![\"Irish](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1774970709_229_4760.jpg\")
Irish prime minister Miche\u00e1l Martin and Polish prime minister Donald Tusk attend a press conference after their meeting in Warsaw, Poland. Photograph: Pawe\u0142 Supernak\/EPA<\/p>\n
Earlier today, a group of five European media outlets published what they said was a phone call between Szijj\u00e1rt\u00f3 and the Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, discussing their plan to amend the EU\u2019s sanctions list to Moscow\u2019s liking (11:10<\/a>).<\/p>\n The investigation also alleged further contacts between the minister and Russian officials.<\/p>\n Tusk and Martin said the tone of the recorded conversation showed \u201cunacceptable\u201d and \u201cdeferential tone\u201d from the EU country\u2019s minister, with the Irish PM saying it \u201cconfirmed what many suspected\u201d about Hungary \u201cdoing the bidding for Russia\u201d within the bloc.<\/p>\n In unusually strong comments, Tusk said:<\/p>\n \u201cWhat we have heard, and what we had already suspected, is merely a confirmation of the deeply disturbing political dependence of Viktor Orb\u00e1n\u2019s government and his foreign minister, Mr Szijj\u00e1rt\u00f3, directly on the authorities in Moscow.<\/p>\n It has been a long time, if ever, since I have heard something so disheartening. What these recordings have revealed is more than just the political dependency of the Budapest government on Moscow; it has exposed just how unacceptable and bizarre this relationship truly is.<\/p>\n A foreign minister of a European nation \u2013 a member of the European Union \u2013 reporting to the Russian foreign minister on the completion of a task and asking for patience because he knows he still has several more tasks to carry out? One could hardly imagine anything more repulsive. It is absolutely disqualifying. \u2026<\/p>\n Poland loves Hungary, and Poles love the Hungarian people; ours is a friendship that has endured for decades and centuries. That is why it is so important to me that everyone in Hungary hears this: nothing has changed on our end. We are glad to be part of the European community alongside the Hungarian people.<\/p>\n The tragedy is that Viktor Orb\u00e1n\u2019s government \u2013 certainly Orb\u00e1n himself and minister Szijj\u00e1rt\u00f3 \u2013 effectively left the European Union a long time ago.\u201d<\/p>\n Martin joined in, adding:<\/p>\n \u201cI think it is a very sinister development.<\/p>\n It confirms what many suspected that the Hungarian government has been doing the bidding for Russia within the European Union for quite some time.<\/p>\n The deferential tone in the conversation was alarming, and it really is a very serious situation that within the European Union you have that type of behaviour and it is very revealing of the relationship between the Hungarian government and the Russian government. \u2026 It\u2019s unacceptable.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.57 EDT<\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n Show key events only<\/p>\n Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n Supply shock caused by Iran war ‘probably worst ever,’ Irish PM warns<\/p>\n Irish prime minister Miche\u00e1l Martin has warned that the oil supply shock caused by the US-Israeli attack on Iran is \u201cprobably the worst ever,\u201d as he sounded alarm over the supply and inflationary impacts on the global economy.<\/p>\n Poland\u2019s prime minister Donald Tusk and Ireland\u2019s taoiseach Miche\u00e1l Martin seen in the clock room for a meeting at the Chancellery in Warsaw, Poland. Photograph: Omar Marques\/Getty Images<\/p>\n He also said there will be \u201congoing advice in terms of conservation of energy\u201d with the government \u201curging people to use it as wisely as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n Speaking in Warsaw alongside Poland\u2019s prime minister Donald Tusk, Martin said:<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s very serious, and the supply shock is probably the worst ever, much more severe than even in the 1970s supply shock. On two fronts, inflation, inflationary impacts, and on supply implications.<\/p>\n We\u2019ve set up a subgroup to look at the supply issue and there will be ongoing advice in terms of conservation of energy and urging people to use it as wisely as possible, and that is being kept under constant review.<\/p>\n On the economic impacts, we are concerned \u2026 We are very concious that this could go on, no one is quite certain what is round the corner, so we have to be cautious in terms of how we intervene.<\/p>\n But we are very concerned in terms of secondary impacts on economy \u2026 and that is why we would urge that the war would end. The implications are \u2026 first of all, it is causing too much death, construction and injury to people, but as well as that it\u2019s causing huge economic dislocation around the world with very serious consequences for people\u2019s livelihoods and that is a concern for us.