a confidence vote next month, amid deep political divisions over an unpopular austerity budget and debt-reduction plan.

“I will fight like a dog,” the centrist prime minister told L’Express on Tuesday after his surprise decision to call a vote of confidence from parliamentarians.

Bayrou, 74, a close ally of Emmanuel Macron, is expected to lose the vote as opposition parties on the far right and left said they would relish the opportunity to eject him after less than nine months in office.

Boris Vallaud, the head of the Socialist parliamentary group, told BFM TV: “We need to change politics and for that we need to change prime minister.”

Bayrou’s gamble – which involves Macron convening a special session of parliament on 8 September for a confidence vote that the prime minister has almost no chance of winning – has sparked fears of another political crisis less than a year after the previous government of Michel Barnier was toppled over budget disagreements after only three months.

The Paris stock market tumbled, shares in French banks sank and the country’s borrowing costs rose on Tuesday as investors fretted.

A planned protest movement against Bayrou’s proposed budget cuts, which gathered support on social media over the summer, as well as potential strikes and demonstrations by trade unions are expected to begin on 10 September, regardless of whether Bayrou is forced to quit.

The beleaguered politician attended a meeting of the CFDT trade union on Tuesday where he urged French political parties to think carefully about the vote, noting they had 13 days to “say whether they are on the side of chaos or responsibility”.

Bayrou said: “Is there or is there not a national emergency to rebalance the accounts, to escape excessive debt by choosing to reduce our deficits and produce more? That is the central question.”

In what was seen as a last-minute appeal to the left, he said he was prepared to demand a “specific effort” from high-wealth individuals, after his budget proposals were widely criticised for affecting poor people and pensioners while having less impact on the very wealthy.

If Bayrou is ousted, Macron would be dragged into domestic upheaval at a significant international moment for him, as he positions himself to play a role on Ukraine and the recognition of a Palestinian state.

Under the French political system, the president, who is head of state and has authority on foreign policy and national security, directly appoints a prime minister as head of government to run domestic affairs. Macron could swiftly appoint a new prime minister but they too could risk being ousted over the budget.

A source close to the far-right leader Marine Le Pen told Reuters it was hard to see how any new prime minister could escape being hit by a vote of no confidence.

In a separate update, Zelenskyy said that “more than 100,000 households” in Ukraine remain without electricity after overnight Russian strikes on civilian infrastructure.

He said:

“Unfortunately, energy facilities were damaged. The attack caused power outages in the Poltava, Sumy, and Chernihiv regions, leaving more than one hundred thousand households without electricity. All emergency services are working on the ground to restore power as quickly as possible.”

He then said:

“The Russians continue the war and ignore the world’s calls to stop the killings and destruction. New steps are needed to increase pressure on Russia to stop the attacks and to ensure real security guarantees. We are working with our partners to exert such pressure.”

In the last few minutes, Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued another update after his phone call with Finland’s influential president Alexander Stubb.

He said that progress is being made on “the architecture of strong and multilateral security guarantees with Ukraine,” but criticised Russia for “sending negative signals regarding meetings and further developments.”

The Russians will only react to real pressure in response to all this.

Here is what he said:

“A very good conversation – as always.

We are coordinating our positions to deliver more substantial results. Our teams are actively preparing the architecture of strong and multilateral security guarantees for Ukraine, with everyone involved – Europeans, Americans, and our other partners in the Coalition of the Willing.

Military commanders, defence ministers, and security advisers – at different levels, we are preparing the components of future security.

We are accelerating the process of defining the details. It is already time to organise the format for the leaders’ discussions to determine the key priorities and timelines. An important area is relations with the United States, ensuring maximum substance in these relations.

Unfortunately, the Russians are currently sending negative signals regarding meetings and further developments. Strikes on our cities and villages continue. Every day there are new victims. The Russians will only react to real pressure in response to all this. Pressure is needed. We are counting on it.

Concrete steps are needed from Russia – steps toward real diplomacy.”

We are getting big news just in from Denmark, which has summoned the US charge d’affaires in the country over alleged attempts to interfere with the status of Greenland, a long-term point of interest for the new US administration of Donald Trump.

In a comment to public broadcaster DR, foreign minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said that “any attempt to interfere in the Kingdom’s internal affairs will obviously be unacceptable.”

The move comes after DR reported that Danish intelligence services have uncovered a network of “at least three” people working on “influence operations” in Greenland to drive a wedge between Denmark and the territory, in a bid to pave the way for it to get closer to the United States.

The broadcaster said it knew the names of the three American men involved in the operations, but chose not to publish them to protect sources. It said they were previously known to be close to Trump, but it was not immediately clear if they worked on the White House’s order or on their own.

It alleged that one of the men visited Greenland to attend meetings and compile a list of potential allies and opponents of Donald Trump’s plans to take over the territory.

He also allegedly urged Greenlanders to “point out cases that could be used to put Denmark in a bad light in American media,” DR said.

The two other men were allegedly involved in building networks of contacts with politicians, business figures and community leaders to pursue Trump’s plans.

The meeting with the US charge d’affaires is expected later today, Rasmussen said.

In May, Wall Street Journal also reported that the US stepped up its intelligence operations to spy on Greenland, also prompting Rasmussen to summon US envoy for a chat.

A Greenlandic parliamentarian, Aaja Chemnitz, told DR that it was unacceptable to “try to infiltrate Greenlandic society in this way,” insisting that “it is Greenland itself that must decide what we want and what kind of future we want.”

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said last night he was making progress in talks with European and US partners on designing potential security guarantees for Ukraine should the war be brought to a close.

In his nightly address, he said:

“It is important that everything be as practical as possible – what forces on the ground, in the air, at sea – everything must be clearly defined.

And the foundation of our security is our strong Ukrainian army, … which means long-term financing and the provision of weapons – all of this will be ensured. …

We are working very substantively with the Americans following our meeting in Washington. We now have a new foundation for joint efforts. This is significant.

The only signal Russia is sending indicates that it intends to continue evading real negotiations. This can be changed only through strong sanctions, strong tariffs – real pressure.”

Separately, US peace envoy Steve Witkoff revealed overnight that he will be meeting with Ukrainian officials this week, insisting that US back-channel talks with both Ukraine and Russia continue.

“I’m meeting with the Ukrainians this week. So I will be meeting with them this week in New York, and that’s a big signal. We talk to the Russians every day,” Witkoff said on Fox News.

Elsewhere, I will be keeping an eye on a high-profile visit by French president Emmanuel Macron, German chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Polish prime minister Donald Tusk in Moldova.

Their trip comes a month before high-stakes parliamentary elections in the country, with allegations of Russian interference and attempts to throw Moldova off its pro-EU course.

All three leaders are having their own problems at home, but they will take a moment out of their busy schedules to send a message to the people of Moldova, encouraging them to confirm their pro-European choice in last year’s presidential election.

I will bring you all the key updates here.

It’s Wednesday, 27 August 2025, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.

Good morning.