Ukraine: Trump says negotiators headed to Russia 'right now'

Finland will "definitely" be a part of a peacekeeping coalition to deter Russian aggression and uphold Ukrainian security, Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen told the UK's Times Radio.

"We are definitely part of the coalition of the willing, and we are looking at the package of capabilities which we have to put to the table in order to help Ukraine in securing itself," she said.

"We will, of course, have to secure the rest of Europe, too," she added. "There are many ways to participate and rest assured Finland will participate also."

French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu said after a meeting of Europe's five key powers that "a very broad consensus" was emerging among European nations on boosting Ukraine's long-term security.

"There is obviously a very broad consensus emerging... that the first of the security guarantees for Ukraine is obviously the Ukrainian army itself," Lecornu told reporters after talks with his German, Italian, Polish and British counterparts.

He said demands for the demilitarization of Ukraine, a stated Russian objective for a peace deal, were not possible.

"The word 'demilitarisation' is emerging, but it is not the case. On the contrary, the real guarantee of long-term security will be the capabilities that we will be able to give to the Ukrainian army," Lecornu said.

The French defense chief added that fifteen countries have shown an interest in establishing a security architecture to secure peace in Ukraine.

Europe needs a more unified approach toward procurement of military equipment, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said in Paris.

Pistorius' comments after a meeting with defense ministers of France, Poland, Italy and the UK (see below).

The defense chiefs were in Paris for a meeting to discussdefense support for Ukraine.

"We want to procure more, we want to procure consistently and at the same time... we want to deregulate, at a European level, but also in our nation states," Pistorius said. "We can procure more cheaply together."

Pistorius added that Europe's stringent bureaucracy could not delay defense spending, "We don't have that time, it's superfluous and costly." 

EU finance ministers on Tuesday backed a proposal to use the flexibility in the bloc's revised fiscal rules to spend more on defense without triggering disciplinary steps from Brussels for excessive borrowing. 

Ukraine's top army commander said that Ukrainian forces would continue operating in Russia's western Kursk region "as long as appropriate and necessary."

Oleksandr Syrsky said on Facebook that troops would also "maneuver to more favorable positions, if necessary," adding that saving soldiers' lives is a priority.

In the last few days, the Russian military entered the town of Sudzha, near the border, that had been occupied by Ukrainian soldiers since they launched a surprise incursion into Kursk last year.

"Despite the increased pressure of the Russian and North Korean army, we will hold the defense in Kursk region as long as it is appropriate and necessary," Syrsky said.

Ukraine's general staff said clashes on the Kursk front were among the most intense in the conflict, with Kyiv's military repelling five Russian attacks and nine still underway. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin has visited military headquarters in Russia's western Kursk region, according to Russian state media.

Putin appeared on TV in a pixilated military uniform and said that he was "counting on the fact that all the combat tasks facing our units will be fulfilled, and the territory of the Kursk region will soon be completely liberated from the enemy."

Russian forces have been battling against Ukrainian forces in Kursk since Ukrainian troops staged a surprise incursion there last August.

Russian forces have launched counteroffensive attacks in an attempt to recapture territory.

They have not been able to expel Ukrainian troops, but they have managed to take control of a large chunk of Kursk that had been held by Ukraine.

Chief of the Russian military's general staff, Valery Gerasimov, also told Putin during his visit to Kursk that Russian troops had crossed into Ukraine's northeastern Sumy region in several places and were "destroying the enemy reserves and expanding a security zone" there. 

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has told Fox News that US national security adviser Mike Waltz spoke with his Russian counterpart on Wednesday.

She also said that US envoy Steve Witkoff is going to Moscow this week for talks with Russian officials.

She did not say with whom Witkoff planned to meet. The Associated Press news agency quoted a source familiar with the matter as saying Witkoff was expected to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

US President Donald Trump told reporters that US teams were headed to Moscow to discuss the 30-day ceasefire plan with Ukraine.

Trump was meeting with the Irish prime minister in the Oval Office, when he was asked questions about whether Russia would accept the ceasefire proposal.

Kyiv accepted the plan on Tuesday.

"It's up to Russia now," Trump told reporters, adding that he could impose "devastating" sanctions on Russia that could punish the country.

"I hope that's not going to be necessary," he said, adding: "I can do things financially that would be very bad for Russia. I don't want to do that because I want to get peace."

As concerns over the US's Ukraine policy mount, calls in Europe are growing for Russia's frozen assets to be handed over to Ukraine.