\u201d<\/p>\n In response, Tusk said the situation was \u201cextraordinary\u201d as he talked about his government\u2019s move to cap fuel prices among other measures responding to the crisis.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.03 EDT<\/p>\n Italy to postpone shutdown of coal-powered plants by 13 years<\/p>\n In other news from Italy<\/a>, the country is set to postpone to 2038, 13 years later than originally planned, the permanent shutdown of its coal-fired power plants, according to a bill passed by the lower house of parliament today, Reuters reported.<\/p>\n The move signals the willingness of prime minister Giorgia Meloni\u2019s right-wing government to dial down anti-climate change policies in the face of growing energy supply challenges triggered by the conflict in Iran.<\/p>\n Italy has four coal-powered plants currently on stand-by, three of which are owned by the country\u2019s largest utility Enel.<\/p>\n Energy minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin said this month they could be reactivated if the conflict in the Middle East were to provoke an energy crisis.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>‘Relations with US are solid,’ Italy insists after decision to block use of Sicily base for Iran operations<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the Italian government has sought to play down any suggestion of tensions with the US over its decision to deny the use of its airbase in Sicily (12:03<\/a>).<\/p>\n The government said in a statement<\/a> that Italy was \u201cacting in full compliance with current international agreements and the government\u2019s guidelines expressed in parliament.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEach request is carefully examined on a case-by-case basis, as has always been the case in the past. There have been no critical issues or friction with international partners. Relations with the United States, in particular, are strong and based on full and loyal cooperation,\u201d it added.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Spanish defence minister asserts Spain’s right to deny US use of bases for Iran strikes Margarita Robles, the Spanish defence minister, has reiterated her country\u2019s commitment to Nato and multilateralism saying that the US and Israel \u201ccan\u2019t be the ones who, without anyone\u2019s support, not even of their allies, decide what type of rules or peace apply in the world\u201d.<\/p>\n Spain\u2019s defence minister Margarita Robles waits for the start of a meeting of the North Atlantic Council in defence ministers format at Nato headquarters in Brussels late last year. Photograph: Omar Havana\/AP<\/p>\n Speaking to congress, she said \u201cwe are faced with a scenario that the government defines as a war that runs contrary to international law and to which our response has been firm and consistent.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOur position is supported by the majority of people, and not just Spanish but European,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n Defending the decision to deny the US use of its bases in Spain<\/a> to pursue the war, she said the prohibition applied \u201cexclusively\u201d to the war on Iran.<\/p>\n double quotation markThis decision absolutely doesn\u2019t imply a break with our transatlantic links. The bases continue to function.<\/p>\n Spain feels no obligation to join an illegal war whose objectives, 30 days into the conflict, have yet to be defined, she said.<\/p>\n \u201cNo one knows what will happen with this war,\u201d Robles said.<\/p>\n \u201cTwo countries went to war and expected us to join them,\u201d adding that \u201cwe don\u2019t accept lectures from anyone in regard to our commitment to peace\u201d.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.04 EDT<\/p>\n France refused Israel use of airspace to transfer US weapons for Iran war \u2013\u00a0report<\/p>\n We also have a bit more from Reuters on the French decision that triggered Trump\u2019s anger earlier (13:24<\/a>).<\/p>\n double quotation markFrance did not allow Israel to use its airspace to transport American weapons to be used in the war against Iran, a western diplomat and two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Tuesday.<\/p>\n The sources said the refusal, which happened at the weekend, was the first time France had done this since the start of the conflict in Iran.<\/p>\n Neither the French presidency nor the foreign ministry were immediately available for comment.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.12 EDT<\/p>\n We are getting a bit more on Italy\u2019s decision to deny the use of its Sicily airbase to US aircraft carrying weapons for Iran war.<\/p>\n Reuters is reporting that the prospect of the US using its military installations in Italy for the war against Iran has sparked outrage, with centre-left opposition parties urging the government to block any such request.