Closing summary
… and on that note, it’s a wrap for today!
Finland’s president Alexander Stubb insisted the war in Iran “is not a Nato matter” (16:03) after US president Donald Trump lashed out against allies and said the US would “never forget” their unwillingness to get involved in the conflict (11:19).
His comments come as a number of countries rush to pass emergency packages to soften the impact of the war on their economies, including Poland (14:27) and Spain (17:35).
Meanwhile, Nato’s secretary general Mark Rutte and EU’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas against losing focus on Ukraine as a result of the war in the Middle East, stressing the two conflicts are interlinked and calling for continued support for Ukraine (13:09, 13:27, 13:35, 14:50).
Presenting Nato’s 2025 annual report, Rutte also said that European allies have increased their defence spending by 20% over the last year (13:08), repeatedly praising Trump for putting more pressure on leaders to act after years of warnings (13:14).
Separately,
The European parliament has voted to advance the EU-US trade deal but with conditions aimed at preventing Donald Trump’s administration from riding roughshod over Europe (11:53).
The European Commission has accused four pornographic platforms of allowing children to access adult content in breach of digital rules, putting the companies at risk of large fines (12:29). It also opened a separate probe into Snapchat (16:38).
Denmark’s acting prime minister Mette Frederiksen is about to begin the exploratory talks on forming the next Danish government tomorrow, meeting with a broad group of parties that could be interested in forming the next administration (15:39).
The Hungarian government has said it would file charges against Hungary’s leading investigative journalist, Szabolcs Panyi, for alleged espionage amid the fallout from media reports claiming Hungary’s foreign minister regularly consulted with Russia (13:30).
If you have any tips, comments or suggestions, email me at jakub.krupa@theguardian.com.
I am also on Bluesky at @jakubkrupa.bsky.social and on X at @jakubkrupa.
Spain's congress approved economic package to mitigate economic effects of Iran war
in Madrid
Spain’s congress has just approved a package of measures intended to mitigate the effects of the Iran war on Spanish consumers and businesses.
Last week, Pedro Sánchez, the country’s socialist prime minister – who has fiercely criticised the US and Israeli offensive – proposed a €5bn package to help with the economic impact of the Middle East war.
Among its 80 measures is a reduction of value-added tax on electricity bills to 10%, cutting fuel prices by up to 30 cents per litre and granting a fuel subsidy of 20 cents per litre for the farming and transport sectors.
The decree was approved this afternoon in the country’s 350-seat lower house, with 175 votes in favour, 33 against and 141 abstentions.
The far-right Vox was the only party to vote against the measures, while the conservative People’s party and Sánchez’s former partners in the leftwing Podemos party abstained.
Brussels opens investigation into Snapchat, pornographic sites amid concern over children’s safety
in Brussels
Brussels has opened an investigation into Snapchat over concerns that the social messaging app is exposing children to grooming, sexual exploitation and other criminality.
In a separate decision on Thursday, the European Commission also said four pornographic websites were failing to prevent minors seeing adult content.
The investigations into five tech companies were brought under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which has come under fire from Donald Trump since coming into force two years ago.
Aiming to protect European society from a wide-range of internet harms, the DSA includes child safety provisions to combat cyberbullying, exposure to adult content and illegal products.
'War in Iran is not Nato matter,' Finland's Stubb says in response to Trump's criticism
Finland’s president Alexander Stubb – sometimes described as a Trump whisperer among the European leaders – has been in the last few minutes speaking about Trump’s angry comments about Nato in the last few minutes (11:19)
Here is his answer in full:
“We’re very pragmatic with our transatlantic partnership. Part of it is value based, most of it is now interest based.
I have said from the beginning that the US foreign policy is different from what it used to be.
We should work on issues where there is a clear landing zone and [shared] interests – defence, Nato, [and] I guess in the Finnish case icebreakers – and then we should respectfully disagree on issues linked to international organisations or climate change or, say, the European Union.
As far as the war in Iran is concerned, it is not a Nato matter because Nato is a defence alliance. …
Of course, when the war is over, there will be probably countries that are willing to help to keep the strait of Hormuz open. That is one of the reasons that Finland, Norway … joined the declaration on the matter with 31 other countries.
