Morning opening: Zelenskyy hopes for 'results' in talks with US over Easter ceasefire
With global attention largely focused on the Middle East and rising US frustrations with European NATO allies over their refusal to allow the use of bases for offensive operations in Iran, coverage of the Ukraine conflict has diminished. However, these two geopolitical spheres intersect today as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet with US negotiators to discuss final steps toward ending the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Addressing EU foreign ministers visiting Ukraine yesterday, Zelenskyy reiterated his proposal for a ceasefire during the Easter holidays and expressed his desire for US support on this initiative.
“We are waiting for a response from . Tomorrow I will speak with the American team, including on this issue. We hope for results,”
I will monitor the developments closely.
Meanwhile, the European Union is increasingly focused on mitigating the economic consequences of the ongoing Middle East conflict and energy supply disruptions, with particular concern for EU countries vulnerable to interruptions in imports from the Gulf region.
All the latest updates will be provided here.
It is Wednesday, 1 April 2026. I am Jakub Krupa, and this is Europe Live.
EU declines to comment on Trump's NATO outburst
Separately, the European Commission declined to comment on former US President Donald Trump’s recent remarks reported in the Telegraph, maintaining their policy of "not comment on comments."
The Commission also responded to Ukraine’s Easter ceasefire proposal, expressing broad support.
Foreign affairs spokesperson Anitta Hipper stated:
“The EU is supporting the idea of a ceasefire [for] a long time. Russia clearly isn’t, because they have rejected it and they chose just once more [that] they are not at all interested in peace. …
Just [in] the last week alone, Russia launched more than 1000 of drones against Ukraine. …
So what we want to do is to continuously further support Ukraine throughout and also to ensure that Ukraine prevails and the pressure is put on the aggressor and not on Ukraine.”
EU seeks to pressure Hungary into dropping veto on Ukraine loan, progresses legal instruments
The European Union is intensifying efforts to persuade Hungary to lift its veto on the €90 billion loan package for Ukraine. The European Commission announced it will proceed with preparatory work to facilitate the loan disbursement.
The Commission has outlined the details of the first €45 billion payment scheduled for 2026, including intended uses of the funds, and will submit this plan to the European Council for formal approval by the bloc’s 27 leaders.
This approval is expected to be a formality given the leaders’ original backing of the loan in December last year. A formal change in Hungary’s position would be considered a breach of the principle of loyal cooperation within the EU by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
Commission spokesperson Balazs Ujvari explained:
“The plan builds on a large quantity of information submitted by Ukraine that we collectively worked out with the Ukrainian authorities.”
He added that several other documents must be adopted before funds can be released, but the Commission is working to ensure all requirements are met promptly.
As noted by my colleague Jennifer Rankin, concerns had been raised months ago that Ukraine might exhaust its financial resources by the start of the second quarter, which is today.
The Commission emphasized that progressing the loan paperwork is critical but still requires a change of position or government in Hungary.
Ukraine's Zelenskyy condemns Russia's overnight drone attacks amid calls for Easter ceasefire
President Zelenskyy reported an overnight Russian drone attack on Lutsk in northwestern Ukraine, stating it targeted civilian infrastructure, including food warehouses and a residential building.
“In total, Russia used 339 drones against Ukraine during the night, around 200 of them ‘shaheds’,”he said.
Zelenskyy expressed frustration with Russia’s response to the ceasefire proposal:
“We proposed a ceasefire for Easter – in response, we’re getting ‘shaheds.’ We also proposed a ceasefire specifically regarding energy infrastructure – the Russians ignore this and once again attempt to strike our substations and transformers.
Ukraine is working with partners to expand joint capabilities to protect lives, while Russia continues to prolong the war in Europe, and by sharing its intelligence with the Iranian regime it is openly investing in fueling war in the Middle East and the Gulf.
Russia is the global threat, and its disregard for life and peace is what obstructs any diplomacy.”
Zelenskyy noted he anticipated a "pretty busy diplomatic day," with many scheduled contacts.
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna summarized the situation on social media:
"Ukraine proposed a ceasefire for Easter. Russia responded with a swarm of drones targeting civilians."
Kremlin says Ukraine should have agreed to withdraw troops from Donbas 'yesterday'
The Kremlin reiterated its unwillingness to make concessions in peace talks, stating that Ukrainian President Zelenskyy should have already agreed to withdraw forces from the Donbas region to end the "hot phase" of the conflict.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov made the remarks in response to Zelenskyy’s earlier statement that Moscow had been given a two-month deadline to withdraw troops from Donbas or face tougher terms in any potential peace agreement, according to .
