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EU 'working day and night' to agree tariff deal with US, von der Leyen says
Von der Leyen also spoke about the prospects for the EU-US tariff deal after last night’s comments by Trump that a US proposal should be ready within the next two days.
She said the US imposed tariffs were “unprecedented,” and insisted the bloc preferred “a negotiated solution” to avoid them in the future.
She said she had “a good exchange” with Trump in a bid to get an agreement over the line, as she said the EU was looking for “a reliable framework from which we can keep building our common trade.”
“The message is clear: we stick to our principles, we defend our interests, we continue to the work in good faith, and we get ready for all scenarios,” she said.
She added that EU officials were “working day and night to find a solution.”
'We cannot rely on others to defend Europe,' EU's von der Leyen says
Meanwhile, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has been speaking in the European parliament in the last hour.
Addressing Ukraine, she noted the largest drone attack of the war last night, and warned “we see very clearly, the war still rages on, and the threat from Russia remains.”
“We cannot rely on others to defend Europe. The defence of Europe is our responsibility,” she stressed.
She spoke of the plans to ramp up defence and military investment, including up to €800bn of investment and €150bn euros in loans for joint procurement.
“It’s good for security, but not only, but it is also good for creating good jobs here at home,” she said.
She warned that with Russia “rearming fast,” “the more we wait, the more European investment will go abroad, outside the EU.”
Russia's Lavrov to visit North Korea this weekend
Meanwhile, Russia continues to deepen its ties with North Korea, with foreign minister Sergei Lavrov visiting the country this weekend, AFP reported.
Russia’s security chief Sergei Shoigu has visited Pyongyang multiple times this year, including last month, when the two countries marked the one year anniversary of the signing of a sweeping military pact.
AFP noted that Pyongyang has become one of Moscow’s main allies during its more than three-year-long Ukraine offensive, sending thousands of troops and container loads of weapons to help the Kremlin oust Ukrainian forces from Kursk region.
Morning opening: Putin is not stopping
Jakub Krupa
Despite pointed criticism from US president Donald Trump, who said there was “a lot of bullshit is thrown at us” by Vladimir Putin, Russia continued its strikes on Ukraine overnight with the largest drone attack of the war.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said this morning that Russia attempted to strike 741 targets with 728 drones and 13 missiles.
The attack was so intensive that neighbouring Poland scrambled its and allied aircraft to ensure the safety of Polish airspace.
He said:
“This is a telling attack – and it comes precisely at a time when so many efforts have been made to achieve peace, to establish a ceasefire, and yet only Russia continues to rebuff them all.”
Zelenskyy argued that Russia’s continuing aggression is “yet another proof of the need of sanctions – biting sanctions against oil, which has been fueling Moscow’s war machine with money for over three years of the war.”
He added:
“Our partners know how to apply pressure in a way that will force Russia to think about ending the war, not launching new strikes.
Everyone who wants peace must act.”
Separately, we will be looking at the second day of French president Emmanuel Macron’s state visit in Britain, the latest from Marseille as it battles dangerous wildfires, and updates on US-EU trade talks.
It’s Wednesday, 9 July 2025, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