So we’re taking it, you know, day by day, and continue to work with the Americans.”
Speaking alongside him, Norway’s Jonas Gahr Støre added:
“I have not no sympathy for this Iranian regime. It has been terrorising its own people, denying their human rights, their freedom, rights, [and] killing their people when they’ve been standing up for their freedoms. They have also been spreading conflict and misery in the region.
That being said, I will repeat what Norway has said from the start: this is not our war. It was initiated by the United States and Israel without consultation, [and] we believe this war, should end.”
Denmark's Frederiksen to begin exploratory coalition talks tomorrow
Over in Denmark, Mette Frederiksen is about to begin the exploratory talks on forming the next Danish government tomorrow.
The outgoing prime minister – who hopes to remain in post with the new administration – will meet with the representatives of seven political parties tomorrow, including three left-wing parties, the centrist Moderates, and two right-wing “blue” parties.
The seven invited parties combined would theoretically hold 129 out of 179 seats in the next parliament, but, well, it is a purely speculative thought at this stage as there is no indication that they would necessarily agree to form a government together.
In fact, some of them have openly said they would not be prepared to work with some others in the invited group, so don’t expect an immediate breakthrough. This will take some time.
Further meetings are planned for Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday, according to DR and TV2.
Updated
Russia helps Iran with intelligence, drones to target US, EU's Kallas says, as she highlights impact on Ukraine
EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas has been speaking to reporters on the margins of the G7 meeting of foreign ministers in France in the last few minutes.
She said “we need to [find a way to] exit from the war, not escalate this further, because the consequences for everybody around the world are quite severe.”
“All countries in the world are one way or [an]other way affected by this war, so it is in the interest of everybody that this war stops,” she says.
She also added that “we can’t forget about Ukraine,” worrying that oil price hikes would help Moscow fund its war efforts.
“We need to increase our bilateral support [for Ukraine], but also the pressure on Russia to stop this war and to really negotiate in good faith,” she said.
Kallas claimed that with the US support, we “could have an end to this war,” but she specifically warned against Russia’s continuing territorial demands against Ukraine.
“It is, of course, the Russian playbook of negotiations that they are demanding something that has never been theirs,” she said.
She also stressed that the two conflicts were “very much interlinked” as “Russia is also supporting Iran with drones” and “with intelligence to target Americans, to kill Americans.”
“So if America wants the war in the Middle East to stop [and] Iran to stop attacking them, they should also put the pressure on Russia, so that they are not able to help [Iran],” she said.
Updated
Poland to cap fuel prices, cut taxes in bid to shield citizens from economic impact of Iran war
Poland’s prime minister Donald Tusk has just announced plans to cap fuel prices and cut excise, VAT taxes to mitigate the economic effects of the war in the Middle East.
Tusk said that Poland “did not start this war and will have no influence over its ending,” but wanted to shield citizens from its economic impact.
The proposals include a daily cap on fuel prices, a reduction in VAT on fuel to 8% from 23%, and a cut to excise tax to the lowest possible level under EU laws.
The package will also include a windfall tax against oil companies, Tusk said, without offering more details.
He declined to say how long the emergency measures will be in force for, saying finance minister Andrzej Domański will outline the proposals in more detail later today.
In an unusual step, the prime minister said the government would push to complete all steps of the legislative procedure in just one day tomorrow in a bid to put pressure on the opposition-aligned president, Karol Nawrocki, to sign them into law before the Easter break.
As a result, Poland joins Spain in announcing a raft of emergency measures responding to the crisis amid growing concerns it could have significant cost-of-living consequences across Europe.
Rutte also repeatedly gets asked about the recent Iranian attempt to strike the US-UK base on Diego Garcia, which he acknowledges as a “relevant development” showing Iran’s capabilities.
He insists Nato is “prepared” and can defend itself, pointing to three interceptions of missiles heading for Turkey.
And that ends his briefing.
The full 2025 annual report is here, if you would like to read it too.
