Munich Security Conference to open amid doubts over U.S. commitment to Europe
Europe heads into the Munich Security Conference, on Friday (13 February), amid deepening unease over U.S. policy, as President Donald Trump’s hard-...
German Economy Minister Katherina Reiche arrived in Kyiv on Friday to discuss urgent aid for Ukraine’s war-damaged energy infrastructure and to expand defence cooperation between the two countries.
Reiche said Russia’s intensified strikes on Ukraine’s energy grid had left millions vulnerable ahead of winter. “Ukraine is facing its fourth winter at war, and right now Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukraine's energy supply, massively endangering electricity and heat provision in the winter,” she told reporters in Kyiv, where she was accompanied by a business delegation.
Her visit comes as Ukraine struggles with prolonged power outages, including at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. Reiche said Germany would explore “more concrete and better support” for Ukraine’s reconstruction and energy security during the trip.
Beyond energy, Reiche said she aimed to deepen industrial cooperation in defence production. “Security policy is always also economic policy,” she noted, adding that Berlin sought to connect German and Ukrainian defence companies.
The visit coincides with a London summit of Ukraine’s allies in the “Coalition of the Willing,” where participants are expected to outline new military aid packages. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is attending and has renewed calls for long-range weapons after receiving no firm commitments from U.S. President Donald Trump.
In Brussels on Thursday, European Union leaders agreed in principle to finance Ukraine for the next two years and discussed using frozen Russian assets to back a €140 billion (about $163 billion) loan. Zelenskyy urged swift approval, saying the funds were vital to “strengthen Ukraine’s defence and save lives.”
Europe heads into the Munich Security Conference, on Friday (13 February), amid deepening unease over U.S. policy, as President Donald Trump’s hard-line stance on defence, trade and territory fuels doubts about Washington’s long-term commitment to transatlantic security.
James Van Der Beek, who rose to fame as Dawson Leery in the hit teen drama Dawson’s Creek, has died aged 48 following a battle with stage 3 colorectal cancer.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Prime Minister of Israel Trump hosted Netanyahu for closed-door talks focused on negotiations with Tehran, Gaza and wider rBenjamin Netanyahu ended a two-and-a-half-hour meeting at The White House on Wednesday without reaching agreement on how to move forward on Iran.
Norway’s Sturla Holm Laegreid, who won bronze in the men’s biathlon at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on Tuesday (10 February) in Italy, stunned viewers by publicly admitting he had cheated on his girlfriend and pleaded for another chance during post-race interviews.
Türkiye and Greece signalled renewed political will to ease long-standing tensions during high-level talks in Ankara on Wednesday (11 February). Maritime borders, migration and trade topped the agenda as both leaders struck a cautiously optimistic tone.
Europe heads into the Munich Security Conference, on Friday (13 February), amid deepening unease over U.S. policy, as President Donald Trump’s hard-line stance on defence, trade and territory fuels doubts about Washington’s long-term commitment to transatlantic security.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 13th of February, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Portugal's parliament approved a bill on Thursday (12 February), on its first reading, requiring explicit parental consent for children aged 13 to 16-years old to access social media, in one of the first concrete legislative moves in Europe to impose such restrictions.
A bipartisan group of 37 U.S. lawmakers have written to senior Taiwanese politicians expressing concern about parliament stalling proposed defence spending, saying that the threat posed by China has never been greater.
The Bangladesh National Party (BNP) won a decisive two-thirds majority in Friday's (13 February) general elections, a result expected to bring stability after months of tumult following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a Gen Z-led uprising in 2024.
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