<\/p>\n \u201cMinister Crosetto\u2019s decision to deny landing permission is a significant and appropriate step that confirms the validity of the concerns we raised,\u201d said Anthony Barbagallo, the Sicilian head of the centre-left Democratic party (PD).<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.27 EDT<\/p>\n Poland says will not relocate Patriot batteries to Middle East after media claims of US pressure<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Poland\u2019s defence minister W\u0142adys\u0142aw Kosiniak-Kamysz said the country\u2019s Patriot air defence batteries will not be relocated anywhere after a media report claimed that US officials had informally suggested to the Polish government they should consider redeploying one of them to the Middle East.<\/p>\n The Rzeczpospolita newspaper reported<\/a> that the US had been \u201csounding out\u201d Poland about moving one of the two Polish-owned Patriot batteries to the Middle East.<\/p>\n A Polish defence ministry spokesperson denied the newspaper\u2019s report, saying \u201cThe Americans are not putting any pressure on [us] on these matters.\u201d<\/p>\n Wies\u0142aw Kuku\u0142a, Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces, also denied it on X, saying<\/a> \u201cNo one is asking for it.\u201d<\/p>\n The newspaper separately suggested that future deliveries of contracted US interceptor missiles to Poland could be hit by delays caused by the Iran war; again, a claim denied by an army spokesperson.<\/p>\n In a post on X, Kosiniak-Kamysz said:<\/p>\n \u201cOur Patriot batteries and their armament are used to protect Polish skies and Nato\u2019s eastern flank. Nothing is changing in this regard, and we are not planning to relocate them anywhere! Our allies know full well and understand how important the tasks we have here are. Poland\u2019s security is an absolute priority.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.41 EDT<\/p>\n France ‘very unhelpful’ with Iran and US ‘will remember’ that, Trump says in latest outburst<\/p>\n Back to Iran and the perceived lack of support from European Nato allies, US president Donald Trump has now turned to criticising France in his latest outburst on social media.<\/p>\n In a post on Truth Social, he said:<\/p>\n \u201cThe Country of France wouldn\u2019t let planes headed to Israel, loaded up with military supplies, fly over French territory. France has been VERY UNHELPFUL with respect to the \u201cButcher of Iran,\u201d who has been successfully eliminated! The U.S.A. will REMEMBER!!! President DJT\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>EU ‘reaffirm commitment’ to making Russia accountable for war crimes in Ukraine<\/p>\n The EU and 26 of its member states \u2013 no Hungary, unsurprisingly \u2013 have just issued a statement<\/a> on Ukraine following their informal meeting in Bucha this morning.<\/p>\n Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha, EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas and other EU officials attending a candle-lighting ceremony to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the Bucha massacre discovery, in Bucha, near Kyiv, Ukraine. Photograph: Ukraine Foreign Ministry Press Service Handout\/EPA<\/p>\n In it, they said they wanted to \u201creaffirm our unwavering commitment to ensuring full accountability of the Russian Federation, for any violations of international law in or against Ukraine<\/a>, including aggression in violation of the Charter of the United Nations.\u201d<\/p>\n They added:<\/p>\n \u201cWe honour the memory of all victims of the massacre in Bucha and other cities, towns and villages across Ukraine, where civilians were subjected to mass killings, torture, sexual violence, forced deportations, and other grave violations of international humanitarian and human rights law. The evidence collected following the withdrawal of Russian forces, underscores the imperative to ensure full and comprehensive accountability.\u201d<\/p>\n They specifically welcomed the work on \u201coperationalisation of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine and the establishment of the International Claims Commission for Ukraine.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe also express our support for investigations by the international criminal court into the situation in Ukraine and call for full cooperation by all State Parties.\u201d<\/p>\n Finally, they also reiterated their \u201cfirm and unwavering\u201d backing for Ukraine more broadly.<\/p>\n The lack of Hungarian signature is not surprising given the continuing \u2013 and escalating \u2013 standoff between Viktor Orb\u00e1n and Kyiv as the nationalist prime minister continues to use anti-Ukrainian rhethoric in his electoral campaign.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>EU’s top diplomat spoke to Hungarian foreign minister to remind him of confidentiality rules after reports on contacts with Russia, commission says<\/p>\n We have just heard the EU\u2019s response to the latest revelations about the close contacts between Hungary\u2019s foreign minister P\u00e9ter Szijj\u00e1rt\u00f3 and Russian officials (11:10<\/a>), but it was rather technical.