Hungary’s Viktor Orban has claimed Europe will be ruined by a plan to rearm. Last night, Ukraine was hit by a “massive” attack targeting its energy infrastructure. Listen to the latest episode of Trump 100 – about the president and Vladimir Putin – as you scroll.
Friday 7 March 2025 09:04, UK
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.”
Viktor Orban, the prime minister of Hungary, has ridiculed an ambitious new plan among EU nations to spend enormous extra sums on defence, saying it could “ruin Europe”.
As we reported in our previous post, the president of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, says a proposal called REARM Europe could “mobilise” up to €800bn.
But Orban, speaking on state radio this morning, said: “If now the US quits [financing the war] why would the other 26 member states [of the EU] have a chance to take this war to the end?
“Today it appears that I have vetoed. But within weeks they will come back and it will turn out that there is no money for these goals.”
He added that the way in which the EU wants to support Ukraine, while also boosting Europe’s own defence spending, would “ruin Europe”.
Orban, who has refused to send weapons to Ukraine since the start of the war and has kept close relations with Moscow, said that instead of prolonging the war, Europe should support Donald Trump’s peace talks.
Up to €800bn could be “mobilised” by a plan called REARM Europe, the EU Commission president has said.
Speaking after a meeting of European leaders in Brussels – including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy – Ursula von der Leyen said there was a fresh resolve among EU nations and Britain.
She said there was a “clear and present danger” and Europe was determined to “act with the scale, the speed, and the resolve that this situation demands”.
“We are determined to invest more, to invest better, and to invest faster together,” she added.
“From Paris to London to Brussels, we have shown that we’re willing and able to step up our joint efforts and to coordinate effectively.
“I think today history is being written.”
Russian forces have targeted Ukraine’s energy and gas infrastructure in a “massive” missile and drone attack, the Ukrainian energy minister has said.
German Galushchenko said on Facebook: “Once again, energy and gas infrastructure in various regions of Ukraine has come under massive missile and drone fire.”
He added: “Wherever possible, rescuers and power engineers are working to eliminate the consequences. All necessary measures are being taken to stabilise power and gas supplies.”
Natural gas production facilities at the state-run oil and gas firm Naftogaz were damaged, the company said in a statement.
“Fortunately there were no casualties,” it said on the Telegram messaging app.
Last night (9.37pm post) a regional governor for the port city of Odesa said drones had damaged energy infrastructure and sparked fires there.
It was described as a “massive drone attack”.
These photographs show the aftermath of a Russian missile strike in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv.
An apartment building was badly damaged.
China has said it is willing to “cooperate with the international community” to bring a “fair, lasting and binding peace agreement” to Ukraine.
It is also promising to play a “constructive role”.
Foreign minister Wang Yi said it was important to achieve an agreement that “every side can accept”.
He told reporters: “China is willing to cooperate with the international community in accordance with the wishes of relevant parties to achieve a final resolution of the crisis and lasting peace, and will continue to play a constructive role.”
The White House is facing further criticism it is aligning itself too closely with Russia – something described by US defence secretary Pete Hegseth as “garbage”.
On episode 47 of Trump 100, James Matthews is joined by Diana Magnay, Sky’s former Moscow correspondent, who’s been meeting Ukrainian refugees living in the US.
She shares her experiences of Putin’s Russia and reveals if the country has any similarities to Donald Trump’s America.
They also discuss Trump threatening to row back on NATO commitments – and the pause of tariffs imposed on Canada and Mexico.
If you’ve got a question you’d like to ask James, Martha and Mark, please email it to trump100@sky.uk
Welcome back to our live coverage of the war in Ukraine, as European leaders continue their flurry of diplomacy to shore up defences both in Ukraine and across the continent.
Yesterday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed he plans to visit Saudi Arabia for peace talks – the country which hosted the first round of US-Russia discussions.
Donald Trump said he would visit over the next six weeks.
While there is no suggestion the two leaders will be there at the same time, Zelenskyy said his team will be meeting US officials.
That followed a summit in Brussels during which European leaders discussed a new spending plan on defence – which could lead to hundreds of billions of pounds being spent across the EU.
While diplomacy continues to gather pace off the battlefield, Russia has not relented as it continues to attack Ukraine.
Late last night, Moscow launched a “massive” drone assault on the port city of Odesa, according to the regional governor, causing damage to three residential buildings and starting fires, too.
That’s all from us for now, but we’ll be back in the morning.
Before we go, here’s a recap of today’s main developments:
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