Key developments on Nov. 23-24: * Ukraine has lost over 40% of territory previously gained in Kursk incursion, Reuters reports * West should 'not set red lines' on providing military support for Ukraine, French foreign minister says * Russia attacked Ukraine with over 800 KAB bombs, 460 drones, 20 missiles this week, Zelensky
France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told the BBC in an excerpt of an interview published on Nov. 23 that Western allies should "not set and express red lines" on providing Ukraine with military support against Russian aggression.
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed U.S. President Joe Biden’s decision to allow Ukraine to strike targets in Russia with long-range American missiles, calling it "a good decision" on Nov. 18.
Amid rising fears of U.S. aid being cut off under a second Donald Trump presidency, Ukrainians are left wondering whether Europe can rise to the challenge and fill the gap. Trump has promised to swiftly end Russia's war against Ukraine, speaking highly of Russian President Vladimir Putin and making
"Ukrainians shouldn't have to wait for rockets to cross the border — they should be able to destroy launch sites directly," German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said.
A French military task force named "Champagne" is concluding its mission of training a newly formed brigade of several thousand Ukrainian troops. The brigade will include infantry battalions, engineers, artillery units, and other specialists.
Jean-Noel Barrot said Kyiv’s Western allies needed to do everything they could to ensure Ukraine entered any future peace negotiations in the strongest position possible.
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron hope President Joe Biden will give the approval sought by Kyiv for months as a step towards cementing his foreign policy legacy.
The two leaders are expected to discuss Ukraine in private talks after participating in Armistice Day memorial ceremonies with French and British veterans.
Germany and France have doubts about the EU diplomatic service's proposal to circumvent Hungary's veto of 6 billion euros ($6.6 billion) in defense assistance for Kyiv, Bloomberg reported on Oct. 25, citing undisclosed sources.
The planes will reportedly be equipment with ground strike capabilities, namely SCALP/Storm Shadow long-range missiles and French guided bombs AASM.
The launch of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 confronted the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) with a new geopolitical reality. Described as "braindead" by French President Emmanuel Macron only a few years prior, the alliance woke up to a threat previously thought consigned to the past: a
"A Russian victory would consecrate the law of the strongest and precipitate the international order towards chaos," French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said in Kyiv on Oct. 19.
Joe Biden's likely last European visit as president was billed as a final chance before the upcoming U.S. presidential election to meet with key world leaders, solidify long-term support for Ukraine, and work towards ending Russia's full-scale invasion launched over two and a half years ago. "Ukraine faces a
The leaders of the United States, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom discussed Ukraine's five-point victory plan as well as plans to provide additional military and humanitarian assistance on Oct. 18 during high-level talks in Berlin, a readout by the White House said.
"We cannot let up. We must sustain our support. In my view, we must keep going until Ukraine wins a just and durable peace consistent with the U.N. Charter," U.S. President Joe Biden said.
U.S. President Joe Biden is expected to meet the leaders of Germany, France, and the U.K. in Berlin later this week after his earlier visit was postponed due to Hurricane Milton, CNN reported on Oct. 16, citing three unnamed Western officials.
France successfully tested its first 'kamikaze' drones and will deliver them to Ukraine "in the coming weeks," French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said on Oct. 16, BFMTV reported.
Russian investigators claimed that beyond the violation of the foreign agents registration, Laurent Vinatier had plead guilty to illegally obtaining information about the military.
The U.K. pledged to provide additional long-range weapons, artillery systems, and robotic systems, while French President Emmanuel Macron discussed the possibility of opening a training center for drone operators in France, according to the announcement.
Ukraine is working with France to establish new joint defense production facilities, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening address on Oct. 12.
"I will meet separately in each country with the leaders of Britain, France, and Germany. I will try to be swift, and then I will present the victory plan to all our partners at Ramstein," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
"France is the first country to train a full-fledged Ukrainian brigade on its territory. This initiative is unparalleled in terms of the number of trained soldiers and the duration of the training," the French Embassy in Kyiv said.
The planes "will be equipped with new equipment: air-to-ground combat capabilities and anti-electronic warfare defense," a French minister said.
Ukraine's national futsal team achieved a decisive victory with a score of 7:1.
French-German defense company KNDS signed a deal on Oct. 3 for the supply of 12 Caesar howitzers financed by Ukraine, French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said.
"We will have to think about a new form of organization of Europe and rethink our relations with Russia after the war in Ukraine," Macron said.
The first cohort of Ukrainian pilots have completed Alpha Jet training in France, the French Armed Forces announced on Sept. 20.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced on June 6 that an unspecified number would be transferred to Ukraine, but did not provide a timeline.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said she supports the decision of allies to give Ukraine the go-ahead, adding that Italy is committed to ensuring Ukraine can enter peace negotiations with Russia in the "very best conditions."
The three countries said that they have "privately and publicly been clear that we would take new and significant measures against Iran if the transfers took place."
French billionaire Xavier Niel’s investment company NJJ Capital has closed the deal on acquiring Lifecell, one of Ukraine's largest mobile operators, and Datagroup-Volia, one of Ukraine's largest fixed telecom and pay-TV providers.
