Explosion on Polish railway was ‘unprecedented act of sabotage,’ says PM – Europe live

12.43pm GMT Macron hopes for peace in Ukraine by end of term in 2027 Asked about his views about the prospects of peace in Ukraine, Macron says he hopes it will be achieved before the end of his term in 2027. He highlights a few “real turning points” in recent months, as Ukraine’s allies aligned the US and European positions on Ukraine, and keep putting more pressure on Russia, including through sanctions on oil companies and more efforts against the Russian shadow fleet. But he says that what’s needed next is a broader agreement guaranteeing “robust and lasting peace” in Ukraine, because “if Ukraine is not strong and credible, Russia will violate its commitments” again. 12.34pm GMT Zelenskyy begins his comments with heartful thanks to Macron and the French people for their continuing help. He says Ukraine can hope for a peaceful end to this conflict thanks to the continuing support from its allies, including France. He says today’s agreement will add “effective, practical, strong” elements to Ukraine’s ability to defend itself, and strenghten its capabilities. Zelenskyy also says the talks covered some discussion on how to restart peace talks on “creating the necessary conditions” for ending the war. 12.27pm GMT Russia 'does not want peace,' Macron says In his opening remarks, Macron says that Ukraine and its European allies are ready to take part in peace talks, but remarked that Russia keeps intensifying its attacks on Ukraine. He says that continuing Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure show “that Russia does not want peace,” and will not stop its aggression. “We remain determined, and we remain strong and united for peace. It’s all about not only about Ukraine security, but the security of all Europeans that is at stake,” he says. He says the agreements signed today will help to strenghten the Ukrainian army at this critical point in the war. He confirms the earlier reports that the deal includes Rafale fighter jets. “We have shown that both on short term but also medium to long term, we’re ready to help Ukraine, whatever it takes,” he says. The French president also mentions the on-going work on the EU’s reparation loan for Ukraine, and the use of other assets to help Kyiv. “The EU will need to find ways to maintain Ukraine’s financial independence from now on, for the next few years, until this war settles,” he says, stressing this is important to send a signal to Russia’s Vladimir Putin that he “won’t be able to bet on Europe’s fatigue” with the war. But he pointedly also says there is a clear need to fight against corruption, as he talks about the need to pursue the rule of law reforms as Ukraine continues its push to join the EU. He says he has confidence in the determination of the Ukrainian people to pursue the necessary reforms, and in Zelenskyy’s ability to do so. 12.14pm GMT Zelenskyy, Macron speak to reporters in Paris Meanwhile over in Paris, Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy and France’s Emmanuel Macron are speaking to reporters, after a brief delay caused by a technical issue with the interpretation … I will bring you all the key lines here. 12.13pm GMT A summary of what we know about the Polish rail sabotage is now pinned at the top of this page. 12.12pm GMT What do we know so far about Poland rail sabotage? — summary Poland’s prime minister Donald Tusk condemned “an unprecedented act of sabotage aimed at the security of the Polish state and its citizens,” after two separate incidents were reported on a key railway line going towards Ukraine. In the first incident, reported on Sunday morning near the village of Mika, authorities confirmed damage to a section of track as a result of an explosion, with Tusk saying it was “mostly likely intended to blow up a train” on that route (10:41). Separately, a second incident was reported near Puławy on Sunday evening, where reported damage to the overhead line forced an emergency stop of a passenger train carrying 475 passengers, with further media reports of a possible obstruction on tracks. This event is being investigated and has not yet been formally confirmed as an act of sabotage. Both incidents were reported on a critical railway line used for carrying aid deliveries for Ukraine. Poland’s defence minister, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, said the country’s armed forces would inspect the remaining 120km to the Polish-Ukrainian border to check for further obstructions or technical issues. Polish authorities have not attributed the responsibility for the sabotage to anyone, but in recent months Warsaw has criticised Russia for hybrid incidents targeting Poland, with 55 people arrested for illegal activities on Russia’s behalf, despite repeated denials by Moscow. Senior government ministers will give a press briefing with the latest on the investigation at 2pm local time (1pm London). 