The leaders of Europe’s three largest economies – French President Macron, Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italy’s Prime Minister Mario Draghi have each voiced support to Ukraine joining the European Union during a joint visit to Kyiv
The leaders agree the war-torn nation should get “immediate” candidate status, but in reality, this is just the start of a lengthy membership process.
Ukraine’s candidacy will need to be agreed on by all 27 of the EU’s member states, and this could happen during an EU summit on June 23.
A negotiation stage would follow, in which the nation could be asked to implement reforms, such as stamping out corruption.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s deputy prime minister says while warm scenes during the visit represent an “historic breakthrough” – she also warns Western countries have shown a “gap between promises and actions” in the past.
Kyiv hopes their visit brings concrete action
All three leaders are seeking to overcome Ukraine’s criticism of their response to its fight against Russia’s invasion.
Irpin was one of the main hotspots of fighting with Russian troops in the north before they pulled back to intensify their offensive in the east.
Ukraine says Russia committed large-scale atrocities here, which Russia denies.
Macron called the town “heroic” and said there were signs war crimes were committed.
The French president has been criticized at home and abroad for not going to Ukraine earlier. He has repeatedly said he would only go if and when the visit could be “useful” and not just symbolic.
The trio arrived together by train in a show of unified solidarity, but it remains to be seen what concrete steps they bring.
“A message of unity we’re sending to the Ukrainians, yes, of support, to speak about today but also the future because we know the weeks to come will be very difficult.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy wants his visitors to deliver more arms to help his hard-pressed army withstand the Russian invaders.
“Every day of delay or delayed decisions is an opportunity for the Russian military to kill Ukrainians or destroy our cities. There is a direct correlation: the more powerful weapons we get, the faster we can liberate our people, our land. Ukrainian people are waiting for liberation of our territory, of Ukraine’s territory.”
Kyiv has accused France, Germany and, to a lesser extent, Italy, of foot-dragging: being slow to deliver weapons and putting their own prosperity ahead of Ukraine’s freedom and security.
Ukraine has been particularly critical of Germany’s military aid and wants Scholz to hand over heavy weapons that have been promised but not yet delivered.
Scholz has dismissed allegations he has held back, saying Germany was one of the biggest military and financial backers of Ukraine.
Kyiv officials have also expressed fears of pressure to accept a peace deal favorable to Russia, which calls its invasion a “special military operation”.
The Kremlin said the leaders’ visit shouldn’t only focus on supplying weapons. It’s “absolutely useless,” spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, and will prolong suffering and cause further damage.
The European Union’s executive is expected to propose on Friday (June 17) that Ukraine become a formal candidate for membership, diplomats and officials say.
That would be a significant political gesture to Ukraine, but it’s also something EU leaders are divided on.
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Trump and Putin agree to talks aimed at ending Ukraine war, signalling potential improvement in US-Russia relations.
In Short
Trump and Putin agreed to start talks to end the Ukraine war, following a phone call that raised hopes for improved relations. Meanwhile, Defence Secretary Hegseth indicated a shift in U.S. policy on Ukraine’s territorial claims and its NATO membership.
The two leaders communicated by phone on Wednesday. Trump expressed optimism about the potential results of this engagement, describing it as a necessary step towards peace.
This phone call followed a recent prisoner exchange, which Trump suggested might signal improving U.S.-Russia relations.
In his remarks on Truth Social, Trump highlighted the urgent need to address the ongoing deaths resulting from the conflict. He noted Putin’s reference to his campaign motto, “COMMON SENSE.”
Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s statements indicated a shift in U.S. policy, dismissing Ukraine’s restoration to pre-2014 borders as unrealistic and stating that Ukraine’s NATO membership is not a viable goal.
Hegseth, during his first European visit as Pentagon chief, emphasised that security guarantees for Ukraine would require contributions from both European and non-European troops, requiring a collaborative international effort.
While Ukraine expresses a desire to reclaim its territory, Hegseth acknowledged the difficulty it might face in obtaining areas currently occupied by Russia.
He did not clarify the level of military support the U.S. would provide moving forward, nor did he suggest an imminent increase in arms supplies.
Trump’s envoy, Keith Kellogg, stated that they have a significant chance to end the war, with strong support from allies anticipated at the upcoming Munich Security Conference.
World leaders and CEOs converge at Paris AI summit to discuss advancements and the future of technology.
In Short
World leaders and CEOs met in Paris to discuss the rapid advancements and implications of artificial intelligence. The summit focused on collaboration, ethical guidelines, and strategies to prepare for an AI-driven future.
World leaders and CEOs convened in Paris at an AI summit to discuss the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence.
The event brought together key figures from various sectors to explore the implications of AI technology.
Topics of discussion included the potential benefits of AI, regulatory frameworks, and ethical considerations around its deployment.
Participants highlighted the need for collaboration between governments and the private sector to harness AI responsibly.
The summit aimed to foster dialogue on the challenges and opportunities presented by AI advancements.
OpenAI’s Sam Altman rejects Musk’s $97.4 billion bid, calling it competitive, as tensions rise with conflicting interests.
In Short
OpenAI has rejected Elon Musk’s $97.4 billion takeover bid, viewing it as a competitive strategy. The company’s CEO, Sam Altman, and its board members, including Bret Taylor, have ongoing rivalries with Musk amid broader industry dynamics.
OpenAI has officially rejected Elon Musk’s $97.4 billion takeover bid.
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, described Musk’s offer as a competitive strategy rather than a genuine acquisition attempt.
The board of OpenAI, which manages both its nonprofit and for-profit sectors, has not received any formal communication regarding the bid from Musk.
Currently, OpenAI is in the process of raising a funding round that could elevate its valuation to $300 billion, nearly double its previous worth.
A notable point of contention arises from Bret Taylor, former chairman of Twitter, who now oversees OpenAI’s board and has previously had disagreements with Musk over the Twitter acquisition.
In response to the takeover bid, Altman light-heartedly remarked on social media: “No thank you, but we’ll buy Twitter for $9.74 billion if you want.”
This exchange highlights ongoing rivalries in the tech sector and the strategic manoeuvres of influential figures like Musk and Altman.
As the landscape continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how these developments will impact both OpenAI and Musk’s future endeavours.