00:00Muzyka
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00:15Good morning. It's Friday, the 30th of January. I'm Maret Gwyn.
00:20This is Europe Today, your daily fix of European news and analysis.
00:25Live here on Euronews.
00:27Coming up on today's show, with Russia...
00:30...and Ukraine set to resume peace talks in Abu Dhabi over the weekend.
00:35The EU's foreign policy chief says Moscow is not taking negotiations seriously.
00:40After yesterday's meeting of EU foreign ministers, Kaya Callas also accused...
00:45...the Kremlin of weaponizing winter by pounding Ukraine's energy...
00:50...and said the EU could consider an entry ban on Russian soldiers...
00:55...who fought in Ukraine.
00:57Joining me now on set to debrief...
01:00...is our EU editor, Maria Tadeo.
01:03Morning, Maria. Great to have you.
01:03Good morning. Great to see you.
01:05Bring us up to speed now on the latest...
01:07...because it looks like Ukraine is facing a really, really tough situation.
01:10Well, it is probably the most difficult winter for Ukraine since the war started.
01:14Of course, there's been...
01:15...now a weather alert that suggests that temperatures will drop significantly.
01:19And we talked...
01:20...to talk about minus 20 degrees potentially going all the way to minus 30 degrees.
01:24...is the situation even more difficult because the war after four years, the energy infrastructure...
01:29...has been severely damaged.
01:32And, of course, we've talked and reported many times...
01:34...we've talked and reported many times...
01:34...on this network about the very difficult, not just war frontline situation, but really...
01:39...humanitarian when it comes to the blackouts that can go on for hours, the impact on the electricity...
01:44...and the heat in minus 20 degrees and no heat in.
01:48Obviously, it's a very difficult situation.
01:49...for the people of Ukraine.
01:51On that note, yesterday, Kayakala said that she believes...
01:54...we believe...
01:54The Russians are not serious about the negotiations.
01:57We know there's a number of documents that have been put on the table.
01:59Conversations and talks that are going on between the U.S., Russia, the European Union and Ukraine.
02:04We talk about this idea of the prosperity plan, the reconstruction of Ukraine all the way to 2040.
02:09All of this is underpinned by the final peace settlement, and that still looks very, very far.
02:14This brings up, however, a very uncomfortable question for Kayakalas, which is...
02:19Why are the Europeans not directly involved?
02:22Is there a way that Europe can have a bigger say?
02:24And we are now seeing tensions within the 27, some of which suggest Kayakalas cannot...
02:29We need to bring up someone, someone else, to talk to the Russians.
02:33Let's take a look at those...
02:34Different opinions.
02:36We need to talk with them if we want a solution.
02:38If we...
02:39Can't talk to them, we won't find a solution.
02:41And if I was too small to do it, if then the president...
02:44Macron or someone else is able to represent Europe because they don't want to talk to Kayakalas...
02:49We can't be the demandeurs here.
02:54That, you know, we go to Russia, talk to us.
02:57The concessions that Americans are putting...
02:59On Ukraine are quite strong.
03:03So I don't think there is any...
03:04Anything that we can offer to Russia on top of that.
03:09Divided opinions there.
03:11Maria, there was also consensus yesterday on listing...
03:14Iran's revolutionary guard as a terrorist organization.
03:17Yeah, of course, our European officials briefing...
03:19This is really the killing machine of the regime, and this is in response to this very violent crackdown...
03:24that took place at the start of the month on the streets of Iran when the protests are really...
03:29Ultimately, the French, the Spanish, and the Italians agreed to designate...
03:34the mass aid terrorist group.
03:35There had been concerns, and this is why this decision took about...
03:39about two weeks to get finally sealed and approved by the French and certainly also the Spanish.
03:44That, A, there is a hostage situation in Iran, so there was a concern about the well-being of nationals...
03:49and European citizens who are still in the country, but also there was a concern that this could really...
03:54completely now cut off all diplomatic channels.
03:56It was interesting yesterday to hear from Kayakala saying that...
03:59that this, this new designation as a terrorist group, had been, quote, a calculated risk, but also pointed...
04:04to the idea that the channels with the foreign ministry still remain.
04:07Maria, thank you for that. We'll be keeping an eye...
04:09on that story, of course, throughout the day, but coming up next, I'll be joined by former European Council...
04:14President Charles Michel. He served for five years in the top Brussels...
04:19and steered EU leaders' response to Russia's invasion of...
04:24Ukraine in 2022. He has also served as the Prime Minister...
04:29of Belgium before becoming the European Council president, and I'm very...
04:34very happy to say that he joins us now in our studio in Brussels...