11.29am GMT We should get an update on the Polish rail sabotage investigation at 2pm Warsaw time (1pm London), when we are expecting a joint press conference of interior, justice, infrastructure and security services ministers. I will keep an eye on this for you. 11.17am GMT Investigation under way into acts on sabotage on Polish rail line to Ukraine — in pictures 11.05am GMT Back to Poland, the country’s interior minister is hosting an emergency meeting on the train incidents, with transport, justice ministers, police and representatives of security services all attending. “Poland is facing acts of sabotage unprecedented in its most recent history,” Marcin Kierwiński said in a social media post. He added: “The [security] services are responding. One thing is certain: the guilty will answer for this act of aggression.” Updated at 11.05am GMT 10.38am GMT Germany's Merz highlights challenges amid changing relations with US, China, and new emerging world order Over in Berlin, German chancellor Friedrich Merz has warned about “a deep rift” in Europe’s relations with the US, the growing threat from China and the rapidly progressing systemic challenges to the world order that required a united European response. In a wide-ranging speech at the Süddeutsche Zeitung’s Economic Summit, Merz said that Germany faced “a deep rift in transatlantic relations that calls into question almost everything that we have considered right and necessary for decades.” He also pointedly warned about China, saying the regime is “becoming outwardly more aggressive, inwardly more repressive.” Merz also spoke about the need to digitise and modernise the German state, and removing EU’s “excessive” bureaucracy, which he said risked “jeopardising the overall success” of the EU’s single market. He said that “a new fundamental world order” was only emerging, marking the end of the “reasonable certainty” of life in the past few decades. “We are facing international challenges that we as Europeans must answer together, with the ability to defend ourselves,” he said, adding that Europe faced “permanent” threats to its democracies, and freedoms. Merz also spoke about the need for German and Europe to become more “sovereign” in emerging technologies, stressing the need to work closely with France, Poland, and even the UK, even after Brexit. He also spoke at length about the challenges to global trade, saying that with the US under Donald Trump “we’re essentially witnessing an attempt to destroy the World Trade Organization.” “I want to counter that,” he said, mounting a defence of the international trade system. Updated at 10.50am GMT 10.28am GMT 'Up to' 100 Rafale fighter jets, air defence equipment, drones covered by letter of intent between Zelenskyy, Macron The Élysée Palace is now offering a bit more detail on what was covered by the letter of intent signed by Zelenskyy and Macron, including up to 100 French Rafale fighter jetsm additional air defence equipment and drones. 10.05am GMT Ukraine's Zelenskyy lands in Paris to meet France's Macron, discuss defence, energy cooperation Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy is now in Paris for his day of meetings with France’s Emmanuel Macron and the French army. In the first few minutes of his visit, the pair have signed a letter of intent on defence purchases, standing in front of a Rafale jet fighter, rumoured to be part of the order. We should hear from them both around early lunchtime and I will bring you all the lines here. Updated at 10.08am GMT 9.48am GMT Polish army to inspect tracks towards Ukraine amid sabotage concerns, minister says Meanwhile, Poland’s defence minister, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, has said the army will now inspect the safety of the remaining 120km track going towards the border with Ukraine. 9.45am GMT Russia could test Nato 'during next two or four years,' EU defence commissioner warns Meanwhile, EU defence commissioner Andrius Kubilius have warned that Russia could test Nato’s defences “during the next two or four years,” suggesting it could include an attack on a Baltic state. Speaking at the “Defending Baltics 2025: War Lessons from Ukraine” conference in Vilnius this morning, Kubilius said the urgency of working out how to defend the Baltic region comes from “the public statements of our intelligence services, including from Germany, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, and from our region that Putin can be ready to test Article Five during next two or four years, before 2030.” “We can just guess that in such a case, Baltic states will be one of the preferable targets of the new Kremlin aggression. It will be an aggression also