Meanwhile, the Kremlin said this morning there was “no alternative” for Russia than to continue its offensive on Ukraine that it launched in 2022, AFP reported.
“We are continuing our special military operation to ensure our interests and achieve the goals” set by Russian president Vladimir Putin, Kremlin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov told RBC radio, using Moscow’s term for its assault on Ukraine.
The Kremlin also claimed that Russian troops were advancing on all fronts in Ukraine, rejecting Trump’s suggestions that Ukraine could regain all its captured territory, Reuters said.
Responding to Trump’s suggestion that Russia was “a paper tiger,” Peskov said that Russia was a bear, not a tiger, and “there is no such thing as a paper bear“.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin struck a notably downbeat tone on the Russia-US rapprochement, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov telling RBC radio that “this track is sluggish, very sluggish” with “the effectiveness there … close to zero,” AFP reported.
German chancellor Friedrich Merz has been speaking in the Bundestag in last half hour, taking part in a “general debate” on the situation in the country (which is why he isn’t in New York for the UNGA, a move which sparked some controversy domestically, as explained on Europe Live on Monday).
He struck a similar tone to his previous appearance there, warning lawmakers that Germany, or more broadly “the entire western community of values,” was “facing one of the most challenging moments in its modern history.”
He also repeated his point that “foreign and domestic policy can no longer be separated.”
On economy, he acknowledged that many German business and trade union leaders are “deeply concerned” about future, urging lawmakers to “act quickly” on issues such as tax and investment policies, cutting red tape, and tackling energy prices.
He also indicated that his government will present a broader proposal to reform Germany’s welfare provisions “by the end of the year.”
Merz also struck a cautious note on green policies – perhaps picking up on unusual praise from Trump last night – telling the Greens that he believed that climate policies needed to be not ideological, but pragmatic to command the support of the population and not undermine German industrial base or social cohesion in the country.
He said the auto, steel and chemical sectors must remain key industries in the country, and called for lower operational costs for the German aviation sector.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin said this morning there was “no alternative” for Russia than to continue its offensive on Ukraine that it launched in 2022, AFP reported.
“We are continuing our special military operation to ensure our interests and achieve the goals” set by Russian president Vladimir Putin, Kremlin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov told RBC radio, using Moscow’s term for its assault on Ukraine.
The Kremlin also claimed that Russian troops were advancing on all fronts in Ukraine, rejecting Trump’s suggestions that Ukraine could regain all its captured territory, Reuters said.
Responding to Trump’s suggestion that Russia was “a paper tiger,” Peskov said that Russia was a bear, not a tiger, and “there is no such thing as a paper bear“.
US president Donald Trump has said he believes Ukraine can regain all the land that it has lost since the 2022 Russian invasion in one of the strongest statements of support he has given Kyiv, just hours after also saying he thinks Nato should shot down Russian aircraft violating its airspace.
The U-turn was even more surprising as it came just hours after Trump publicly admonished Europe for its migration, climate and energy policies, telling astonished leaders that their countries were “being ruined” and “going to hell.”
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy looked initially as surprised as anyone at Trump’s dramatic change of views, but very happy to finally end up on the right side of the US president, at least for now.
Let’s see how long it lasts. I will look out for European reactions and bring them to you here, and we should hear from Zelenskyy himself at the UN general assembly later today.
Separately, I will keep an eye on reports from Denmark as the police investigation into the drone incident at Copenhagen airport continues.
I will bring you all the key updates here.
It’s Tuesday, 23 September 2025, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.