Rutte gets once again asked about Trump’s criticism of Nato as “cowards.”
And he once again responds by praising Trump (13:19).
Back to Brussels, Rutte says that despite significant ramping up of defence spending, there are still areas that require improvements.
“The defence industrial base at the moment is simply not producing enough, and we are not fast enough in implementing innovation. We are getting better, but we have to do more,” he says.
In other passage, he says that despite the world’s attention shifting to the Middle East, the essential equipment continues to flow to Ukraine, as does the supply of equipment purchased under the alliance’s Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List, or PURL.
Hungary files espionage charges against top investigative journalist over claims about minister's phone calls with Russia
in Budapest
The Hungarian government is filing charges against Hungary’s leading investigative journalist, Szabolcs Panyi, for alleged espionage amid the fallout from media reports claiming Hungary’s foreign minister regularly consulted with Russia.
Orbán’s chief of staff, Gergely Gulyás, confirmed at Thursday’s press briefing that Hungary’s justice minister Bence Tuzson decided to file charges against Panyi.
Gulyás said “the details already known to the public were sufficient enough” to press ahead, alleging Panyi had “spied against his own country in cooperation with a foreign state.”
A Washington Post piece last week alleged that Hungary’s foreign minister, Péter Szijjártó, frequently updated his Russian counterpart on the phone with the details of confidential EU meetings.
The Guardian has independently confirmed that Szijjártó shared confidential information with Lavrov.
After the Post’s article, a pro-government online publication, Mandiner, published an article claiming that foreign intelligence agencies had wiretapped Szijjártó with the help of Panyi.
The piece included an edited audio recording of Panyi talking to an unidentified woman, in which he spoke about sharing Szijjártó’s phone number with a source at an EU government agency.
According to Gulyás, it is “not considered investigative journalism” when someone “gives a minister’s phone number to a foreign intelligence service,” alleging the journalist’s intent had been to have the minister’s phone wiretapped. “That’s espionage,” Gulyás added.
After Gulyas’s statement, Panyi published a Facebook post denying the espionage allegations and saying the recording was heavily edited.
Panyi is understood to be working on a book on the Russian interference in Hungarian politics. He was previously targeted with the Israeli spyware Pegasus on numerous occasions.
But there is a bit of an update from Hungary on that very issue.
Let’s go over to Flora Garamvolgyi in Budapest.
Nato’s Rutte also got asked about media reports alleging Hungary’s foreign minister Péter Szijjártó regularly exchanged information with third countries, including Russia’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov.
He sidesteps the issue saying that “all 32 allies agree that Russia is our most significant threat,” and not really addressing the original question.
In the Q&A, Rutte also gets some questions on the situation in the Middle East.
Among others, he gets asked about reports that Russia supplies Iran with combat drones.
He says he cannot really comment on this as it would risk compromising intelligence sources, but added that he was not “naive” about it, adding “we have known this for some years that there is a close connection between Iran, Russia, North Korea and China.”
Updated
In the Q&A, Rutte repeatedly gets asked about Trump, and his criticism of Nato allies as “cowards” and his repeated claims that the US would “remember” their refusal to help on Iran.
As ever, he is very careful not to criticise the US president.
He says instead:
“What I have been seeing is some frustration … about the Europeans needing to take time to react to his requests … and I said, hey, there is a reason for that. … For good reasons, the US was not able to consult with allies because they wanted to keep the campaign, secret again, for good reasons, to make sure that, nobody knew what happened on that Saturday morning.”
But he says that numerous Europeans are now willing to “come together to discuss” what they can do to help with keeping the strait of Hormuz open.
Straight away, Rutte gets a question on the US and its relation with Nato – and he jumps right in to praise Trump.
He insists in response that, without Trump, the alliance would not have been in the current position of reaching 2% at the end of 2025.
“Without the present administration in the United States and the present president, I don’t think you would ever have reached this commitment to spend 5% of our GDP on defence, including the 3.5% on core defence [either],” he says.
He also pointedly praises “Trump 47” as he refers to him (!?) for opening the dialogue with Russia and “breaking the deadlock,” even thought the negotiations do not appear to be progressing at the moment.
