Putin changes tone on Ukraine war as Poland and Czechia plan AI gigafactory

Vladimir Putin has changed his rhetoric on the war in Ukraine. The Russian president spoke of ending the conflict and achieving lasting peace, then told an economic forum in Vladivostok that he saw a chance for an agreement with Ukraine.

Putin said China and the United States were among those prepared to support a peaceful solution. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha also expects new momentum in peace talks, while India has called for the war to end. At the same time, growing problems in Russia's economy could increase pressure on the Kremlin.

Poland and Czechia have reached an agreement to cooperate on a future AI gigafactory. Czechia would secure access to part of its computing capacity, and the project could expand into a joint investment. Poland already has support from Lithuania, Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia.

The project would be developed under a European Union programme to create AI data centres. Warsaw is seeking a facility with at least 75,000 AI accelerators. The investment could exceed 10 billion zlotys, with Poznan and Krakow among the locations under consideration.

German industrial companies are also facing stronger competition from China. A survey by the German Chambers of Industry and Commerce found that 83% feel competitive pressure from Chinese firms, particularly in manufacturing and the automotive sector. Companies are responding by developing new products, cutting costs and seeking new markets, while most support EU measures aimed at protecting the European market from unfair Chinese competition.

Polish household finances showed the first statistically significant improvement in financial well-being, according to Finax's Financial Wellness Index. More people report saving regularly and fewer feel stressed about money, but more than half have enough savings to maintain their current standard of living for no more than three months. Only 19% report a financial cushion lasting more than a year, with medical costs and current bills the main concerns.