04:39So, welcome back to Euronews. Great to have you.
04:41Thank you. Good morning.
04:42Listen, we heard from Kayakala...
04:44Resisting this pressure coming from Maloney, Macron for the EU...
04:49to engage directly in talks with Russia. Do you think it's the right moment?
04:53I feel that...
04:54Macron and Meloni, they are right to say we need to be around the table because...
04:59today, that's very sad. That's even a bit shocking. Who is defending the EU...
05:04European interests around the table, not the United States, not Russia. And I think that...
05:09that Ukraine and the EU, we have the same goals. We want more stable...
05:14stability. We want peace. We want security. And I think it would be legitimate if there...
05:19is a way to make sure that our European interests are better defended.
05:24But who can go to those talks? Who can stand up to Putin? Is it Kayakala? Because many leaders say...
05:29she's... she can't do it.
05:31Yeah, I think that the European Council has a special role to play.
05:34because that's a very legitimate body with 27 head of state, head of government.
05:39and that's, I think, a debate for the European Council. And I'm confident that sooner...
05:44or later, the European Council can give a mandate to someone. It can be to the point of the...
05:49European Council, Antonio Costa, for instance, to be the one who has the legitimacy to talk.
05:54on behalf of the 27 member states.
05:56Yet calls in this town this week from some...
05:59on the EU to consider merging the roles of the Council Chief and the...
06:04Commission Chief, is that something you'd support? Do we need a president of Europe?
06:07Look, that's a tradition.
06:09There will be an international debate. And the day, there will be a direct election.
06:14of the European representatives of the European institutions, then that's a legitimate...
06:19debate and question. But you know, my impression is the following. The...
06:24European Union is based on a double legitimacy. The member states on the one hand and on...
06:29on the other hand, the European Parliament and the Commission with a certain role to defend the...
06:34in general European interest. And I feel that whatever we do in terms of institutions...
06:39you left always to take into account this double reality.
06:42You had harsh words for the...
06:44NATO Chief Mark Rutte earlier this week. Do you think he's smooth-talking Trump too much?
06:49You say that Europe is able to defend itself.
06:51I want to be clear. Mark Rutte is...
06:54It's disappointing. And I'm losing confidence. Why? Because I'm not expecting Mark Rutte...
06:59to be an American agent and expecting Mark Rutte to work for the unity within it.
07:04So today, we can see that Article 5 is put in danger. Why? Because...
07:09of this very hostile rhetoric developed within the United States, developed by the...
07:14of the White House. Point one. We face intimidation. We face threats. What is going...
07:19on with Greenland is not acceptable. And I expect Mark Rutte...
07:24to be a strong voice to defend the unity within NATO.
07:27But how, if you are in his shoes...
07:29What should Europe do? How can it stand up to Trump?
07:31It's very clear that appeasement will not work.
07:34Flattering diplomacy will lead to a failure, to a total failure.
07:39The more you use this flattering diplomacy, the more we are observing the United States...
07:44are going very far in this tactic of intimidation and threats against...
07:49the allies. And the EU is a very loyal partner and ally for the...
07:54of the United States. That's why we do not deserve this behaviour.
07:57We can see, for instance...
07:59the ambiguities coming from the United States with Russia, the way Donald Trump decided to...
08:04to give legitimacy to Vladimir Putin, we can see some sanctions...
08:09on the former EU Commission. That's not acceptable.
08:11Finally, on Ukraine, very briefly, if you can...
08:13the President...
08:14Polanski says the country should join the EU by 2027. Is that feasible?
08:18He's absolutely right.
08:19And that's possible.
08:20It's a question of political will. The Ukrainians are making a lot.
08:24of progress in terms of criteria that have to be fulfilled to join...
08:29the EU and everything must be done to help them, to support them. And I think...
08:34that Ukraine, being a member of the EU, it should take place...
08:39as fast as possible.
08:40Jacques-Michel, that's all we have time for. Thank you so much for coming to join us.
08:44Thank you.
08:45Thank you.
08:44on set this morning. See you again soon, we hope.
08:47Now, we're moving on to another hot button.
08:49and geopolitical issue now.
08:50It's been nearly one month since the US ordered the capture of Venezuela...
08:54as Nicolás Maduro. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said earlier this week that the US...
08:59is committed to democratic transition in the country. I'm pleased to say that joining us live from a...
09:04Madrid is Leopoldo Lopez, a figurehead of Venezuela's opposition forces. So...
09:09welcome. It's great to have you with us. Let us start with the recent EU...
09:14intervention in Venezuela. You fought for years for democracy and freedom.