'Russia remains most significant, dire threat,' Rutte says
Rutte says that defence ramp up is needed so the alliance is in a position to “address the threats we face.”
“Russia remains the most significant and dire threat to security in the Euro-Atlantic area,” he says, referencing numerous incidents from the last year, including airspace violations, sabotage, malign cyberactivities, and drone incursions.
Nato chief says Europe increased defence spending by 20% in 2025
Nato’s Rutte says that on the back of the 2025 summit in the Hague, allies “took a historic decision to raise defence investment to 5% GDP,” with “significant progress” over the course of the year.
“For the first time, all allies met the goal agreed in 2014 to invest at least 2% of their GDP on defence,” he adds.
He notes that “we saw 20% increase in what Europe and Canada spent on defence in 2025 as compared with 2024.”
“Continuing this crucial trend will be a priority in the years to come,” he says.
He continues:
“For too long, European allies and Canada were overreliant on US military might. We did not take enough responsibility for our own security.
But there has been a real shift in mindset, a collective recognition of our changed security environment. And as a European, I am proud of what we are doing.”
Updated
Nato's Rutte presents alliance's 2025 annual report
Let’s go across the town to Nato HQ, where secretary general Mark Rutte is speaking about the alliance’s 2025 annual report.
He says the alliance sees “clearly that our world is constantly changing, and we are adapting to ensure we remain prepared,” as Russian aggression on Ukraine continued as did its “increasingly reckless” behaviour towards Nato.
You can watch it below, but I will bring you all the key lines here.
EU accuses four pornographic platforms of breaking digital rules aimed to protect children
Elsewhere in Brussels, the European Commission has accused four pornographic platforms of allowing children to access adult content in breach of digital rules, putting the companies at risk of large fines.
The European Commission said its preliminary findings said that the four pages failed to protect children’s rights and wellbeing. The EU said minors could access all four platforms by a simple click confirming they are over 18, AFP reported.
EU technology spokesperson Thomas Regnier said:
“None of them have proper age verification measures in place. … The situation is quite terrible. … In France, from age 12, more than half of boys visit pornographic websites each month. In Ireland, more than 50% of boys first encountered pornography between the ages of 10 and 13. In Poland, one of the nine most popular platforms for kids aged 7 to 12 is one of these pornographic platforms.”
Separately, the commission also opened a probe into Snapchat, also over suspicions the platform is not doing enough to protect children using the app.
Updated
European Parliament advances EU-US trade deal, but adds safeguards – snap analysis
in Brussels
The European parliament has voted to advance the EU-US trade deal but with conditions aimed at preventing Donald Trump’s administration from riding roughshod over Europe.
Lawmakers voted in favour of texts tabled by the head of the European parliament’s international trade committee Bernd Lange that would introduce safeguards to the EU-US trade deal signed last summer at Donald Trump’s Turnberry golf course in Scotland.
The European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and Trump agreed last August that the EU would scrap tariffs on many US goods, while the US would impose a 15% rate on many European imports, maintaining 50% duties on steel and aluminium.
The European parliament, which needs to approve the lowering of EU tariffs, has twice paused the vote on its consent, following Trump’s threats to annex Greenland, then a US Supreme Court ruling, declaring the US president’s tariffs unlawful.
Introducing the vote on Thursday, Lange said the Turnberry deal was not a formal trade agreement:
“An agreement that we negotiate has commitments and safeguards and a dispute settlement mechanism … now all of that is not in the deal from Scotland.”
The parliament voted on Thursday that it will only accept zero tariffs on US goods, if hundreds of European goods made with steel and aluminium are excluded from the 50% US tariff on those metals.
European industry protested after the Trump administration, following the Turnberry deal, introduced 407 different product categories that would be subject to the higher 50% rate, from wind turbines to the furniture, fearing the possibility of an ever expanding list.
Further safeguards include scrapping the EU’s zero tariffs if Trump introduces new trade measures against the EU and a sunset clause to end the agreement by 31 March 2028.
Lange’s amendments were approved by 417 MEPs, with 154 against and 71 abstentions.
