Zelenskyy calls for Trump to take a ‘clear position’ on Russia — Europe live

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Morning opening: Welcome back to Europe, Mr Trump

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for US president Donald Trump to take “a clear position” on Russia, including sanctions and security guarantees for Ukraine.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy looks up at President Donald Trump outside of the West Wing before the two walk in for their meeting at the White House last month. Photograph: Joey Sussman/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock

In an interview with Sky News, published overnight, he said it was the missing piece to progress peace talks as he urged Trump to take “strong personal steps” to “stop Putin.”

He stressed that he hoped UK prime minister Keir Starmer could gain more clarity from Trump during his state visit to the UK, beginning tonight.

We may hear from Trump himself later as he makes his way to London.

Separately, US state secretary Marco Rubio told reporters in Israel that Trump would “probably” meet with Zelenskyy again during next week’s UN general assembly in New York.

“He’s going to keep trying. If peace is possible, he wants to achieve it,” Rubio said.

Elsewhere, the EU will be looking at the progress it’s made on competitiveness, a year on from the Draghi report that became an obligatory point of reference in all discussions on the bloc’s economy. EU’s Ursula von der Leyen and the man himself are up shortly.

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen (R) and former prime minister of Italy, Mario Draghi (L) hold a press conference in Brussels, Belgium last year. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

It’s Tuesday, 16 September 2025, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.

Good morning.