<\/p>\n The commission\u2019s foreign spokesperson Anitta Hipper said the EU\u2019s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, spoke with Szijj\u00e1rt\u00f3 earlier this week \u201creiterating, once more, the importance of confidentiality of closed doors discussion.\u201d<\/p>\n Kallas \u201calso stressed that the council\u2019s internal deliberations must not be disclosed to third parties,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n But pressed on the issue further, the commission\u2019s deputy spokesperson Olof Gill shut it down saying:<\/p>\n double quotation markWe have nothing more to say on that topic for the moment.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Italy denies use of Sicily airbase to US aircraft carrying weapons for Iran in Rome<\/p>\n Italy has denied use of an airbase in Sicily to US military craft carrying weapons for the war in the Middle East.<\/p>\n Civil associations, unions, peace activists and members of No MUOS movement gather in front of the US naval airbase to protest against US and Israel\u2019s attacks on Iran earlier this month. Photograph: Anadolu\/Getty Images<\/p>\n A source at the Italian defence ministry confirmed a report in Corriere della Sera<\/a> that \u201csome US bombers\u201d had been due to land at Sigonella \u2013 a key US navy installation and Nato base \u2013 before heading to the Middle East.<\/p>\n According to treaties signed in the late 1950s, the US navy can use the base for logistical and training purposes but not as a transit hub for aircraft used to transport weapons for war unless in an emergency situation, permission for which needs to be approved in parliament.<\/p>\n The source said the US had only sought permission to land the aircraft while they were en route to Sicily, therefore failing to follow procedures that require authorisation to be approved in parliament. It is unclear when the aircraft had been due to land at the base but the source said there was no time to seek approval in parliament.<\/p>\n For days, politicians in Sicily from Italy\u2019s leftwing opposition parties have been urging Giorgia Meloni\u2019s far-right government to clarify the situation at Sigonella after activity at the base increased since the start of the war in Iran and asked it to block the US from using bases in Italy for involvement in the conflict. Italy hosts seven US navy bases.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.44 EDT<\/p>\n ‘What is in it for the US?,’ Rubio asks about Nato amid standoff over using Nato bases for Iran operations<\/p>\n Another big story getting lots of attention in Europe<\/a> today is the escalating standoff between the US administration and European Nato countries over their reluctance or refusal to support the US offensive operations in Iran.<\/p>\n People, holding banners, flags and photos of those killed in the attacks, march as part of the ‘no war’ demonstrations held in many Spanish cities to mark the first month since the start of the US and Israeli attacks on Iran in Madrid, Spain last weekend. Photograph: Anadolu\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Over the past few weeks, Trump repeatedly criticised Nato countries, saying they \u201chave done absolutely nothing,\u201d labeling them as \u201ccowards,\u201d and saying the US would \u201cnever forget\u201d their refusal to help.<\/p>\n In the latest sign of tensions, US secretary of state Marco Rubio lashed out at Spain and other Nato allies overnight, telling Al Jazeera<\/a> that it was \u201cvery disappointing\u201d to see partners deny its request to use their airspace.<\/p>\n On Monday, Spain<\/a> said it has closed its airspace to US planes involved in the war, stepping up Pedro S\u00e1nchez\u2019s opposition to the conflict.<\/p>\n Rubio responded to the news by saying:<\/p>\n \u201cI think it was very disappointing \u2026 and \u2026 look, the president and our country will have to re-examine all of this after this operation is over, but one of the reasons why Nato is beneficial to the United States is it gives us basing rights for contingencies.<\/p>\n It allows us to station troops and aircraft and weapons in parts of the world that we wouldn\u2019t normally have bases, and that includes much of Europe.<\/p>\n And to see that in a time of need, [when] the United States has identified a grave risk to our national security and our national interests, and we needed to conduct this operation, we have countries like Spain, a Nato member that we are pledged to defend, denying us the use of their airspace and bragging about it, denying us the use of our of their bases \u2013 and there are other countries that have done that as well \u2013 and so you ask yourself, well, what is in it for the United States?