Emmanuel Macron
-
Coalition of the Willing to rehearse Ukraine peacekeeping in Poland in November
Military exercises of the "Coalition of the Willing" will take place in Poland in November, rehearsing the deployment of European troops in Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire or peace deal with Russia. British Defence Secretary Wes Streeting announced the drills after his first meeting with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon on 15 October. At least 1,500 personnel from the UK, France and Germany will take part, alongside Polish forces.
-
Ukraine says five countries ready new aid packages; UK pledges £17m for Chernobyl shelter
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said in an interview with Ukrinform that Ukraine has confirmation of new aid packages from at least five countries, covering energy, humanitarian, and defence needs, with volumes still being finalised. Separately, the UK announced £17 million ($22.5 million) for repairs to the Chernobyl confinement shelter damaged by a Russian drone strike the previous year, Prime Minister Serhiy Koretsky met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to discuss air defence and sectoral cooperation, and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy began a Brussels visit meeting allied European and NATO leaders.
-
Russian drone strikes on Volyn kill one, knock out power to hundreds of thousands across Lutsk region
In the night of 15–16 October, Russia launched an attack with roughly 20 drones on Volyn Oblast in northwestern Ukraine. The private agricultural company "Agrofruct LTD" in Manevychi was hit, killing one person and injuring eight, while an enterprise with foreign investments in Lutsk was also struck. Lutsk was left fully without electricity, public transport was suspended, and water supply was disrupted. Local authorities initially warned of a possible ammonia leak at the Manevychi site before retracting the warning.
-
European leaders brace for Trump siding with Moscow as energy sanctions are rolled back
European leaders gathering at an EU summit in Brussels this week are bracing for a scenario in which US President Donald Trump effectively sides with Moscow after a week of steps that rolled back years of US energy sanctions on Russia, pressured Kyiv to stop strikes on Russian oil refineries, and publicly questioned the legitimacy of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told reporters in Brussels that "the Western alliance is now in a weaker position than it was a few days ago," and several EU leaders privately said Trump is inclined to attack Kyiv and back Moscow, and is unlikely to change. Zelenskyy has said he feels betrayed and publicly criticised Trump. Despite the friction, the US continues to sell weapons and share intelligence with Ukraine.
-
US ordered Starlink restrictions for Ukraine, Reuters reports; Trump denies involvement
In the night of October 13–14, SpaceX unilaterally imposed speed restrictions on Starshield satellite terminals used by Ukrainian forces, cutting off connectivity above roughly 160 km/h during a major Russian attack. Reuters, citing two US officials and one Western official, reports the order came from the White House, while The Telegraph says Elon Musk proposed the idea and Donald Trump agreed. Trump publicly denied both his own and Musk's involvement. By October 15 the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said operation in motion had been restored, though President Zelensky said the previous speeds had not returned and the cap was being lifted only gradually.
-
Zelensky tells Financial Times Ukraine cooperation benefits France, as Le Pen vows to halt funding
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded in a Financial Times interview to Marine Le Pen's stated intention to stop French financing of Ukraine if she wins the 2027 presidential election. Zelensky argued that French industry benefits from Ukrainian battlefield experience, technologies and joint production, and said that if Le Pen takes office, she must be persuaded that she "has the most powerful European system that works." Le Pen, who leads polls ahead of the 2027 vote, has said France can no longer sustain its current level of aid and would phase out financial support six months after taking office.
-
US and Europe draft four-part Ukraine peace plan as Trump–Putin diesel deal overshadows Miami talks
On 9 October, US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner hosted a six-hour meeting at Witkoff's Shell Bay golf club near Miami with a Ukrainian delegation and representatives of the UK, France, Germany, the EU and NATO. The US envoys asked Ukraine to stop strikes on Russian oil refineries, relayed that Vladimir Putin is not yet ready to negotiate and is conditioning talks on receiving the remaining roughly 11% of the Donbas under Ukrainian control, and announced that Donald Trump had struck a separate deal with Putin on Russian diesel exports. President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected the strike demand and called the diesel decision "unfair and dishonest." The Washington Post subsequently reported that Washington and European capitals are shaping a four-part peace proposal covering reconstruction financing, NATO-Article-5-style security guarantees, economic and energy integration including a possible Russia–Europe pipeline, and a ceasefire along the current front line. Ukraine's presidential office dismissed the leak as "not bad PR" rather than a joint US–European document.
-
Trump announces "energy ceasefire" with Russia; Kremlin declines to confirm, Ukraine says it wasn't told
On 11 October, US President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that an "energy ceasefire" between Russia and Ukraine was taking effect immediately, claiming both sides had agreed. The White House later told Axios that the proposal referred specifically to mutual cessation of strikes on oil refineries, described as "refinery for refinery." The Kremlin declined to confirm any deal, and within hours Russian forces struck energy infrastructure in Ukraine, including the TEC-5 thermal power plant in Kharkiv. Speaking by video link at the Warsaw Security Forum on 12 October, President Volodymyr Zelensky said the announcement was news to him, that Ukraine has only one oil refinery while Russia has an extensive network, and that if Russia does not agree to an energy ceasefire this winter, Ukraine will respond.
-
Trump announces Russia diesel deal after Putin call; Ukraine and European leaders condemn move
On 9 October 2026, US President Donald Trump announced he had spoken by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin and agreed to lift US sanctions on Russian diesel, allowing large-scale exports to American and global markets. The US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control issued General License No. 135 authorising the imports until 7 April 2027. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sharply criticised the decision, calling it a "weak" and "unfair and dishonest" birthday gift to Putin that gives Russia additional billions for the war, while EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, the UK, Germany, France, Finland, Sweden, Estonia, and US Democrats all condemned or distanced themselves from the deal. Talks between Ukrainian, US and European delegations in Miami ended early after the announcement, and a senior Ukrainian official told the Financial Times that long-range drone strikes on Russian refineries would continue.