against all of Nato and against all of European Union,” he said. Kubilius insisted that EU and Nato countries needed to draw lessons from Ukraine’s gith against Russia and speed up their defence plans. “My major message today: let’s ask Ukrainians how to be ready for defence, and how they can help us to be ready,” he said. He was frustrated that it took EU countries years “to understand that we are not ready to detect Russian drones and to destroy them with cost effective means, despite the fact that all of us witnessed how drones are being massively used on the Ukrainian frontline.” “We need to remember that if day X comes and Putin decides to test Article Five somewhere in the Baltic region, we shall face the aggression of a battle-tested Russian army which is now much stronger than it was back in February 2022, and is able to use millions of drones. … Are we really prepared for such a day X despite the fact that we do not have battle tested armies in the Baltic states?,” he asked. 9.41am GMT Investigated sabotage 'most likely intended to blow up' train, Tusk says In a further video update, Tusk said the explosion “most likely intended to blow up a train on the Warsaw-Dęblin route,” adding that another, similar, incident was reported farther east “on the same railway line”. He said it was considered as “an attempt to destabilise and destroy railway infrastructure, which could have led to a rail disaster.” “Unfortunately, there is no doubt that we are dealing with an act of sabotage. Fortunately, there was no tragedy, but the matter is nonetheless very serious,” he said. “The case is developing and under investigation, but indeed, unfortunately, there is no doubt that we are dealing with deliberate action — an act of sabotage,” he said. According to media reports, the other incident he referred to involved a passenger train carrying 475 passengers near Puławy in south-eastern Poland. 9.04am GMT 'Unprecedented act of sabotage' aimed at Poland's security, PM Tusk says In further comments after his visit to the site of the incident this morning, Poland’s prime minister Donald Tusk called it “an unprecedented act of sabotage aimed at the security of the Polish state and its citizens.” “An investigation is under way. Just like in previous cases of this kind, we will catch the perpetrators, regardless of who their backers are,” he pledged. 8.41am GMT 'No doubt' about sabotage, Poland's interior minister says, with another part of same railway route also investigated Poland’s interior minister Marcin Kierwiński also just issued a brief update, saying “there is no doubt that we are dealing with an act of sabotage.” “Another section of this strategic railway route, where the tracks were damaged, is also being investigated,” he said. Updated at 8.45am GMT 8.39am GMT Morning opening: Poland confirms sabotage on railway In the last few minutes, Poland’s prime minister Donald Tusk has said that yesterday’s disruption on a busy railway route between Warsaw and Lublin in eastern Poland was confirmed as caused by an explosive device placed on the track. “Unfortunately, [our] worst fears have been confirmed. On the Warsaw-Lublin route (Mika village), an act of sabotage has occurred. The explosion of an explosive device destroyed the railway track,” he said. More damage was found elsewhere on the same line, Tusk said, prompting concerns about deliberate targeting of the route, which is used among others to facilitate aid deliveries to Ukraine. Tusk said that “emergency services and the prosecutor’s office are working at the scene.” The incident was reported on Sunday morning after a driver of a regional passenger train had spotted a missing part of the track, triggering an investigation into the causes of the damage. The incident will cause further concern in Poland which remains on high alert amid continuing hybrid threats from Russia and Belarus, after more than 20 drones flew into Polish airspace in September, prompting a Nato response. Expect more reactions from Poland and allies. But the main event of the day will come a bit later as Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy flies to Paris to meet with the country’s president, Emmanuel Macron, and discuss the latest on Ukraine and bilateral cooperation on defence, energy, and the economy. Elsewhere, Finland’s influential president Alexander Stubb is in Brussels to meet with the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, and Nato’s secretary general Mark Rutte German finance minister and vice-chancellor Lars Klingbeil is in China for talks on trade Czech Republic and Slovakia mark the 36th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution I will bring you all the latest here. It’s Monday, 17 November 2025, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live. Good morning. Updated at 9.06am GMT