\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.05 EDT<\/p>\n It\u2019s worth adding that similar incidents were recently reported in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia as Ukraine<\/a> continues targeting Russia\u2019s Baltic Sea coastal areas, including the port of Ust-Luga.<\/p>\n Estonia reported a number of suspected drones even last night, with a senior defence official telling media that \u201cfor the ninth consecutive day, military activity has been ongoing in Estonia\u2019s neighboring Leningrad oblast at a level of intensity not seen since 1944,\u201d Estonian broadcaster ERR reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>‘The war has come close,’ Finnish PM says after drones fell in Finland Nordic correspondent<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the Finnish prime minister, Petteri Orpo, has said the war in Ukraine<\/a> has \u201ccome close\u201d after two drones fell on Finnish territory, but insisted that it did not constitute a military threat.<\/p>\n Two drones crashed in south-eastern Finland on Sunday \u2013 one north of Kouvola and one in Luum\u00e4ki \u2013 in what is being treated as suspected territorial violations. One of the drones has been identified as Ukrainian.<\/p>\n Finland reported a suspected territorial violation by unmanned aerial vehicles in the southeast of the country. Photograph: Sasu Jarnstedt\/Reuters<\/p>\n Defence forces say they are carrying out almost daily surveillance and reconnaissance flights in response to the situation and Ukrainian drone operations near Finland on Russian oil facilities.<\/p>\n Orpo said in a press conference this morning: \u201cThe war has come close, and the effects have extended beyond our country\u2019s borders\u201d. But, he added, that Ukraine has right to defend itself and there is nothing to suggest that the drones were deliberately directed at Finland and therefore not a military threat.<\/p>\n \u201cOn Sunday morning, two drones fell in Finnish territory,\u201d Orpo said.<\/p>\n double quotation markLet\u2019s remember what this is about: Russia is continuing its large-scale war of aggression for the fifth year, and Ukraine has the right to defend itself.<\/p>\n He added: \u201cLast night, there were observations in the Baltic countries that drones had been seen nearby, meaning they were heading towards the Gulf of Finland.\u201d<\/p>\n Major General Timo Herranen, of the Finnish defence forces, said that last night Finnish fighter jets were \u201cin the air almost the entire time\u201d.<\/p>\n On Sunday, the Finnish president Alexander Stubb said \u201cthere is no military threat to Finland\u201d, adding that authorities responded immediately.<\/p>\n Monitoring and investigations, he said, were ongoing. \u201cFinland is prepared to monitor and secure our territory.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.57 EDT<\/p>\n More details emerge on Hungarian foreign minister’s alleged links with Russia<\/p>\n Speaking of the \u20ac90bn loan and EU sanctions against Russia<\/a>, and Hungary\u2019s role in all of this, more details have now emerged alleging close contact between Hungary\u2019s foreign minister P\u00e9ter Szijj\u00e1rt\u00f3 and senior Russian ministers.<\/p>\n Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov speaks with his Hungarian counterpart Peter Szijj\u00e1rt\u00f3 before a meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orb\u00e1n in Moscow, Russia last November. Photograph: Alexander Nemenov\/Reuters<\/p>\n A joint investigation by The Insider and four regional media VSquare, DelfiEE, FrontStory and the Investigative Center of J\u00e1n Kuciak, published this morning,<\/a> alleged that Szijj\u00e1rt\u00f3 regularly discussed the EU\u2019s confidential plans on sanctions with Russian officials, actively looking for ways to amend the lists or affect their adoption.<\/p>\n In a series of conversations reported by the outlets, the Hungarian foreign minister reportedly told Russia\u2019s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov that he is \u201calways at your disposal\u201d and offered help with removing certain individuals from EU sanctions.<\/p>\n Former Lithuanian foreign minister Gabrielius Landsbergis confirmed the authenticity of one of the exchanges that Szijj\u00e1rt\u00f3 reportedly relayed onwards to the Russians.<\/p>\n One of the authors of the article, Szabolcs Panyi, one of the country\u2019s most prominent investigative journalists, was last week accused by the Hungarian government of spying for Ukraine, a move widely condemned by media rights watchdogs.<\/a><\/p>\n The five media outlets said Szijj\u00e1rt\u00f3 did not reply to their request for comment.<\/p>\n He has responded on X this morning seeking to ridicule the reporting by saying \u201cthey proved that I say the same publicly as I do on the phone. Nice work!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFor four years we have been saying that sanctions are a failure, causing more harm to the EU than to Russia. Hungary will never agree to sanction individuals or companies essential for our energy security, for achieving peace, or those with no reason to be on a sanctions list,\u201d he said<\/a>.