The Economist

Hello, you're listening to the free edition of the world in brief from The Economist.

As a reminder, if you subscribe to The Economist, you'll get access to a deeper look at the day ahead, updated three times a day.

If you're already an economist subscriber, visit

economist.com slash espresso or visit our espresso app to start listening. Here's today's free edition.

This is the world in brief from The Economist.

Our top stories.

In a fiery address to the Munich's security conference,

America's Vice President warned that Europe's greatest threat comes, quote, from within,

citing political suppression and mass migration.

J.D. Vance criticized Romania's decision to annul its election in December,

when the courts overturned a surprise victory by a pro-Russian nationalist

and condemned the exclusion of the hard-right

alternative for Germany from the event.

Ukraine's leader, Volodymy Zelensky, said he is prepared to negotiate with allies

before engaging with Russia to end the war.

His comments come after Donald Trump agreed to start peace talks with Vladimir Putin, Russia's president.

Earlier Emmanuel Macron, France's president, told the Financial Times

that only Mr Zelensky can negotiate peace with Russia

and warned against any settlement that amounts to, quote, capitulation.

A Russian drone strike hit the defunct Chernobyl nuclear plant, Mr Zelensky said on Friday.

The attack damaged the radiation containment shelter, breaching the protective structure over reactor 4, the site of the

...