Repeatedly pressed for a clearer line on this, she said:<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have had this question before, will not comment blow by blow \u2026 The situation is that we expect all our partners to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity and to abide by the international commitments.\u201d<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n Show key events only<\/p>\n Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n UK’s Starmer backs Denmark, Greenland after Trump’s comments UK prime minister Keir Starmer has offered his support to Denmark and Greenland<\/a>, backing the Danish prime minister, Mette Frederiksen.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I stand with her, and she\u2019s right about the future of Greenland.\u201d<\/p>\n In a separate question, Starmer was asked if he agreed with calls from the Danes for the US president to stop proposing American annexation of the island.<\/p>\n He replied:<\/p>\n \u201cYes. Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark are to decide the future of Greenland, and only Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark.<\/p>\n Denmark is a close ally in Europe, it is a Nato ally, and it\u2019s very important the future of Greenland is, as I say, for the Kingdom of Denmark, and for Greenland, and only for Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark.\u201d<\/p>\n My colleague Andrew Sparrow has more on our live UK politics blog.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>‘Progress’ in talks on security guarantees for Ukraine, EU says<\/p>\n There is also an EU line on Ukraine<\/a> and tomorrow\u2019s Paris meeting of the Coalition of the Willing, with the commission spokespeople saying \u201cthere is progress\u201d in discussions on security guarantees, but they won\u2019t say more until the meeting takes place.<\/p>\n The EU sees a membership of the bloc as \u201cone very clear security guarantee\u201d for Ukraine, and one that can be offered \u201cindependently of what the Coalition of the Willing can put forward.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut as said, in terms of details and who contributes, how, let\u2019s wait for the mission for the meeting tomorrow to provide further details on this and on security guarantees in general.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Eventually, EU\u2019s chief spokesperson Pinho also quotes a statement from the Greenlandic prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, saying that the EU agrees with his words that \u201cGreenland will not be a piece of property that can be bought by just anyone, and we fully agree and stand by that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s also called for respect, and again, we stand by that.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a> First day back, the EU spokespeople seem to be absolutely determined not to say anything that could upset US president Donald Trump or provoke tensions with the US.<\/p>\n Expect this to be a theme throughout 2026.<\/p>\n But I doubt that Denmark, for example, will consider the spokespeople\u2019s response on Greenland<\/a> adequate in their view.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>No EU-US discussions on Greenland, commission suggests<\/p>\n The EU\u2019s chief spokesperson also gets repeatedly asked about Trump\u2019s line that \u201cthe European Union<\/a> needs us to have [Greenland] and they know it.\u201d<\/p>\n Pinho tries to avoid answering the question once again, but eventually says:<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not informed about any discussion with the US by our representatives on this issue.\u201d<\/p>\n Pressed, she adds:<\/p>\n \u201cGreenland has its autonomy. And of course, each country may be very interesting from many points of view, but that that shouldn\u2019t trigger any interest beyond possible, for instance, business.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Asked if the EU believed the US was genuinely interested in a democratic transition in Venezuela, the EU\u2019s spokesperson said that was a question to Trump, not them.<\/p>\n As you can see, the EU\u2019s midday briefing is going really well, thank you.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>EU declines to offer a term for US intervention in Venezuela and rule whether it was legal<\/p>\n Asked for comments on Venezuela, the EU spokespeople said that Venezuela\u2019s Maduro \u201clacked the legitimacy of a democratically elected leader, and therefore the events over the weekend provide the opportunity for a democratic transition, led by the Venezuelan people.\u201d<\/p>\n But they declined to offer a term to name what had happened in Venezuela, even when offered some suggestions.<\/p>\n \u201cI think the statement is very clear in saying that the international law must be respected, and this is what we are recalling and expecting all the actors involved to do that,\u201d EU\u2019s Hipper said.<\/p>\n When it was pointed out to her that the US intervention had already happened with major questions over its legality, she declined to say whether the US actions were legal under international law.<\/p>\n \u201cAs the events just unfolded, it is too early to look into and assess all the implications in terms of legal assessment,\u201d Hipper said.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>EU continues to ‘uphold principles of national sovereignty,’ bloc says in soft response to Trump’s Greenland comments<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the European Commission offered a very soft response to a question on Donald Trump\u2019s latest comments on Greenland.<\/p>\n The commission\u2019s chief spokesperson Paula Pinho said only that \u201cwe had heard it before, and we stick to what we had already said in this room about that.\u201d<\/p>\n Lead foreign spokesperson Anitta Hipper also repeated that \u201cthe EU will continue to uphold the principles of national sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders and the UN Charter.