Russian invasion

Negotiations
Putin's nuclear weapons claim is being tackled with French humor

Russia's unfounded claims that Britain and France are planning to supply Ukraine with nuclear weapons are now being slammed by the European powers. From the British side, the claim is being met with harsh criticism from Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

- This is a clear attempt by Vladimir Putin to divert attention from his despicable actions in Ukraine. There is no truth to this, says a spokesperson according to Sky News.

From the French side, they have chosen to respond to the claim with humor and irony. The X-account "French Response", created by the French Foreign Ministry last autumn, has made fun of Russia in a series of posts.

"Five years into the 'three-day war', Russia is trying to get people to focus on French and British nuclear bombs," says one of them.

It is the Russian intelligence service SVR that has accused Europe without evidence. On Tuesday, Vladimir Putin raised the data in a speech and threatened Britain and France.

The world's response
The US warns Ukraine against harming its interests

Donald Trump's administration has formally warned Ukraine against attacking targets in Russia that could harm American economic interests. This was stated by US Ambassador Olha Stefanishyna at a press conference.

She says that the US sent a diplomatic complaint after the Ukrainian armed forces struck a port in Novorossiysk, Russia, in November. According to the US, this has affected the country's economic interests in Kazakhstan, as much of the country's oil is exported through Novorossiysk.

- It was not about Ukraine stopping attacking Russian military targets or energy infrastructure, she emphasizes.

Trump supports the G7's new statement on Ukraine

The leaders of the G7 countries, including Donald Trump, say in a joint statement that they wholeheartedly support Ukraine.

The statement also states that the countries, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Canada, support Trump's efforts to reach peace in Ukraine.

"Europe has a leading role to play in this process, together with other allies," it says, according to AFP.

The news agency notes that it is the first time since Trump returned to the White House that all G7 countries have supported a statement on Ukraine.

Sources: Russian properties act as "Trojan horses" in Western Europe

Russian intelligence has acquired a number of properties in European countries to have a network of "Trojan horses" that could be used for sabotage, reports The Telegraph, which spoke to sources within European intelligence services.

According to the newspaper, these are about a dozen cases where Russia has come across buildings and properties near civilian and military facilities. In several cases, the intelligence service has helped to buy summer houses, cottages, warehouses and apartments to more easily engage in hybrid warfare against the West, according to the sources.

Informants from three European intelligence services state that Russia may already have placed explosives, drones and weapons in certain locations.

There are also a large number of properties owned by Russian private individuals, where it is more difficult to prove any links to the intelligence service. The Telegraph mentions, among other things, the Russian Orthodox Church in Västerås – which has been identified as a possible security threat by Säpo.