Some €200 billion ($218 billion) worth of assets are being held as part of a package of sanctions against Russia. But EU member states are split over how much, and when, to use that leverage.

DW spoke with Thijs Reuten, Member of European Parliament, for more.

US President Donald Trump said US officials were headed to Russia "right now" to talk about a ceasefire plan to end the war in Ukraine.

Ukrainian and US officials agreed on the ceasefire on Tuesday, along with a restoration of US military aid and intelligence to Kyiv, after more than eight hours of talks in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah.

"People are going to Russia right now as we speak. And hopefully we can get a ceasefire from Russia," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office during a meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin.

"I've gotten some positive messages, but a positive message means nothing," Trump said in response to questions from reporters about progress on Ukraine. "This is a very serious situation."

The Kremlin said Wednesday it was still awaiting details from Washington about the ceasefire proposal, with Reuters news agency quoting senior Moscow officials as saying the deal would have to take into account Russia's advances and address its concerns. 

Defense ministers from Poland, Germany, France, Italy and the UK are meeting in Paris for talks on ending the war in Ukraine.

The so called E5 meeting will be used by leaders to discuss efforts to support Ukraine and boost security on the continent as well.

A press conference is expected to follow soon.

The meeting comes after army chiefs from over 30 nations gathered in Paris on Tuesday to discuss an international force to deter future Russian aggression once a ceasefire is established.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he hoped Russia would accept a ceasefire plan proposed by US officials to end the war in Ukraine.

Ukraine accepted the interim 30-day ceasefire proposal after talks with US officials in Saudi Arabia this week.

The ball is now in Russia's court, according to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was representing the US team in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah, where the talks took place.

Speaking at a press conference in Ankara, alongside Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Erdogan also repeated an offer to host any future talks between Kyiv and Moscow if the ceasefire allows them to return to the negotiating table.

The European Parliament has adopted a resolution calling on the EU to "act urgently and ensure its own security."

The non-binding resolution called for "truly ground-breaking efforts" and actions on defense "close to those of wartime."

"Europe is today facing the most profound military threat to its territorial integrity since the end of the Cold War," the resolution read, which was adopted with 419 votes in favor, 204 against and 46 abstentions.

Member states and NATO allies were also urged to lift all restrictions on the use of Western weapons systems that have been delivered to Ukraine against military targets situated on Russian territory.

The resolution stated that the EU must be able "move much faster through the procedures" in the event of a war or other major security crises.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine had shown that it was willing to adopt a ceasefire and that Russia needed to respond.

"Everything depends on whether Russia wants a ceasefire and silence, or it wants to continue killing people," Zelenskyy said at a press conference in Kyiv. "Ukraine has demonstrated its position ... and today Russia has to respond to this."

"I am very serious (about a ceasefire) and for me it is important to end the war," the Reuters news agency quoted Zelenskyy as saying.

"We are ready for a ceasefire for 30 days as proposed by the American side."

Russian news agency TASS reported that Russia was awaiting more detailed information on the outcome of talks between US and Ukrainian officials in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Earlier, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was cited in reports as saying that statements were being examined.

Ukraine's foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, said that a Russian strike on the southern Ukrainian port city of Odesa that killed four people was an attack on global food security.

The strike took place as a vessel was being loaded with a grain consignment destined for Algeria. Ukrainian officials said the four fatalities were Syrian nationals.

"In Odesa port, Russia struck a civilian vessel with wheat for Algeria. Condolences to the families of Syrian citizens killed in the attack," Sybiha said in a post on social media platform X. 

"This is an attack on global food security and maritime safety. It demonstrates how close this war is to Algeria, Syria, and other countries." 

Oleksiy Kuleba, vice prime minister for reconstruction, wrote on social media that "the youngest victim was 18, the oldest was 24 years old. Two more people were wounded — a Ukrainian and a Syrian."

A Barbados-flagged cargo ship was also damaged in the overnight strike.

France and the United Kingdom have reiterated their commitment to supporting a just and lasting peace in Ukraine through continued military and strategic cooperation.

French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu met with his British counterpart, John Healey, on the sidelines of the Paris Forum on Defense and Strategy on Wednesday to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine. 

Writing a post on X, Lecornu reaffirmed both nations' ongoing military support to Ukraine to ensure its long-term defense capabilities. 

He added that France and the UK ''will continue to strengthen their bilateral defense partnership across all areas.''