The Kremlin has pointed to talks in Istanbul in 2022 as a possible starting point for peace – after Hungary’s Viktor Orban claimed rearming will ruin Europe. Last night, Ukraine was hit by a „massive“ attack. Listen to Trump 100 – about the president and Putin – as you scroll.
Friday 7 March 2025 11:59, UK
Ukraine has received the first part of funds worth $1bn from the UK, taken from the proceeds of frozen Russian assets, according to the country’s prime minister.
Denys Shmyhal says: „The funds will go towards strengthening Ukraine’s defence capabilities.
„We expect all sovereign assets of the Russian Federation to be confiscated and transferred to benefit our country in the future.“
France could launch a national loan to fund plans to boost its defence spending, according to the country’s prime minister and finance minister.
Given Donald Trump’s freezing of military aid for Ukraine, and his apparent cooling of support for NATO allies in Europe, countries across the continent are facing up to paying for more of their own defence.
Finance Minister Eric Lombard has said at a news conference today that a national loan dedicated to defence was „among the tools that we can choose from“.
Prime Minister Francois Bayrou also told Europe 1 radio and Cnews TV that such a loan was „a possibility“ – but he added „we would still have to decide on it“, and no such decision had yet been taken.
Macron’s defence push
In a televised address on Wednesday, President Emmanuel Macron warned Europe of Russia’s threat.
The president said France would spend more on defence – though he did not say how much more.
He said there would be no tax increases to finance that, but tough choices would have to be made.
For context: Macron’s push to increase defence spending will not be easy. France has one of the biggest budget deficits in the European Union.
It passed its 2025 budget last month only after weeks of delay in a deeply divided parliament.
We can bring you a bit more now on planned talks between American and Ukrainian delegations in Saudi Arabia next week.
Yesterday, President Zelenskyy said he’d be travelling to the country next week for part of the negotiations.
Now, Saudi Arabia has welcomed the prospect of hosting the meeting in Jeddah.
Its foreign ministry also said in a statement it would continue to do its utmost to end the Ukrainian crisis.
Russia has accused the European Union of indulging in „confrontational rhetoric and confrontational thinking“ over Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters: „We see that the European Union is now actively discussing the militarisation of the EU and the development of the defence segment.
„This is a process that we are watching closely, because the EU is positioning Russia as its main adversary.“
Peskov said such talk is a „topic of deep concern for us“ and that Russia would „need to take appropriate measures in response to ensure our security“.
He went on: „And, of course, such confrontational rhetoric and confrontational thinking that we are now seeing in Brussels and in European capitals is seriously at odds with the mood for finding a peaceful settlement around Ukraine.“
Earlier ( in our 7.40 post) we reported comments from EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, who said that up to €800bn could be „mobilised“ by a plan called REARM Europe.
European countries are taking action after the US paused military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has again called for a truce in the air and at sea – while saying Russia is the „sole source“ of the war in his country.
The Ukrainian president has now appealed for a pause in the fighting three times in the last few days.
Today, he said there should be „silence in the skies“ which would include „banning the use of missiles, long-range drones, and aerial bombs“.
He added: „And silence at sea – a real guarantee of normal navigation.
„Ukraine is ready to pursue the path to peace, and it is Ukraine that strives for peace from the very first second of this war.
„The task is to force Russia to stop the war.“
The „first steps“ towards a „real peace“ must include „forcing the sole source of this war, Russia, to stop attacks against life“, he added.
He also referenced the „massive attack“ on Ukrainian gas infrastructure overnight that we have been reporting.
„In total, the Russians used nearly 70 missiles, both cruise and ballistic, as well as almost 200 attack drones,“ he said.
„All of this was directed against infrastructure that ensures normal life.“
David Lammy, the UK’s foreign secretary, has urged Japan to help Ukraine by increasing economic pressure on Russia.
In a televised statement made alongside his Japanese counterpart Takeshi Iwaya in Tokyo, Lammy said: „Our shared interests in a stable international system and rules-based trade is absolutely clear and fundamental.
„Europe is stepping up, but Japan can help too, including on ramping up economic pressure on [Vladimir] Putin.“
A draft peace deal that was discussed between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul in 2022 could be the starting point for a settlement of the war, the Kremlin has said.
Turkey, a member of NATO, hosted initial talks between the two sides in the early weeks of the conflict.
More details are coming in now about a „massive“ attack on Ukraine overnight (see also our 7.04 post).
At least 10 people, including a child, were injured in Russian missile and drone attacks, Ukraine’s energy minister has said.
German Galushchenko said Moscow was trying to „hurt ordinary Ukrainians by striking energy and gas production facilities“.
He said Vladimir Putin’s regime has a goal of „leaving us without light and heat, and causing the greatest harm to ordinary citizens“.
The largest private energy company in Ukraine, DTEK, said this morning it had halted gas production at its facilities in the central Poltava region after they suffered significant damage from the Russian attacks.
Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukraine’s power grid since it invaded its neighbour more than three years ago.
Electricity generation capacity has been depleted.
Ukrainian officials have accused Russia of „weaponising winter“.
Russia’s defence ministry said its forces carried out strikes with long-range air, sea and land-based precision weapons against what it called gas and energy infrastructure.
French Mirage 2000 jets have taken part in Ukrainian air defence for the first time, Ukraine’s air force has said.
Some 34 missiles and 100 drones launched by Russia in an overnight attack on various Ukrainian regions were shot down, the air force added.
Vladimir Putin could agree a ceasefire with Ukraine but it would be „on his terms“, a senior British diplomat has said.
Sir Laurie Bristow, a former UK ambassador to Russia, also said a cessation in fighting has to be made „attractive“ to the Kremlin.
Sir Laurie told Sky News: „Mr Putin will agree a ceasefire but on his terms.
„Those terms are that a ceasefire has to be a more attractive prospect to Russia than fighting.
„That can happen in one of two ways.
„Either Ukraine is weakened or Russia is weakened.
„At the moment what I think we’re seeing is a Ukraine that is being weakened on the battlefield by the suspension of US military support.“
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Ukraine war latest: Kremlin says starting point for peace could be 2022 talks; rearming will 'ruin Europe', Orban warns – Sky News
