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Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Peace talks, spies, extremists: Europe roundup

KYIV/STOCKHOLM/BERLIN: Ukraine urges new momentum for peace talks amid war fatigue; Sweden grapples with a high-level espionage case; and German authorities crack down on a radical anti-state group. A look at Tuesday’s top developments across Europe.

Zelensky presses Trump to help secure Putin talks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is urging former U.S. President Donald Trump to help secure a long-sought meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as efforts to end the war in Ukraine face renewed uncertainty.

Speaking to reporters in Kyiv on Tuesday, Zelensky said, “I do not know the US president's decision, but if he confirms his participation, I think it would give additional impetus for Putin to come.” He added that he would “do everything” to make the meeting happen and secure a ceasefire. Zelensky also warned that if Putin fails to attend, it would signal an unwillingness to end the conflict: “Putin does not want the war to end, does not want a ceasefire, does not want any negotiations.” In that case, Zelensky called for the United States to impose its “strongest” sanctions yet on Russia, saying Putin’s absence would be “a clear signal that they do not want and are not going to end the war.”

The Kremlin has not confirmed whether Putin will travel to Turkey, despite having proposed talks in a televised weekend address. If it happens, the meeting would mark the first formal negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian officials since the early months of the war in 2022. Trump, who reentered office in January promising a quick resolution to the war, has expressed frustration with both Kyiv and Moscow over their lack of compromise. On Monday, he said he was “thinking” about attending the Turkey talks and urged both leaders to go.

Spy arrested in Sweden is senior diplomat

A senior diplomat arrested in Sweden on suspicion of spying is a senior diplomat, Swedish authorities said. Public broadcaster SVT reported Tuesday that the individual held multiple overseas postings during a 24-year diplomatic career, though officials have not released the suspect’s name.

The Swedish Security Service (Sapo) confirmed on Monday that it had made the arrest in Stockholm. A spokesperson for Sapo, Johan Wikstrom, told AFP that an "espionage" case had been opened. Sweden has experienced several espionage-related incidents in recent years. In 2023, a former Swedish intelligence officer received a life sentence for spying for Russia, while a Russian-Swedish national was tried for allegedly passing Western technology to Moscow. Earlier this year, Sweden's faith agency cut funding to the Russian Orthodox Church, citing Sapo’s concerns that it was being used for intelligence purposes. Contacted by AFP, Sweden's foreign ministry declined to comment on the case and referred questions to the justice ministry. Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer did not respond immediately.

Germany Bans ‘Kingdom of Germany’ group

German authorities have banned the far-right group “Kingdom of Germany” and arrested four of its top members, including founder Peter Fitzek, in a large-scale police operation on Tuesday. Fitzek, a former chef and karate instructor, declared himself “king” of the organization in 2012 and is accused of building a parallel state structure. The Interior Ministry said the group issued its own currency and IDs, ran a private insurance scheme, and operated outside the law. The group was accused of “attacking the liberal democratic order” of Germany.

Prosecutors described Fitzek as the “so-called supreme sovereign” who exercised “control and decision-making power in all key areas.” Authorities said the group financed itself through “prohibited banking and insurance transactions” and donations. The "Kingdom of Germany" is part of the broader "Reichsbuerger" (Citizens of the Reich) movement, which denies the legitimacy of the modern German state. In 2022, German intelligence counted roughly 23,000 members in the movement, including more than 2,000 considered potentially violent.

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