• US president Donald Trump has said in a social media post that he had a “lengthy and highly productive phone call” with Russian president Vladimir Putin earlier today and agreed to start “negotiations” on a peace deal for Ukraine “immediately.”

• Trump said the leaders spoke about “Ukraine, the Middle East, energy, artificial intelligence, the power of the dollar, and various other subjects,” including that the US and Russia “fought so successfully together in the second world war”.

• In a series of comments likely to alarm European and Ukrainian leaders, he said that they “talked about the strengths of our respective nations, and the great benefit that we will someday have in working together,” as the two agreed to “work together very closely, including visiting each other’s nations.”

• He also thanked Putin for “his time and effort” in arranging the release of Marc Fogel, a Pennsylvania schoolteacher sentenced in Russia to 14 years on drug-trafficking charges.

• The report comes just hours after US defence secretary Pete Hegseth told European leaders that the US was no longer “primarily focused” on European security, he said returning to pre-2014 Ukraine borders was “unrealistic,” and ruled out a NATO membership for Kyiv.

US president Donald Trump has just posted on Truth Social saying that he had a “lengthy and highly productive phone call” with Russian president Vladimir Putin and agreed to start peace talks on Ukraine “immediately.”

He says that they both “want to stop the millions of deaths taking place” in the war, and bragged that Putin referred to his campaign motto of “common sense.”

He says the the two leaders will direct their teams to start talks immediately, and will begin by calling Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy to “inform him of the conversation.”

Here’s the post in full:

I just had a lengthy and highly productive phone call with President Vladimir Putin of Russia. We discussed Ukraine, the Middle East, Energy, Artificial Intelligence, the power of the Dollar, and various other subjects.

We both reflected on the Great History of our Nations, and the fact that we fought so successfully together in World War II, remembering, that Russia lost tens of millions of people, and we, likewise, lost so many! We each talked about the strengths of our respective Nations, and the great benefit that we will someday have in working together.

But first, as we both agreed, we want to stop the millions of deaths taking place in the War with Russia/Ukraine. President Putin even used my very strong Campaign motto of, “COMMON SENSE.” We both believe very strongly in it. We agreed to work together, very closely, including visiting each other’s Nations.

We have also agreed to have our respective teams start negotiations immediately, and we will begin by calling President Zelenskyy, of Ukraine, to inform him of the conversation, something which I will be doing right now.

I have asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of the CIA John Ratcliffe, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, and Ambassador and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, to lead the negotiations which, I feel strongly, will be successful.

Millions of people have died in a War that would not have happened if I were President, but it did happen, so it must end. No more lives should be lost! I want to thank President Putin for his time and effort with respect to this call, and for the release, yesterday, of Marc Fogel, a wonderful man that I personally greeted last night at the White House. I believe this effort will lead to a successful conclusion, hopefully soon!

We’re stepping away from Healey’s press conference for a second to cover breaking news…

He opens:

What we saw today is almost 50 countries making a clear commitment to continue stepping up their support for Ukraine in their fight for their freedom, future of their country, and our wider security.

He says countries involved remain committed to keep funding Ukraine to “increase pressure on Putin, to help force Putin to a negotiating table, to bring closer a durable peace.”

Responding to Hegseth’s comments, he notes Europeans noted “the US’s continued committment to this group, to Ukraine’s pursuit of a lasting peace, and the importance of security guarantees beyond.”

We heard his call for European nations to step up. We are and we will.

He notes that Nato allies pledged €40bn in military aid for Ukraine in 2024, and went on to deliver €50bn. The majority, nearly 60% of that aid, came from European nations, he says.

He says he will report back to the press on behalf of the 46 countries involved in talks today.

Let’s hear what he’s got to say.

Denmark and US have ‘different views’ on Nato membership for Ukraine, Danish defence minister says

Miranda Bryant

Nordic correspondent

Speaking after the meeting, the Danish defence minister, Troels Lund Poulsen, said that Denmark and the US have different views on Nato membership for Ukraine.

“It is the case that we have decided to offer Ukraine Nato membership, but it is also clear that we all have to agree if it is to happen,” he told TV2. “So in that way you can say that there is a discussion about what the future holds for Ukraine.”

Denmark, he added, will continue to support Ukraine and take on “even greater responsibility” in the coming year.

“Both in relation to the fight they are fighting, but not least in relation to securing more financial resources and donations. It is quite clear to me that Europe will have to take on an even greater responsibility to help Ukraine in 2025,” he said.

Jakub Krupa

Note that these comments from Danish and Finnish ministers are from before the session with US defence secretary Hegseth – let’s see what they have to say afterwards, given the marked shift in tone from the US.

We will bring you the latest here.

Finnish defence minister calls for increase in support for Ukraine

Miranda Bryant

Nordic correspondent

On his way into the meeting with Hegseth earlier, Finnish defence minister Antti Häkkänen said now is the time to increase support for Ukraine and that the US played a central role in that.

“Now is the right time to increase support for Ukraine,” he told Helsingin Sanomat, adding that European defence industry production must be rapidly increased.

Asked about US commitment to Ukraine under Donald Trump, he replied: “We should keep our heads down.”

“Of course the US plays a key role in Nato, for Nato’s credibility,” he said.

Saying he was optimistic about continued support for Ukraine by the US, he said he had agreed to meet Hegseth at a bilateral meeting on Thursday where they would have a “more detailed discussion on burden-sharing”.

But as we wait, let me bring you the news that the cost of flights from France will rise next month when the government more than doubles its “solidarity tax” on tickets.

The French government has said the increases are fair on ecological and fiscal grounds but critics say it will hit France’s ability to compete globally.

