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European Parliament sits to mark fourth anniversary of war
Meanwhile, the European Parliament is about to start its extraordinary session to mark the fourth anniversary of the full-scale Russian aggression on Ukraine.
Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to speak shortly via a video link from Kyiv.
Jakub Krupa
Nato secretary general Mark Rutte’s remarks were not broadcast as expected.
I am checking with Nato and will bring you the lines as and when we have them.
Russia accuses Britain, France of preparing to arm Kyiv with nuclear bomb without any evidence
Pjotr Sauer
Russian affairs reporter
Meanwhile, Russia’s foreign intelligence service, the SVR, has accused Britain and France of preparing to arm Kyiv with a nuclear bomb, a claim made without providing any evidence.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the agency said the two European countries were allegedly pursuing the move to strengthen Ukraine’s negotiating position in the war against Russia, which entered its fifth year this week.
“Such extremely dangerous plans by London and Paris show they have lost their sense of reality,” the SVR said, adding that the countries were wrong to believe they could avoid responsibility.
Russian officials quickly seized on the statement, with the county’s federation council calling on the UN security council and the International Atomic Energy Agency to open an investigation.
Russian intelligence agencies have long been known for making outlandish allegations, with Britain frequently portrayed as the main antagonist. Over the weekend, Russia’s spy chief also accused London of masterminding the assassination attempt on a senior Russian general.
European leaders arrive in Kyiv to mark the fourth anniversary
Meanwhile, let’s take a look at some of the European leaders who are in Kyiv this morning.
Here are the prime ministers of Denmark, Sweden and Norway, travelling on the overnight train from Poland.
European Council president António Costa and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen are also there, as per photos posted on their social media channels, as is Estonian prime minister Kristen Michal and Latvian prime minister Evika Siliņa.
Poland’s deputy prime minister, foreign minister Radosław Sikorski is there too.
A number of other leaders will be also joining via video link, taking part in the meeting of the Coalition of the Willing later today.
As is the former French prime minister, Gabriel Attal.
Nato's Rutte marks fourth anniversary of war
We are expecting Nato’s secretary general Mark Rutte to speak on the fourth anniversary shortly.
I will bring you the key lines here.
Morning opening: Four long years
Jakub Krupa
It’s the fourth anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, when Russian hoped to take the country in three days, and 12 years since the preceding Russian attack on Crimea.
As Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his special address this morning:
“Looking back at the beginning of the invasion and reflecting on today, we have every right to say: we have defended our independence, we have not lost our statehood; Putin has not achieved his goals.
He has not broken Ukrainians; he has not won this war. We have preserved Ukraine, and we will do everything to secure peace and justice.”
Several European leaders are expected in Kyiv to mark the anniversary; others will be joining the fourth anniversary meeting of the Coalition of the Willing via a video link.
We will hear from Nato’s secretary general Mark Rutte and the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, among others, as they no doubt pay tribute to the people of Ukraine.
But, despite the intentions, the EU failed to agree a new package of sanctions to put more pressure on Russia after Hungary’s Viktor Orbán vetoed the proposal over a separate dispute about oil transit through Ukraine.
I will bring you all the key lines here.
If you want to re-live the last hours before the invasion, you can read Shaun Walker’s brilliant story on how the CIA and MI6 got hold of Putin’s Ukraine plans and why nobody believed them.
Shaun will be joining me for a Q&A to answer your questions from 2pm UK time.
It’s Tuesday, 24 February 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