09:19in the country. Is the US helping your cause here?
09:22Well, thank you very much.
09:24I can tell you that we are much better off than what we were on January 1st.
09:29the second. Venezuelans, we have done for decades everything to happen.
09:34democracy in our country. We have taken the streets, not once, but thousands of times. We have gone...
09:39to elections and these elections have been stolen. We have engaged in 16 rounds.
09:44of negotiations with all sorts of mediators from the Vatican to express it...
09:49of resistance to Norway. And it all led to the same position where Maduro...
09:54only use those negotiations to buy time and to manipulate. So we...
09:59are much better off with the removal of Nicolas Maduro. We are not where we want to be.
10:04We want to be in a fully and total democratic Venezuela. And we understand...
10:09that this is a transition and that's what we need to push for.
10:12Because the figureheads of the Maduro regime...
10:14we're talking about Delcy Rodriguez, Teostado Cabello are still in...
10:19power in Caracas. Is the US really interested in free and fair elections?
10:24So do you think they will settle for a soft democracy if it serves their commercial interests?
10:29Well, I can tell you that the Venezuelan people are set to be in a democratic Venezuela.
10:34We've been fighting for this for, as I said, over two decades. And we will continue to do so.
10:39So that's the aspiration of the Venezuelan people, the Venezuelan democratic leadership.
10:44and the US has committed to democracy and not in the very, very short term.
10:49There is a transition that has started mostly on the economic realm.
10:54But we need to push for democracy. That's our responsibility. And that's...
10:59And that's what we will do. We expect a process that will lead us...
11:04to a general election that will give the Venezuelan people the voice...
11:09to who will govern the country. That's what we hope for.
11:14And are you hoping for, for example, the return of Maria Corina Machado?
11:19Or would you be able to contemplate returning to Venezuelan politics if...
11:24the US does guarantee this transition?
11:26No, absolutely. Absolutely. There are...
11:29thousands, I would say hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans that will be willing to...
11:34to return at the political level. Yes, we hope to return as soon as...
11:39as possible to Venezuela and to contribute to the rebuilding of our country.
11:43Yes. Leopoldo Lopeta...
11:44I hope we have time for, I'm afraid, but thank you so much.
11:46It was a pleasure to have you with us this morning.
11:48Next up, we move...
11:49Moving to space. Isn't he getting ahead in the space race?
11:54Reporter Jakob Janis takes a look.
11:59Folks, let's clear the air. When you hear EU space industry, you think...
12:04of bureaucracy, not rockets. And honestly, I can't blame you.
12:09This week, your reporter took part in the European Space Conference to verify it.
12:14So is the EU that far behind in the space race? Let's take a look.
12:19Meet Copernicus, Europe's eyes in the sky.
12:24It is the invisible infrastructure that powers your weather up. And so...
12:29Spot the storms before they even hit. And meet Galileo, the EU's...
12:34navigator. It connects your bank and your phone. And it's the only thing...
12:39ensuring that when a geopolitical crisis explodes, the EU is not reliable.
12:44The EU is relying on Washington to tell Europeans where they are. And meet the new kids.
12:49The EU's...
12:50The EU's...
12:51The EU's...
12:52The EU...
12:54The EU finally has an encrypted shield for European leaders and the military to...
12:59protect secrets from cyber attacks. But here is what Eurospace is now...
13:04The EU's...
13:05The EU's...
13:06The EU's...
13:07The EU's...
13:08The EU...
13:09Dominates the sky with thousands of satellites, Europe is still playing...
13:14i EU's alternatywna, iris², nie będzie wyjeżdżać
13:192029
13:21So can the EU compete with the U.S.
13:24And China
13:26The talent is here, but the speed
13:28Not quite
13:29Europeans are missing Silicon Valley's private capital
13:33And European...
13:34And European pension funds are too scared
13:36To bet on exploding rockets
13:38And while China
13:39And the U.S. are shooting for the moon this year
13:42Brussels is still filling
13:44Out their paperwork
13:46And hard work is ahead
13:48In this era of hard work
13:49Can the EU be seen from space?
13:52Because for now
13:53All are
13:54What we can see is the Great Wall of China
13:56And, obviously, Trump's ego
13:59The Great Wall of China
14:03Yeah
14:04And a pianist there
14:05And that brings this edition of Europe Today to an end
14:07Thank you for your company throughout the...
14:09We'll be back with more news and analysis on Monday morning
14:13Have a great weekend
14:14We'll be back with more news
14:16We'll be back with more news
14:19We'll be back with more news
14:21Thank you
14:24Thank you
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