Zelenskyy ‘ready for elections’ but says vote is ‘a question for the people of Ukraine, not other states’ – Europe live | Europe

Stanley Wade Shelton UGAF professor of international relations at the University of Georgia and author of The Far Right Today.

As Europeans ponder Trump’s latest comments about Europe and the new US national security strategy Here is the analysis of Cas Mudde, a leading academic who studies far-right movements in Europe.

On the same day that Donald Trump received his bespoke “peace award” from his newest friend, FIFA president “Johnny” Infantino, his administration issued an equally bombastic statement. national security strategy. The relatively short document oozes Trump and Trumpism. It begins with the typically modest claim that the President “brought our nation and the world back from the brink of disaster and catastrophe.”

Even though the strategy mostly formalizes ongoing actions and statements by Trump and his administration, It should be taken into account as a warning to the world and especially Europe.

document supports An aggressive form of foreign policy intervention in which the United States explicitly aims to “promote the greatness of Europe”. The language could have been removed directly Viktor OrbanHis speeches during the so-called refugee crisis of 2015-16: “We want Europe to remain European, to regain its civilizational self-confidence.” More worryingly, the document claims that Europe’s “economic decline has been eclipsed by the real and sharper prospect of civilizational extinction.”

All The chapter on Europe has been filled with European far-right ideology and propaganda for decades.

None of this is necessarily new – think JD Vance’s speech At the 2025 Munich Security Conference, where the vice president launched an ideological attack on Europe’s democratic model.

However Perhaps now that it has been published in an official document, European leaders will finally realize that “father” is serious. And if the document is too long or vague for them, let me summarize clearly and concisely: The current US government believes that its national security is best ensured by the destruction of liberal democracy in Europe. In other words, the United States is not (just) a reluctant ally, but a willing enemy.

It’s time to act accordingly.

There is also an important meeting in Strasbourg. Ministers from 46 countries are discussing the interpretation of the European Convention on Human Rights on migration.

Like Pippa Crerar and Rajeev Syal In our story we say:

Before the meeting, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called on European leaders to urgently halt common human rights laws. Thus, states can take tougher steps to protect their borders and prevent the rise of the populist right across the continent.

Ahead of Wednesday’s important European summit, Prime ministers urge fellow members to ‘go further’ on modernizing commentary Implementation of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) to prevent asylum seekers from using it to avoid deportation.

But writing for the Guardian, they said the interpretation of the contract needed to be updated urgently. confronting the challenges of mass migration – and far-right forces seeking to divide the mainstream across Europe.

“The best way to fight against the forces of hatred and division is to to show that mainstream, progressive politics can solve this problem,” Starmer wrote in a joint article with Danish leader Mette Frederiksen.

“The purpose of our politics is to listen to legitimate concerns and act on them. This is democracy, not empty populism. We are determined to show that our societies can act with compassion while maintaining law, order and justice.”

Morning opening: Zelenskyy’s election gamble

Yakup Krupa

After Donald Trump accused him of clinging to power, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was ready to hold wartime elections within the next three months if Ukraine’s parliament and foreign allies allow it.

Like Shaun Walker Writing from Kiev, Zelenskyy, clearly annoyed by Trump’s intervention, said: “This is the problem of the Ukrainian people, not of other states. “With respect to our partners.”

But, He promised to explore ways to hold a vote in the coming months. Zelenskyy said on Tuesday evening: “Since this question was raised today by our partners, the President of the United States, I will answer very briefly: Look, I am ready for the elections.”

Zelenskyy’s five-year term ended in May last year, but Ukraine’s constitution prohibits holding elections in wartimeEven his political opponents have repeatedly said that security and political concerns do not allow holding elections in wartime.

Zelenskyy’s move is also It aims to put more pressure on allies to offer comprehensive security guarantees While US-led peace talks are progressing slowly, guarantees are among the issues yet to be decided.

His comments came after An explosive interview from Trump He joined Politico in criticizing EU leaders as “weak” and Europe as “rotting” as a result of their policies. We expect more leaders to respond to his claims in the coming days.

Finally, European ministers of the EU are meeting in Lviv for an informal meeting where discussions on Ukraine’s ambitions to join the bloc will be discussed.

I will bring you all the important updates throughout the day.

His Wednesday, December 10, 2025, his Yakup Krupa here and this Europe Live.

Good morning.