Key events
Head of US base in Greenland fired after Vance visit
Meanwhile in Greenland, the head of the US military base that was visited by vice-president JD Vance has been fired for criticising Washington’s agenda for the Arctic island, AFP reported.
Colonel Susannah Meyers, who had served as commander of the Pituffik Space Base since July, was removed amid reports she distanced herself and the base from Vance’s criticism of Denmark and its oversight of the territory during his visit to the base two weeks ago.
“Commanders are expected to adhere to the highest standards of conduct, especially as it relates to remaining nonpartisan in the performance of their duties,” the US Space Force said in a statement late Thursday.
AFP noted the statement did not expand further, but US website Military.com said Meyers sent a March 31 email to all personnel at Pituffik “seemingly aimed at generating unity among the airmen and guardians, as well as the Canadians, Danes and Greenlanders who work there, following Vance’s appearance.”
In her email, relayed to Military.com, Meyers wrote: “I do not presume to understand current politics, but what I do know is the concerns of the US administration discussed by vice-president Vance on Friday are not reflective of Pituffik Space Base.”
US envoy Witkoff arrives in Russia, Russian media say
US president Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff has arrived in Russia, the RIA state news agency reported on Friday, citing the Kremlin.
Reuters reported that Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he would announce any meeting that Vladimir Putin held with Witkoff if time for such an encounter arose in the Russian leader’s schedule, according to Interfax.
China raises tariffs on US goods after Xi’s meeting with Sanchez
In the last few minutes, China has announced additional tariffs on US goods, raising them to 125%, according to Reuters.
The move comes just hours after China’s president Xi Jinping urged the European Union on Friday to join hands with Beijing in resisting “unilateral bullying” from Donald Trump.
At talks with Spain’s prime minister Pedro Sánchez on Friday, state media quoted Xi as saying that China and the EU should simply team up on the issue, AFP reported.
This, he stressed, would not only “safeguard their own legitimate rights and interests, but also… safeguard international fairness and justice.”
Sanchez, in turn, said “we must not let trade tensions stand in the way of the potential growth of the relationship between China and Spain and between China and the EU”.
AFP also reported that China said it would “ignore” further tariff hikes by the United States because US goods would no longer make economic sense for importers, as it slapped fresh levies of 125 percent on its largest trading partner.
State media also reported China would file a lawsuit with the World Trade Organization over Washington’s fresh tariffs.
No clarity on what is needed for reassurance force for Ukraine, EU’s Kallas says
Ooof. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas was just asked if she got the clarity she wanted yesterday on what any reassurance force in Ukraine would involve.
Her answer is brutally clear:
No.
Asked to elaborate, she added:
Different member states, like I said, have different opinions, and the discussions are still ongoing.
She also appeared to diplomatically urge the US administration to push Russia a bit more, saying:
“We are already four weeks into the time when Ukraine agreed to unconditional ceasefire, and we haven’t seen any positive signs on the Russian side.
So we really need to put the pressure on Russia, and I think it’s the credibility of all the ones who said that we need the killing to stop.”
Dutch defence minister Ruben Brekelmans also drew on his personal experience of a recent visit to Ukraine.
He insisted that “if you want to make sure that Ukraine gets a better position at negotiation table, it’s important to support them at the battlefield,” as he called for more support for Kyiv.
He particularly stressed the importance of providing Ukraine with further measures to protect itself from air strikes, which are “more intense than ever.”
Asked about US’s Hegseth only joining through a video call, he played it down, saying “what we have seen so far is that the support of the United States that has been promised is now delivered, and I think that is very important.”
He also succinctly described what is the need for the US to be involved in any potential future reassurance force:
You can have different types of missions with a different risk profile.
And in general, I could say … the higher the risk of consultation, the more important it is that the United States is closely involved. If there is a lower risk profile, then it’s relatively less important.
Estonian defence minister raises concerns about US-Russia deal ahead of 9 May, calls for increased aid for Ukraine
Estonian defence minister Hanno Pevkur told reporters that “it is a sunny morning here in Brussels, but definitely not so sunny in Ukraine at the moment,” as he urged partners to step up their military and financial help for the country.
“I just came back two days ago from Kyiv so I know very well how the situation is,” he said, adding that there are opportunities to increase military assistance quickly if countries act decisively.
Pevkur also hinted that Russia could try to secure a more comprehensive deal with the US in the build up to the Russian Victory Day on 9 May. “Exactly this is why we need to speed up the deliveries as quickly as we can,” he said.
Asked about why he expected movement here, he explained:
I’m reading the signs. … Putin has always been [keen on important] dates.
Take the 24 February [the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine]. 23 February is the day of Russian Army. For the Kremlin, always, dates are very important.
So this is why I believe that also 9 May, which is for us, the day of Europe, for Russia is the day of ending the Second World War, they will strive probably towards this to get some kind of deal, some kind of ceasefire or whatever.
Will it happen, I don’t know, it’s up to Ukrainians and then of course, together with the United States who are at the moment behind the table.
He broadly backed the idea of a reassurance force in Ukraine, but stressed this must not come at the expense of the security of Nato’s eastern flank, particularly in the context of expected major military exercises by Russia in the autumn.
“We need to see that, you know, that we will not fall into any kind of trap,” he said.
He also said the reassurance force would not be a peacekeeping mission under the UN Charter Article 7, but asked for patience so military planners can work out the details.
Germany’s Pistorius suggests new military aid packages for Ukraine
In his opening remarks as he arrived at Nato’s headquarters in Brussels, Germany’s Boris Pistorius – expected to stay in position under the new coalition government – spoke also about new aid for Ukraine.
Germany would provide another four IRIS-T surface-to-air defence systems with missiles, and another 30 missiles for Patriot systems. He also said the leaders would “talk about” Ukraine’s request to produce missiles on licence, locally.
He was also asked about the developing plans for a reassurance force which could involve European troops in Ukraine, but he said he “would rather not discuss issues like that in the marketplaces of the world,” and stay “smart and ambitious.”
“We will find a way to go where we have to go, but up [until] then, we should rather discuss that internally than publicly,” he said.
US envoy Witkoff travelling to Russia to meet Putin – media reports
US special envoy Steve Witkoff travelled to Russia and is expected to meet president Vladimir Putin on Friday, Axios reported, citing a source familiar with the trip and FlightRadar data.
It would be the third meeting between the two, usually linked with significant developments in US-Russia relations and talks on Ukraine.
The development comes a day after a US-Russia prisoner exchange deal which included the release of dual US-Russian citizen Ksenia Karelina, but also amid reports about US president Donald Trump’s growing frustration with Russia’s refusal to abide by the terms of the ceasefire.
Let’s see what happens here.
Morning opening: Focus on Ukraine
Jakub Krupa
Given the avalanche of tariff news all week, the world briefly lost focus on the situation in Ukraine and the continuing Russian aggression.
But this should change today, as representatives of some 50 nations gather in Brussels for a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group to hear what’s the situation on the ground, what is needed, and how they can help.
Contrary to earlier reports, US defence secretary Pete Hegseth will also take part – although only via a video link. German defence minister Boris Pistorius, a new co-chair of the group, said it was a US decision, and insisted it was “not his business” to comment on what signal it sends.
Ministers are arriving now, and I will bring you all the key comments in the blog.
Separately, finance ministers meet in Warsaw for a chat on tariffs, which will be followed by a separate chat on defence funding tomorrow. I will keep an eye on developments there, too.
Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez also met with China’s Xi this morning, with some lines on how they want to work closer. Given the trade-focus of this week, this feels significant.
It’s Friday, 11 April 2025, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