Airlines are expected to pass the cost of the tax hike on to passengers but Air France has estimated it will cost the company about €100m (£83m) at a time when the airline is recovering from Covid losses. Ryanair has threatened to reduce flights to and from the country’s airports.

Kim Willsher in Paris has the story:

UK defence secretary John Healey, who chaired today’s meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group at which Hegseth spoke about the new US administration’s view on Ukrainian and European defence, is expected to address the press soon.

You can watch the live stream at the top and below, but I will bring you the top lines here.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has just said that he had productive and constructive discussions with US Treasury secretary Scott Bessent and was given a first draft of a potential agreement on natural resources, Reuters is reporting.

Zelenskyy was quoted as saying that Ukraine was now studying the draft, with hopes that a deal could be reached at the Munich conference later this week.

He said they did not discuss natural resources in Ukrainian territory occupied by Russia.

Danish defence minister to speak separately with US Hegseth on Arctic

Miranda Bryant

Nordic correspondent

Earlier this morning, the Danish defence minister, Troels Lund Poulsen, said that Hegseth had requested a bilateral meeting with him before the meeting Nato’s Ukraine Defence Contact Group.

“He has asked to meet with me, and I have agreed to that. It will not be a long meeting, but a greeting meeting,” he told TV2.

He said he did not plan to discuss Greenland with him, but did expect to talk about the Arctic overall. “I think we will touch on the entire situation in and around the Arctic, where we share the concern expressed by the Americans,” he said.

US no longer ‘primarily focused’ on Europe’s security, says Pete Hegseth – first report

Dan Sabbagh

Defence and security editor

Donald Trump’s newly appointed defence secretary told allies on his first international trip that the US was no longer “primarily focused” on European security and that Europe would have to take the lead in defending Ukraine.

Pete Hegseth, speaking to defence ministers at a lunchtime meeting in Brussels, said Europe had to provide “the overwhelming share” of future military aid to Kyiv – and recognise that restoring Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders was unrealistic.

The Pentagon chief said he was “here today to directly and unambiguously express that stark strategic realities prevent the United States of America from being primarily focused on the security of Europe” – though the language was notably toned down from a draft briefed in advance to the press.

Our first story:

We will return to Hegseth’s comments soon, but let’s briefly take a look at events elsewhere as talks to form Austria’s first coalition government led by the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) collapsed on Wednesday after negotiations with the conservative People’s Party (OVP) had already ground to a halt, with each side blaming the other, Reuters reported.

The Eurosceptic, Russia-friendly FPÖ had been seeking to lead a government for the first time since it was founded in the 1950s under a leader who had been a prominent Nazi.

The FPÖ came first in September’s parliamentary election with about 29% of vote, but was only tasked with forming a government last month once a centrist attempt to do so without it failed. The OVP was its only potential coalition partner.

“Just now, FPÖ leader … Herbert Kickl informed President Alexander Van der Bellen that the coalition talks with the OVP have failed,” the FPÖ said in a statement moments after Kickl met Van der Bellen in the president’s office.

Reuters notes that the ball is now in Van der Bellen’s court. Most likely either a centrist attempt to form a government will be revived or the Alpine republic will head towards a snap election with polls suggesting the FPÖ’s lead over other parties would grow.

US defence secretary Pete Hegseth has just addressed the Ukraine Defence Contact Group at a meeting in Brussels, and here is a summary:

• “Bloodshed must stop, this war must end,” he insisted (14:42).

• He warned that returning to pre-2014 Ukraine borders was “unrealistic,” and “chasing this illusionary goal will only prolong the war and cause more suffering” (14:43).

• He said that “the US does not believe that Nato membership for Ukraine is a realistic outcome of a negotiated settlement” with Russia.

• He ruled out any US deployment to Ukraine or covering peacekeeping forces there with Article 5 Nato guarantees, saying it would be up to European and non-European troops to organise the forces (14:47).

• He urged Europeans to “provide the overwhelming share” of aid to Ukraine and level with their citizens “about the threat facing Europe” (14:48).

• In a stark warning, he said that “stark strategic realities prevent the US from being primarily focused on the security of Europe” as it looks at “threats to our homeland,” including from China (14:50).

• He acknowledged some action taken by European allies, name-checking Sweden and Poland, but said “more must still be done” (14:51).

• He insisted that the US remains committed to Nato, but “will no longer tolerate an imbalanced relationship which encourages dependency” (14:52).

UK defence secretary John Healey responds on behalf of European Nato countries and the broader Ukraine Defence Contact Group:

We hear you, your commitment to Nato, to Article 5, to a sovereign Ukraine, and to your defence partnership with Europe.

We also hear your concerns.

On stepping up for Ukraine, we are and we will.

On stepping up for European security, we are and we will.

You’ve just spoken about peace through strength. We are 50 nations-strong here, all determined to put an end to Putin’s war, and to do so together.

Closing his speech, Hegseth insists that the US remains committed to Nato and to partnership with Europe, “full stop.”

But the United States will no longer tolerate an imbalanced relationship which encourages dependency.

Rather, our relationship will prioritise empowering Europe to own responsibility for its own security.

Honesty will be our policy going forward, but only in the spirit of solidarity.

He ends his speech here.

US defence secretary then goes on to say that in his first week he has seen “promising signs that Europe sees the threat, understands what needs to be done, and is stepping up to the task,” pointedly praising Sweden and Poland.

“But these are just the first steps. More must still be done,” he says, asking Europeans to “step up fulfilling the commitments you have made.”

Our transatlantic alliance has endured for decades, and we fully expect it will be sustained for the generations to come. But this won’t just happen.

It will require our European allies to step into the arena and take ownership of conventional security on the continent.