‘If Ukraine burns, your Moscow will burn,’ Zelenskyy warns after overnight strikes in Russia – Europe live

Meanwhile. Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that “if Ukraine burns, your Moscow will burn” as he ramped up his rhetoric after overnight drone strikes on the Russian capital.

Scores of drones ⁠targeted Moscow overnight, hitting the Russian capital’s oil refinery for the second time this week, Reuters reported.

“ We don’t ⁠want this war, we never did,. everyone ​knows it, and our partners ‌know it,” Zelenskyy ‌said in a voice message sent to reporters on a ‌WhatsApp group, quoted by Reuters.

double quotation mark But if Ukraine burns, your Moscow will burn.

Zelenskyy also called on Europe. ⁠the United States to increase pressure on Russia through ​sanctions on ​Russia’s defence and energy sectors ​and broader economy to force president Vladimir Putin ​into ending ‌the war.

The US Department ⁠of Defense is open to Poland’s offer to host a ⁠permanent US ⁠military presence ​in Poland. Polish defence minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said ⁠after meeting US counterpart, Pete Hegseth, in Brussels.

Reuters reported. Poland has been ⁠pushing for a bigger allied ​presence on Nato’s eastern ‌flank after ‌Russia’s invasion of neighbouring Ukraine in 2022.

“The US responded ‌positively to Poland’s proposal to establish a permanent US military ​base in Poland,” Kosiniak-Kamysz told reporters.

But no decision has been taken yet, he added. Poland has so far hosted US troops on ⁠a rotational basis. with a recent controversy over a short-lived decision to pull some troops from the country.

Separately. Lithuania is also hoping to attract more US troops on its territory, with the new ruling coalition adding this into its government programme today.

Peter Beaumont in Pavlohrad, Warren Murray and Pjotr Sauer

Russia, the world’s third biggest oil producer. ‌a major oil and fuel exporter, is to import fuel by sea this month as it seeks to manage a shortage after extensive Ukrainian drone attacks on its refineries.

Russian hardliners called for Moscow to retaliate, with some urging the Kremlin to consider using nuclear weapons against Ukraine.

“What else has to happen before we start fighting for real?” wrote the ultraconservative billionaire Konstantin Malofeev on Telegram. “Why aren’t we using the nuclear weapons that our ancestors created. stockpiled through the efforts of the entire country precisely for moments like this?”

Andrey Gurulyov, a retired lieutenant general. state duma deputy, called for Russia to “strike the enemy mercilessly” in response to the attack.

“We need to strengthen our air defence system, but most importantly, we need to hit the enemy,” he told RTVI. “Hit the enemy mercilessly, without overthinking it.”

Asked about prospects of making any progress with Russia. Rutte says Putin “one day has got to take a decision whether we wants to play ball or not.”

“In the meantime we have to do everything to make sure Ukraine stays as strong as possible in the fight. so that is what we are working on.”

He says that up to 48% of the Russian state budget is now being spent on defence. “These are crazy numbers,” he says.

“We cannot be naive about Russia,” he stresses, but also says Nato is “very strong”. “we will do everything to make sure that they understand that it will be their biggest mistake if they try” to attack the alliance.

And that ends the press conference.

Rutte gets challenged on the extent of the US commitment given Hegseth left the meeting very early.

He replies by saying he was there for nearly two hours,. listened to contributions from “many allies,” so it’s all fine.

He says he knew Hegseth would have to leave because of other commitments.

Rutte now gets asked about Hegseth’s suggestion that the US could pay less, if other allies don’t meet their targets.

He again says he is “not going to comment on everything that has been said.”

He says that “more generally, … we are working very hard” to meet targets.

“When you look at the individual countries, there are still some who need to do more,” he says.

In contrast, he praises Poland and the Baltic countries for being “really ahead.”

Rutte gets pushed a bit on Hegseth’s comments earlier calling Nato “a paper tiger.”

He essentially says “I’m not going to comment on every word every ally is saying; I never do that.”

Rutte gets asked about his repeated praise for European allies stepping up and how it compares with Hegseth’s criticism.

He says that the spending increases are “historic,” but there are still some that are “holding back a little bit,”. Hegseth is right to “keep the pressure on.”

He says that Nato “is going through a massive transformation, probably the biggest transfomation in its history.”

“Obviously that means also there are some rough waters, it is a rocky phase. You will have these debates, these discussions, and that’s good.”

Rutte gets asked if there will be “a significantly depleted US presence” after the proposed review,. if countries get punished for their position on Iran.

His answer does not even anywhere get close to the original question.

He eventually says the US review will be “a structured process somewhere over the next six month.”

Rutte gets asked about the changes to the Nato Force Model, the alliance’s readiness force.

He says he cannot confirm anything on what is in the plan. how it’s changing – despite some media reports - as “we do not want to make Russians any wiser.”

He says it’s for planning purposes, but the US can always provide more, too.

He says changes make the plans “more realistic and therefore stronger, because there was an overreliance on the US.”

Rutte says the ministers will shortly take part in the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, joined by Ukraine’s Zelenskyy.

“ Ukraine is changing the dynamic on the battlefield. inflicting usual huge losses on Russia, but it can only keep doing this if we step up our support,” he says.

Rutte begins by hailing the progress made so far, saying more. more allies are confirming plans to meet their increased defence spending target of 5% GDP by 2035.

“Some allies will already get there this year, way ahead of schedule,” he says.

But he says that while “cash is crucial. you cannot stop a missile or a tank with a dollar or a euro.”

“We need to turn the cash into combat-ready capabilities, and fast.”

He says the priority for next month’s Ankara summit is to get more forces, more resources,. a stronger industrial base.

He says the US “expressed strong commitment to Nato very clear today,” while also expressing the need to achieve “a more equitable distribution of labour” in the alliance.

He acknowledges the US decision to review its troops presence.

He says there is a “broad agreement” among allies to “step up as the US adjusts its pledges to the Nato Force Model.”

You can watch along below, but I will bring you all the key lines here, too.

Back to Brussels. we are going to hear from Nato’s secretary general, Mark Rutte soon, as he is expected to face the media after today’s Nato ministerial in Brussels.

Expect him to get asked about Hegseth’s comments this morning.

We will bring you his press conference live, obviously.

Meanwhile. local authorities in Moscow said that the supply ⁠of ⁠petroleum ​products to Moscow ⁠and the operation ⁠of ​petrol ‌stations ‌in ‌the Russian capital is “proceeding as normal” ‌after a major ​Ukrainian drone attack, Reuters reported.

Separately, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov was quoted by Interfax as saying that the latest strikes set back the prospect of any direct contacts between Russia’s Putin. Ukraine’s Zelenskyy.