An amendment by the radical left to vote down the deal failed to win support. Martin Schwirdan of Germany’s Die Linke, a co-leader of the left group, said “This is not a fair deal. This is blackmailing.”
Sophie Wilmès, a vice-chair of the European parliament’s US delegation, said:
“As the US administration lacks either the capacity or the willingness to guarantee even this minimum, it is up to us, Europeans, to put our own safeguards in place to protect ourselves from the chaos of US tariff policies, and even from certain threats.”
But it is not clear that EU member states will accept this attempt to improve the Turnberry deal, in the wake of further threats from the Trump administration.
Trump’s ambassador to the EU, Andrew Pudzer, told the Financial Times that the EU must implement the deal without amendments or risk losing “favourable” access to liquified natural gas shipments from American exporters.
Updated
So let’s go back to Brussels for more details on what the European Parliament’s vote on the EU-US deal means.
Over to our correspondent, Jennifer Rankin.
Money from oil and gas means Russia has more time for war against Ukraine, Zelenskyy says
Zelenskyy also warned against allowing Russia to benefit from the “uncertain” oil and gas markets amid the continuing Middle East crisis.
“We all know that, for Russia, money from oil and gas means more time for war,” he says.
“So please keep the pressure on Russia, its tankers and shadow fleet must not feel safe in European waters,” he adds.
And that ends the public part of the JEF meeting in Helsinki.
Updated
Zelenskyy warns about risks posed by 'aggressive Russian regime'
Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy is speaking next, in a pre-recorded video.
He was meant to be in Helsinki, but couldn’t join after some “rescheduling” was needed, Finland’s Stubb says.
In his intervention, Zelenskyy talks about the need for defence cooperation as “no one knows what the future holds for Europe or how Russia will behave in the coming years.”
“We have an aggressive Russian regime next to us that has no intention of returning to a peaceful coexistence with its neighbours,” he warns.
'Whatever Putin may tell himself, Russia is not winning' in Ukraine, Starmer says
Starmer also says that “we must keep strengthening our support for Ukraine,” including further action on the shadow fleet, which he says is “a really important agenda item” today.
He says Europeans need to “keep up the pressure on Putin and to help change the narrative.”
“The reality on the ground is that Ukraine is holding firm.
They’ve taken back territory in recent weeks, and they’re imposing a terrible cost on the invaders.
So whatever Putin may tell himself, after four years, the truth is that Russia is not winning. They won’t win. And they must stop blocking the path to a just and lasting peace.”
Threat from Russia 'has not gone away; in fact, has grown,' Starmer warns
Over in Helsinki, the leaders are now sitting down to start their working session on northern European security and Ukraine.
Finland’s Stubb says the discussions will be about the East, with Ukraine and Russia, but also the Arctic, the North Atlantic, and the Baltic.
Britain’s Starmer says that while the attention of the world has shifted to the Middle East, “the threat from Russia in the north and in the east has not gone away; in fact, in my view, that threat has grown.”
He also notes that the crisis in the Middle East has “highlighted Ukraine’s expertise in modern warfare,” including on defences against Iranian drones.
He pays tribute to the “extraordinary fortitude” of the Ukrainian people as they face “Putin’s abhorrent attacks over the winter.”
He says that Europe’s support for Ukraine is “unshakeable.”
European Parliament votes to advance EU-US tariff deal
Meanwhile, the European Parliament has just voted to advance the EU-US tariff deal.
With 642 MEPs present, 417 backed the proposal, with 154 opposed and 71 abstaining.
The timing of Trump’s intervention is really awkward as Nato’s secretary general Mark Rutte will speak to the media this afternoon presenting the alliance’s 2025 report.
Obviously, it’s not the first time he pointedly criticises Nato, but Rutte will now have to figure out how to respond to this latest outburst as there is no doubt he is going to get asked about it.
Updated
US 'needs nothing' from Nato and will 'never forget' its lack of help on Iran, Trump says
Meanwhile, the US president, Donald Trump, has once again lashed out against Nato allies saying in a social media post that they have “done absolutely nothing to help” in Iran campaign.