<\/p>\n Szijj\u00e1rt\u00f3 had previously dismissed<\/a> earlier reporting on this as fake news, but confirmed<\/a> he held some calls with third-country partners, saying this was part of routine diplomacy.<\/p>\n The report is likely to cause further frustration in Brussels and in EU capitals amid growing anger over Hungary\u2019s close relations to Russia, with both prime minister Viktor Orb\u00e1n and Szijj\u00e1rt\u00f3 regularly visiting Moscow.<\/p>\n The latest relevations come less than two weeks before the critical parliamentary election in the country, which could see Orb\u00e1n ousted after 16 years in power.<\/p>\n It\u2019s safe to say we are very likely to see someone ask the Commission for their reaction at their midday briefing later today.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.19 EDT<\/p>\n Bucha ‘symbolises cruelty of Russia’s war’ against Ukraine, EU’s Kallas says<\/p>\n EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas said the Bucha massacre \u201chas come to symbolise the cruelty of Russia\u2019s war\u201d against Ukraine<\/a> as she vowed to bring Russia into account for its actions during the conflict.<\/p>\n EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas standing next to Ukraine’s foreign minister Andrii Sybiha as EU ministers attend commemorating ceremony in Bucha, Ukraine. Photograph: Eduard Khryzhanivsky\/AP<\/p>\n \u201cFour years after these mass killings, we remember the victims. What happened here cannot be denied,\u201d she stressed.<\/p>\n She added the EU was \u201ccommitted to ensuring that these crimes do not go unpunished, including by supporting the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression, alongside the Claims Commission.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRussia must be held accountable for what it has done to Ukraine,\u201d she said<\/a>.<\/p>\n She earlier said the bloc \u201cwill keep providing military, financial, energy, and humanitarian support\u201d to Ukraine.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Morning opening: Focus on Ukraine Several EU ministers are expected in Bucha, Ukraine<\/a>, today to mark the fourth anniversary of the town\u2019s liberation and the massacre that became one of the early symbols of the Russian aggression against Ukraine.<\/p>\n People attend a ceremony at a memorial for killed civilians to mark the fourth anniversary of the liberation of Bucha, Ukraine. Photograph: Evgeniy Maloletka\/AP<\/p>\n The anniversary marks a rare moment in recent weeks when the EU\u2019s attention focuses back on Ukraine amid growing concerns about fallout from the Iran war. The EU\u2019s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, leads the delegation.<\/p>\n The ministers will discuss what needs to be done to ensure accountability for war crimes committed during the war through a special tribunal, which still needs more political backing and funding to come into existence.<\/p>\n Ukraine\u2019s foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, said in a post on social media:<\/p>\n \u201cThe scale of Russian atrocities in the course of its aggression is unseen on European soil since WWII. The crime of aggression is the root cause of them all. There must be accountability and there will be no amnesty for Russian criminals, including the highest political and military leadership of the Russian Federation.\u201d<\/p>\n He drew a comparison with the Nuremberg trials against leaders of defeated Nazi Germany, saying the new tribunal was needed to \u201cprevent such horrible crimes from repeating again in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n But no progress is expected to be made on thorny issues of the EU\u2019s \u20ac90bn loan to Ukraine and the 20th package of sanctions against Russia<\/a>, both of which continue to be blocked by Hungary.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s see what the day brings.<\/p>\n Separately, EU energy ministers are holding a call later today to discuss the impact of the crisis in the Middle East on energy prices as some countries push with unilateral measures that they argue are needed to limit the impact on their economies.<\/p>\n I will also keep an eye on Denmark where the coalition talks continue after last week\u2019s parliamentary election, which ended with a political deadlock.<\/p>\n It\u2019s Tuesday, 31 March 2026, it\u2019s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.<\/p>\n Good morning.<\/p>\n![\"Stephen](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Stephen_Burgen.png\")
Stephen Burgen<\/p>\n![\"Angela](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1774970710_4_Angela_Giuffrida.png\")
Angela Giuffrida<\/p>\n![\"Jakub](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Jakub_Krupa.png\")
Jakub Krupa<\/p>\n![\"Miranda](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1774970711_642_Miranda_Bryant_Next_Gen.png\")
Miranda Bryant<\/p>\nJakub Krupa<\/p>\n