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThese are universal principles, and will not stop defending them.\u201d<\/p>\n She repeated that Greenland<\/a> is \u201can autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark,\u201d and any changes on that would be for Greenlanders and Danes to decide.<\/p>\n Repeatedly pressed for a clearer line on this, she said:<\/p>\n \u201cWe have had this question before, will not comment blow by blow \u2026 The situation is that we expect all our partners to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity and to abide by the international commitments.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Germany’s Merz faces criticism for soft response to US intervention in Venezuela in Berlin<\/p>\n Cautious remarks at the weekend by Germany\u2019s chancellor, Friedrich Merz, about the US intervention in Venezuela have come in for criticism at home, with the opposition accusing him of cowardice in the face of naked aggression.<\/p>\n Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Merz speaks to the media at the end of first day of the EU Council Summit in Brussels, Belgium. Photograph: Olivier Matthys\/EPA<\/p>\n In a statement on Saturday, Merz largely withheld judgment of the US bombardment of Venezuela and the capture of its president, Nicol\u00e1s Maduro, who he said had \u201cled his country to ruin\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThe legal assessment of the US intervention is complex and requires careful consideration,\u201d Merz said. \u201cWe\u2019ll take our time for it.\u201d<\/p>\n Franziska Brantner, co-leader of the opposition Greens, said Merz should have clearly condemned what she called a violation of international law.<\/p>\n \u201cMaduro is a nasty dictator. But attacking his country without any legal basis and then announcing on camera that you now want to seize Venezuela\u2019s oil reserves \u2013 that\u2019s straight out of the imperialism playbook,\u201d she told Der Spiegel, referring to Trump.<\/p>\n She said the world order now risked reverting to the \u201claw of the jungle\u201d with Greenland<\/a> and the Baltic states up for grabs by world powers.<\/p>\n \u201cThe German government and Europe<\/a> must finally find clear words to say to Trump. Friedrich Merz\u2019s statements almost speak to a denial of reality and a desire to appease Trump,\u201d said Brantner.<\/p>\n The Social Democrats, partners in Merz\u2019s centre-right-led government, also found his response to be inadequate.<\/p>\n \u201cThe situation under international law is not complex. The German government and the European Commission must clearly call out this breach of international law,\u201d MEP and SPD legal expert Ren\u00e9 Repasi said.<\/p>\n If we accept that the powerful are above the law, \u201cit will spell the end of the rules-based world order and a return to the 19th century,\u201d Repasi said.<\/p>\n SPD leader and Germany\u2019s vice-chancellor Lars Klingbeil described developments in Venezuela as \u201cvery worrying\u201d. Maduro had led an authoritarian regime, he said. However, \u201cthat cannot be a justification for disregarding international law\u201d.<\/p>\n Fellow conservatives on Monday defended Merz, saying his statement reflected the complicated reality on the ground.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are indeed various aspects that we have to take into account, and in this respect the chancellor is absolutely right. It is extremely complex,\u201d foreign minister Johann Wadephul told public broadcaster Deutschlandfunk.<\/p>\n \u201cMaduro led a regime that was not bound by the law, eight million people have left the country. There are political prisoners,\u201d Wadephul said.<\/p>\n He noted the United Nations had condemned the human rights situation in Venezuela and that there were proceedings against Venezuela before the international criminal court. Beyond that, Maduro is not the legally elected president of this country.<\/p>\n Wadephul later told reporters Germany would discuss open \u201cquestions\u201d about the intervention with the United States, adding Berlin would welcome \u201cfree elections\u201d in Venezuela.<\/p>\n CDU foreign policy expert and former party leader Armin Laschet stressed it was essential to remain in dialogue with the US and that diplomatic restraint by the EU reflected the pragmatic realpolitik needed to navigate the emerging world order.<\/p>\n \u201cWe must not forget that we are still involved in Ukraine<\/a>,\u201d and in need of US support, he told rbb radio.<\/p>\n \u201cWould it be wise for Europeans to decide now to bring a unilateral indictment against\u201d Trump? Laschet asked. He said such a rupture would certainly lead to Washington turning its back on Kyiv and the Europeans. \u201cForeign policy is complicated. You have to take the realities of the world into account.\u201d<\/p>\n Merz\u2019s circumspect stance jibed with a statement by French president Emmanuel Macron, who said the end of the \u201cMaduro dictatorship\u201d was something the Venezuelan people could \u201conly rejoice in\u201d. Trump reposted the remarks on social media.<\/p>\n German media said Berlin and Paris had coordinated their reserved assessments so as to not antagonise Trump in the hope of having him on side on backing Ukraine.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.22 EST<\/p>\n in Paris<\/p>\n Our full story on the Brigitte Macron verdict is here:<\/p>\n![\"Andrew](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Andrew_Sparrow,_R.png\")
Andrew Sparrow<\/p>\n![\"Jakub](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Jakub_Krupa.png\")
Jakub Krupa<\/p>\n![\"Deborah](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Deborah_Cole_2.png\")
Deborah Cole<\/p>\n![\"Angelique](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Angelique_Chrisafis.png\")
Angelique Chrisafis<\/p>\n