The closer to Russia the greater the fear, opinion poll finds A YouGov survey finds a rift in how EU nations perceive security and their general reluctance to rearm under Brussels’ supervision.

Interestingly, respondents from Mediterranean countries mentioned U.S. foreign policy as a threat only slightly less frequently than Russia.
Read more about the perception of the EU's defense prospects in our article with @hannecl.bsky.social on @politico.eu : www.politico.eu/article/russ... /2

The closer a country is to Russia, the more likely its people are to see the Kremlin as a top threat to Europe. However, that doesn't mean the EU is viewed as a savior.
That's the takeaway from a new multi-country survey conducted by YouGov in seven EU countries. /1

Czech ammo lifeline for Ukraine comes under fire at home Former PM Andrej Babiš wants to cancel Prague’s ammunition initiative, but critics warn that would harm both Prague and Kyiv.

Former PM Andrej Babiš wants to cancel Prague’s ammunition initiative. He claims it costs too much taxpayer money. However, Prague’s government and experts argue that canceling the program would harm 🇨🇿’s reputation – and jeopardize supplies for Kyiv.
Read more here: www.politico.eu/article/czec...

Rutte to Putin: Butt out over Western forces in Ukraine The NATO chief praised Donald Trump’s efforts to end the war in Ukraine.

“Why are we interested in what Russia thinks about Ukraine?” Mark Rutte asked at IISS Prague Defence Summit. The NATO Sec Gen added it’s not up to Russia to decide if Western troops can be sent to Ukraine as part of any peace deal ending the war.
Read more here: www.politico.eu/article/nato...

Trump ‘very angry’ at Ukraine hitting Russian pipeline feeding Orbán Hungary’s leader complained to the U.S. president following a Ukrainian drone strike on the Druzhba oil pipeline.

Donald Trump said he got “very angry” after Ukraine damaged a Russian oil pipeline that supplies his friend, Hungary's PM Orbán.
“Viktor — I do not like hearing this," Trump wrote to Orbán. “You are my great friend.”
Read more here: www.politico.eu/article/dona...

Slovakia cashes in on weapons to Ukraine, while PM Fico befriends Putin Although Robert Fico promised “not a single bullet” to Ukraine, Slovakia’s weapons industry is sending arms to the frontline.

Although Slovak PM Robert Fico promised “not a single bullet” to Ukraine, Slovakia’s weapons industry is sending arms to the frontline en masse. In 2024, Slovakia's arms exports grew to €1.15 billion – 10x the amount before 2022.

Read more here: www.politico.eu/article/slov...

Countries pledge millions fund US weapons for Ukraine European countries are promising to buy U.S. weapons to send to Kyiv.

European countries are lining up for NATO's new program that pays the U.S. for weapons to be sent to Ukraine. On Monday, the Netherlands pledged €500 million, and then today, Denmark, Sweden and Norway announced a joint package of similar value.

Read more here: www.politico.eu/article/neth...

Orbán vs. von der Leyen: Budapest Pride takes center stage in Europe’s culture war Dozens of prominent European politicians are heading to Hungary for Pride, but the country’s conservative government insists the parade is illegal.

More than 70 MEPs will attend Budapest Pride on Saturday, despite the 🇭🇺 govt's claim that the event is illegal.
However, organizers found a legal loophole, rendering PM Viktor Orbán's efforts to ban the LGBTQ event ineffective. Read here w/ @maxgriera.bsky.social : www.politico.eu/article/orba...

Canada signs defense pact with EU The partnership will help both Ottawa and Brussels to deliver NATO’s new capability requirements.

Canada signed a major defense deal with the EU, with the aim to shift Canada's security relationship away from the U.S. and to allow Ottawa to take part in new European defense spending programs.

Our reporting with Yurii Stasiuk and @jacopobarigazzi.bsky.social: www.politico.eu/article/cana...

Orbán’s Fidesz party proposes Russia-style crackdown on Hungary’s civil society The new bill fits into a pattern of democratic backsliding for the Central European country.

Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz submitted a bill to parliament on Wednesday, which would start to blacklist organizations receiving foreign funding, including from EU grants, if it deems them a “threat” to national sovereignty.

Read @elenagiordano.bsky.social ’s reporting: www.politico.eu/article/vikt...

Zelenskyy will head to Turkey for potential Putin meeting, top aide says Ukraine calls Russian leader’s bluff.

Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy is traveling to Turkey to negotiate with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, his chief of staff said at #cds2025

Andriy Yermak added that if Putin refuses to come, it will be "the last signal" that Russia "doesn't want to end the war": www.politico.eu/article/ukra...

Checking in from Denmark, where I'll be reporting with my colleagues from the Copenhagen Democracy Summit. Let me know if you're in the area to catch up - and follow @politico.eu for our coverage!

Ukraine says it busted Hungarian spy network “Agents were also searching for weak spots in land and air defense” in western Ukraine, security services allege.

Ukrainian security services arrested two Ukrainian nationals it said were working for Hungarian military intel near the 🇭🇺–🇺🇦 border.

“Agents were also searching for weak spots in land and air defense” in western Ukraine, security services allege: www.politico.eu/article/ukra...

Berlin takes lead in Europe’s rearmament as global defense spending soars Military spending surged last year in ways unseen since the Cold War, study says.