“The USA needs nothing from Nato, but ‘never forget’ this very important point in time,” he warned.
Here is his post in full:
“NATO NATIONS HAVE DONE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO HELP WITH THE LUNATIC NATION, NOW MILITARILY DECIMATED, OF IRAN. THE U.S.A. NEEDS NOTHING FROM NATO, BUT “NEVER FORGET” THIS VERY IMPORTANT POINT IN TIME! President DONALD J. TRUMP”
Updated
Russia wants to 'continue war, try to conquer as much as possible,' Lithuania's Nausėda warns
Lithuanian president Gitanas Nausėda is up next.
He says that “despite the efforts of the US administration … and the international community, unfortunately we do not see the resolution of this crisis, because of the unwillingness of the Russian Federation to proceed and have a deal.”
He says Russia wants to “continue the war, try to conquer as much as possible [in terms of] the territory of Ukraine.”
Nausėda says it is “regretful” that the EU cannot progress its €90bn loan for Ukraine, which continues to be blocked by Hungary’s Viktor Orbán.
He says he explains that with “the hot election period” in Hungary, but hopes to get a deal at some point.
He also briefly talks about the drones reported in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, and confirms the one in Lithuania was “of Ukrainian origin” and was originally aimed at Primorsk in Russia.
He says the incident highlights the need to step up drone defences so EU countries can respond to the risks associated with the war taking place on its eastern border,
More interventions against Russian shadow fleet expected in coming weeks and months, Dutch PM says
Dutch prime minister Rob Jetten is also here.
He celebrated his 39th birthday at last night’s pre-summit dinner with a sweet cake courtesy of Finland’s Alex Stubb.
He says that the most important challange for northern European countries is to deal with “hybrid and physical threats from Russia” which remain “the biggest threat to European security.”
Jetten also says that his government will “continue support our Ukrainian friends … for as long as the Russian aggression against Ukraine continues.”
He also insists that there should be “no easing [of] sanctions against the Russian Federation,” as they “continue hitting them very hard.”
He says the Netherlands will be working closely with the UK, Belgium, France and others on intercepting the Russian shadow fleet.
“I expect – in the weeks and months to come – more interventions [involving] the Russian shadow fleet,” he says.
Iceland’s Kristrún Mjöll Frostadóttir is also speaking, as she highlights Iceland’s defence stance focusing on being a “good ally” and host nation for US, Nato partners.
On the EU, she says there will be a referendum “at the end of the summer” on reopening the talks with the bloc, but admits “this is still a big question for the Icelandic public.”
The government’s proposal is to hold the vote on 29 August 2026, and the final accession deal, if reached, would then be put to another vote.
'Politeness will not work with Russia,' Estonia's Michal says
Estonia’s Kristen Michal also highlights the need to continue supporting Ukraine.
He says “everybody is probably watching what is happening in the Middle East and with concern, that is understandable, but for our neighbourhood and region, that is happening in Ukraine is of utmost importance.”
He says Ukraine “needs our help, assistance, money, weaponry, and all that we can do.”
Michal says “we need to keep the pressure on Russia” as that is “the only way to stop Russia from being an aggressor state and coming to negotiations.”
“Because if you don’t take away the money from Russia, if you don’t pressure them, politeness will not work with Russia. It’s weakness for them,” he says.
Europe will keep asking US to play role in Ukraine talks, Norway's Støre says
Norway’s Jonas Gahr Støre is up next.
He says the JEF format proves to be an important forum for northern European countries to discuss their shared challenges and deepen their cooperation on security.
“It’s Europe’s responsibility to strengthen the European pillar of Nato,” he says, as he insists “this is not due to the current American administration,” but “a historic responsibility that we [all] need to take.”
He also underlines the need to keep paying attention to Ukraine, as the country continues to be affected by Russian aggression.
“We support Ukraine and their right to defend themselves. But this has implications for European security. We cannot sit still and see that the military means will be used to change geography, change borders,” he says.
Støre says Europe will continue to “make it very clear to the Americans that we encourage them to play their role diplomatically,” even if there is little progress in formal talks with Russia.