Starmer wants UK to get closer to EU on economy, defence, energy
At a press conference, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed his intention to deepen cooperation with the European Union.
Responding to a question from ’s Jessica Elgot, he said:
“I do think that we should strengthen our cooperation on defence, security, energy, emissions and the economy. …
I’m ambitious that we can do more in relation to the single market, because I think that’s hugely in our economic interests.
Obviously, this is a matter of negotiation and discussion with the EU, but the summit we have this year will not be just be a stocktake summit where we look at actually the ten strands that we put in place last year. It will be a deliberate ambition on our part to go further than that and to cooperate more deeply, including in the economic sphere.”
Earlier, he emphasized that the volatile global situation necessitates closer partnerships with European allies and the EU.
Further details are available on the UK blog.
'Whatever pressure on me and others, noise, ... this is not our war,' UK's Starmer tells Trump
Prime Minister Starmer was the first UK official to respond to Trump’s comments in The Telegraph during a No10 press conference.
He defended NATO as:
“the single most effective military alliance the world has ever seen,”
and while not directly addressing Trump’s remarks, he stated:
“Let me say a number of things in response to that. Firstly, Nato is the single most effective military alliance the world has ever seen, and it has kept us safe for many decades. And we are fully committed to Nato.
Secondly, that whatever the pressure on me and others, whatever the noise, I’m going to act in the British national interest in all the decisions that I make. And that’s why I’ve been absolutely clear that this is not our war, and we’re not going to get dragged into it.”
Additional remarks from Starmer can be found in the UK politics live blog.
Trump's frustration with NATO over its refusal to back his Iran war is clear - snap analysis
Trump’s recent statements reflect escalating criticism of European allies, whom he accuses of undermining US efforts in the Iran conflict.
In recent days, he has labeled European partners as "cowards," urging them to "build up some delayed courage" and take control of the Strait of Hormuz.
He and senior officials have singled out countries such as Spain, which has openly criticized the US-Israeli war against Iran, and France.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned on Fox News about growing US frustration with NATO, stating:
“We are going to have to reexamine the value of Nato and that alliance for our country. Ultimately, that’s a decision for the president to make … but I do think, unfortunately, we are going to have to reexamine whether or not this alliance that has served this country well for a while is still serving that purpose or has now become a one-way street where America is simply in a position to help Europe but when we need the help of our allies, they deny us basing rights and overflight.
I think these are very legitimate questions that we need to be asking and these are going to have to be very carefully examined after this conflict is over.”
Italy recently risked US displeasure after denying use of a Sicilian airbase to US military planes transporting weapons for the Iran conflict, citing procedural issues.
US could review its NATO membership amid frustrations over Iran war, Strait of Hormuz, Trump tells Telegraph
US President Donald Trump told the Telegraph he is "strongly considering" withdrawing the US from NATO, describing the alliance as "a paper tiger" amid frustration with European partners’ refusal to participate in the Iran war.
When asked if he would reconsider US NATO membership after the conflict, he replied:
“Oh yes, I would say [it’s] beyond reconsideration.”
He reiterated his criticism:
“I was never swayed by . I always knew they were a paper tiger, and Putin knows that too, by the way.”
He added:
“We’ve been there automatically, including . Ukraine wasn’t our problem. It was a test, and we were there for them, and we would always have been there for them. They weren’t there for us.”
Germany's growth forecast halved on fears over impact of Middle East war
In Germany, leading economic institutes have downgraded growth forecasts, citing surging inflation from the Middle East conflict and rising energy costs as significant challenges for Europe’s largest economy.
The institutes project 0.6% growth in 2026, down from a previous forecast of 1.3% in September, with inflation expected to rise to 2.8% from 2.0%.
Ukrainian drone manufacturers to meet with Romania to discuss joint production using EU funds
Ukrainian drone manufacturers are meeting with Romanian defence ministry and army officials in Bucharest this week to explore joint production opportunities under a new European Union rearmament funding mechanism, according to a ministry statement cited by .
Romania, an EU and NATO member, shares a 650-kilometer border with Ukraine and has experienced drone incursions and debris falling on its territory since Russia began attacks on Kyiv’s ports across the Danube.
reported that the EU has allocated €16.6 billion to Romania under its new rearmament initiative SAFE, launching later this year. Romanian Defence Minister Radu-Dinel Miruță stated the country aims to invest €200 million in joint drone production.
Fifteen Ukrainian companies will continue discussions in Bucharest over the coming days.