Military spending surged last year in ways unseen since the Cold War, and Germany is by far the largest defense spender in Western Europe, @sipri.org study says.

But even Berlin's spending boost falls short of what Russia is pouring into its military. Read more here: www.politico.eu/article/germ...

Budapest has opened the door to using AI facial recognition to identify LGBTQ+ protestors. Now, the EU is looking into whether Hungary’s plan is illegal. Read more in our story with Pieter here:

After nine months on the Breaking News desk, I joined @politico.eu’s Defense team this week. Follow us with @laukaya.bsky.social and @jacopobarigazzi.bsky.social for the latest scoops in this booming field!

Orbán bans Pride in Hungary as polls show rival surging Fidesz says it’s trying to prohibit Pride to keep children safe from the so-called LGBTQ+ agenda, but opponents say the prime minister’s party is trying to create a wedge issue.

Viktor Orbán's Hungary is now the first country in the EU to ban Pride marches. His party says they want to keep children safe from LGBTQ+ agenda, opponents say it's just a 'dog’s toy' – but organizers fear whether Hungary is still a democracy.

Read more here: www.politico.eu/article/orba...

Canadians want to join the EU. An empathetic Brussels says it will never happen. EU says it is flattered by poll results, but calls on Canada to fight Trump tariffs hand in hand.

Brussels reacted warmly to the results of a poll showing interest among Canadians in joining the European Union — before clarifying that the idea is a nonstarter.

Today at 17:30 CET, Andrew Tate and his brother arrived in Florida after being released from Romania. Florida Governor DeSantis and President Trump said they didn’t know about the release of the Tate brothers - despite earlier press reports claiming the US pressured Bucharest on the case:

Orbán’s government bans Budapest Pride in ‘public form’ Hungary ‘should not tolerate Pride marching’ through Budapest’s city center, top minister says.

In 1997, Hungary was the first country in the former Eastern Bloc where a Pride march was held, marking the country's pioneering role in LGBTQ+ rights. Now, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán wants Hungary to be the first EU country to ban Pride in public. Read more here: www.politico.eu/article/hung...

🚨 BREAKING: Romania’s pro-Russia presidential election front-runner Călin Georgescu has been taken in by police for questioning.

Read the developing story: ow.ly/1CgL50V6MXb

France’s Bardella cancels CPAC speech after Steve Bannon’s ‘Nazi’ salute Bannon’s response: French far-right leader is “unworthy of leading France.”

French far-right leader Jordan Bardella cancels speech on CPAC in Washington after Steve Bannon gave a gesture resembling a Nazi salute.

Bannon’s quick response: Bardella is “a little boy, not a man”, and he’s unworthy of leading France. Read here: www.politico.eu/article/fran...

Russia wants to declare ‘victory’ on Feb. 24, Ukrainian intel says Moscow wants to show itself ‘victorious’ against Ukraine and NATO on third anniversary of invasion, Kyiv’s HUR says.

Russia wants to declare “victory” in its war against Ukraine — even against NATO — on Feb. 24, Kyiv’s military intelligence claims.

They say the Kremlin instructed its propagandists to discredit 🇺🇦’s EU partners aiming to help Kyiv as “enemies of peace.” Read here: www.politico.eu/article/war-...

Israeli military conducts ‘intensive operation’ in West Bank after bus explosions Netanyahu’s office says the explosions in Tel Aviv’s suburb were an attempt to carry out a “chain of mass bus bombings.”

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the military to carry out an “intensive operation” in the West Bank after explosions on buses near Tel Aviv yesterday.

Birkenstock sandals not ‘works of art,’ German court says in denying copyright bid Federal Court of Justice rules Birkenstock is not entitled to damages from cut-price imitators of its footwear.

Germany’s Federal Court of Justice ruled today that German shoe maker Birkenstock’s world-famous sandals can’t be considered “works of art” that enjoy copyright protection.

Spain’s disgraced football chief Luis Rubiales found guilty of sexual assault Rubiales was fined €10,800, but the court gave him no jail time.

Former Spanish football chief Luis Rubiales has been found guilty of a crime of sexual assault after forcibly kissing footballer Jenni Hermoso.

Caribbean leader urges Ursula von der Leyen to push for slavery compensation Grenada’s prime minister jabs at European Commission president over historical slave trade.

“Your Excellency, @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu, I don’t mean to be impolite, but I’ll say this to you: The issue of reparations for the enslavement of African peoples is an issue we will take up with you,” outgoing chairman of Caribbean Community said.

Read more here: www.politico.eu/article/cari...

Trump blaming Ukraine for Putin’s war leaves Europe reeling The U.S. president called out Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a diatribe against Kyiv.

Europeans can barely find words to respond to Donald Trump, who blames Ukraine for the war Russia is waging against it. One British government aide simply said: "Jesus."

Read more here w/ @elenagiordano.bsky.social @noahkeate.bsky.social @stefanboscia.bsky.social : www.politico.eu/article/dona...

The bilateral talks between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov "went well," according to Vladimir Putin's top aide: "There was a very serious conversation on all the issues we wanted to raise," including the war in Ukraine. Read more here:

Russia: Ukraine has a ‘sovereign right’ to join EU — but not NATO Moscow “won’t dictate anything” to Kyiv, unless it’s related to military alliances.

Ukraine has a sovereign right to join the EU, but this “sovereignty” does not apply to military alliances, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.