“We need to increase the pressure on Russia,” he says.
Latvia's Siliņa urges Europe to ramp up drone production
Latvia’s Evika Siliņa is the second to arrive and she stresses the need to talk about Ukraine after recent “very serious” attacks from Russia, adding that Europe “needs to discuss how we can develop our drone capabilities.”
“We need to decide that we need to manufacture … them more,” she says, adding that “without those capabilities, it’s impossible now … to win any war.”
She also talks about the need to press ahead with the next round of EU sanctions against Russia to “eliminate [its] financial resources” to fund the war against Ukraine, but obviously these continue to be blocked by Hungary.
'What Russia is doing is very concerning,' Sweden's PM warns
First heads of states and government are now arriving at the Joint Expeditionary Force meeting in Helsinki, where they are expected to talk about Ukraine, Russia, the Baltic Sea, and broader regional cooperation.
Sweden’s Ulf Kristersson is the first to show up and speak to reporters.
He speaks about the need to act against the Russian shadow fleet, stressing that any responses needs to be in accordance with international law, but “it [still] gives us a lot of room for us to act.”
But he warns that the Baltic Sea “has probably never in modern times been more challenged” with attempts to cut undersea cables or “bad seamanship,” but it “has probably also never been as protected as it is right now” through Nato.
“What Russia is doing is very concerning,” he says.
He also notes that Russia is benefiting from a higher oil price as a result of the Middle East crisis.
Proposed safeguards needed to guarantee certainty from 'relatively one-sided' deal, senior lawmaker says
Senior German MEP Bernd Lange, who led the work on the trade deal at earlier stages, told lawmakers earlier that the additional safeguards were needed as the original agreement, as signed in Scotland last year, was merely an outline of what would normally be included in a trade deal.
He also warned that the deal was “relatively one-sided,” but “maybe if we can improve it, we can live with it.”
But he also expressed doubts about the volatility of the US position, with repeated threats of new tariffs.
“So there has been a certain amount to uncertainty, … and that is why we do need to create some certainty, to have an agreement with sensible rules and ones that we can define,” he said.
He said the parliament needed to make sure that “if there is a big change on the other side that is unacceptable, we can then come back to our tariffs.”
Updated
Morning opening: EU parliament set to vote on tariff deal with US
EU lawmakers are set to vote on the bloc’s tariff deal with US president Donald Trump today, after months of delays caused by uncertainty affecting transatlantic trade amid his repeated threats against Greenland and, more recently, Spain.
The parliament will vote on whether to cut EU tariffs on some US imports – as a first step towards implementing the 2025 deal – but with additional safeguards, AFP said.
Lawmakers leading on trade have added several provisions: making an EU tariff reduction automatically lapse in March 2028, and tying tariff cuts on steel and aluminium goods to similar reductions by the US side, it explained.
EU’s economy commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis argued this morning that the deal with the US “steadied our trade relationship at a time of profound upheaval” and provided “predictability for European companies and consumers when they needed it most.”
“The deal is a deal, and our credibility depends on keeping our word.”
But still many are not sure about the deal given the volatility on the US side under Trump.
“The only political value this agreement had to offer was stability and predictability, even if many say it’s an unfair deal. If it no longer even provides predictability, there’s no reason to support the deal, even if it has been improved,” said French MEP Pascal Canfin.
The vote is on around 11am local time (10am UK), with a policy debate on the proposal now under way.
Elsewhere, I will keep an eye on Denmark, as the outgoing prime minister Mette Frederiksen gets on with the task of finding a majority in the next Danish parliament, and on Brussels, where we are expecting to hear from Nato’s secretary general Mark Rutte on his 2025 report.
Several European leaders are also meeting in Helsinki, where the Finnish president, Alexander Stubb, hosts a meeting of JEF, the Joint Expeditionary Force, operating in Northern Europe and the Baltic Sea region. UK’s Starmer and Norway’s Støre are among attendees, and Ukraine’s Zelenskyy will deliver a pre-recorded speech.
Lots for us to cover.
It’s Thursday, 26 March 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
Updated