-
Trump tells Ukraine to elect a new president, a day after announcing US-Russia diesel deal
On October 10, US President Donald Trump said Ukraine needs a new president who can make a deal to end the war with Russia, accusing Volodymyr Zelensky of choosing not to end the conflict despite repeated opportunities. The remarks came a day after Trump announced a deal struck during a phone call with Vladimir Putin under which Russia will supply large volumes of diesel fuel to US and world markets, with the US issuing a Treasury license suspending the relevant sanctions until April 7, 2027. Zelensky condemned the diesel deal as weakness and a "gift to Putin for his birthday," and said the Ukrainian negotiating team meeting in Miami had been used as a "screen." Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said Zelensky has the support of the Ukrainian people and that only Ukrainians can decide who leads them.
-
Zelensky and Macron discuss Rafale pilot training and new defense package in phone call
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron spoke by phone on 5 October. Zelensky announced that Ukrainian pilots will begin training on French Rafale fighter jets in France in the near future, and said a new French defense package is being prepared. The two leaders discussed drone-interception support, joint work on the FREYJA system, and localizing production of French missiles and aerial bombs in Ukraine, agreeing to continue talks at an in-person meeting.
-
EU Commission proposes 'gradual integration' for candidates, with priority roadmaps for Ukraine, Moldova, Albania, Montenegro
The European Commission has drafted a proposal offering EU candidate countries 'gradual integration' into the bloc's single market, including barrier-free trade and access to research programs, while their membership applications are still being processed. Priority 'roadmaps' aimed at accelerating accession are earmarked for Ukraine, Moldova, Albania, and Montenegro, with the economic benefits conditional on supporting EU foreign policy goals and preventing technology leakage to adversary states.
-
Estonia blames Russian special services for sabotage at Milrem Robotics building in Tallinn
Estonia's Security Police concluded that the 14–15 August fire at the Tallinn building of defense company Milrem Robotics — a supplier of unmanned ground vehicles to Ukraine — was an act of sabotage ordered by Russian special services. Three Latvian suspects have been detained and Estonia summoned Russia's chargé d'affaires on 29 September; the Kremlin rejected the accusations as unfounded.
-
Macron proposes "double moratorium" linking halt on Russian refinery strikes and Black Sea hostilities
French President Emmanuel Macron said he intends to propose a "double moratorium" as part of diplomatic efforts to ease energy-market strain, coupling a halt to strikes on Russian oil refineries with a halt to hostilities in the Black Sea. He also outlined broader measures: working to restore shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and urging G7 countries to reuse strategic oil reserves.
-
El Mundo reports CIA warning of Russian drone plot against Spain, France or Italy; Macron and Crosetto reject claim
Spanish newspaper El Mundo reported that the CIA shared intelligence with several European governments about an alleged Russian drone operation targeting Spain, France, or Italy, with launches from containers hidden on civilian ships in international waters. French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto publicly rejected the report, with Macron saying the CIA did not inform French services about such an attack and Crosetto calling the El Mundo publication baseless.
-
NATO's top Europe commander warns of rising Russian-linked sabotage, urges calm
NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe, U.S. Air Force General Alexus Grinkevich, told Reuters the Alliance is increasing intelligence sharing in response to a wave of sabotage and other incidents likely linked to Russia. He urged calm, called NATO "the most powerful alliance in history" and assessed the risk of a limited Russian attack on NATO territory as "unlikely but cannot be ruled out." Grinkevich also rejected the assumption that Vladimir Putin could exploit depleted US long-range precision missile stockpiles to strike the Alliance.
-
EU extends Ukraine sanctions for three years but drops Usmanov and Fridman, prompting Ukrainian criticism
On 22 September, the EU Council extended Ukraine-related sanctions for 36 months until 22 September 2029, the first time the regime has been renewed for three years instead of the usual six-month cycle. In the same decision, the EU removed Russian oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from the list. Ukraine called the delisting "shameful" and unjustified, and the Baltic states announced national sanctions in response. A day later, on 23 September, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev pardoned French citizen Martin Ryan, who had been sentenced to ten years in prison on espionage charges that France rejects.
-
Zelensky and Trump meet in New York: energy ceasefire, Patriot production and a push to end the war before winter
On September 22, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly in New York. Zelensky proposed a mutual energy ceasefire, raised licensing of Patriot interceptor missile production in Ukraine, and said he is ready to meet Vladimir Putin with Trump's help. Trump said the war will end "sooner than people realize" and warned he is ready to use the newly-signed "Graham law" sanctions against Russia.
-
EU extends Ukraine-related sanctions three years but drops Usmanov and Fridman in compromise
EU ambassadors agreed on 22 September to extend the bloc's individual sanctions related to Ukraine's territorial integrity for 36 months, until 22 September 2029, in a compromise that removes Russian oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from the list. Latvia, the only holdout, lifted its veto and abstained, and announced it will impose its own national sanctions against the two men.
-
Macron at UNGA calls for more interceptor missiles for Ukraine and a 'double moratorium' on strikes
French President Emmanuel Macron used his September 22 address to the 81st UN General Assembly in New York to call for more interceptor missiles for Ukraine ahead of winter, propose a "double moratorium" on strikes against energy and civilian infrastructure and on hostilities in the Black Sea, and urge reform of the UN Security Council. He framed Russia's war on Ukraine as part of a "new era of barbarity" and said "there can be no peace without justice." On the sidelines he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump to discuss the moratorium and a winter support package.