Too late to win over Trump? Europe frets as US freezes some weapons for Ukraine
Add to that news that Washington's lifting of sanctions on Syria also includes Russian oligarchs and entities also implicated in the invasion of Ukraine. We asked about the ways Russia keeps exporting oil and cashing checks from abroad.
And as Ukraine figures out how to resist without Washington's help, we talked about Europe's efforts. On that score, what to make of Tuesday's first phone call between French president Emmanuel Macron and Vladimir Putin since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022?
Produced by François Picard, Aurore Laborie, Ilayda Habip and Alessandro Xenos.
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France 24
3 minutes ago
- France 24
Zelensky faces major protests after signing bill targeting anti-graft bodies
Ukrainian activists called for more protests against a law they say weakens the country's anti-corruption bodies. The legislation has also drawn rebukes from European Union officials and international rights groups. Thousands of people gathered in the capital and other cities across Ukraine on Tuesday evening to urge President Volodymyr Zelensky to veto a controversial bill passed by Ukraine's Parliament earlier that day. After Zelenskyy approved it, activists called on social media for another demonstration in the center of Kyiv at 8 p.m. Wednesday. The legislation tightens government oversight of two key anti-corruption agencies. Critics say the step could significantly weaken the independence of those agencies and grant Zelensky's circle greater influence over investigations. Fighting entrenched corruption is crucial for Ukraine's aspirations to join the EU and maintain access to billions of dollars in Western aid in its fight against Russia 's three-year invasion. Instead of vetoing the bill as protestors demanded, Zelensky signed it into law and argued for it, in a move that risked his public support after more than three years of war with Russia. Zelensky said the measure clears out 'Russian influence' from the fight against corruption and ensures punishment for those found guilty of it, after what he said were yearslong delays in criminal proceedings involving huge amounts of money. 'This is what Ukraine really needs,' Zelensky said in a Telegram post after midnight Wednesday. 'The cases that have been lying dormant must be investigated.' 'For years, officials who have fled Ukraine have been casually living abroad for some reason – in very nice countries and without legal consequences – and this is not normal,' he said. He didn't provide examples of what he said was Russian interference. Russian officials relished Zelensky's difficulties. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova mocked Zelensky's claim of Russian infiltration into the anti-corruption agency, noting sarcastically that 'they might just as well pull a couple of bears out of the corner.' Zelensky has been the international face of Ukraine's determination to defeat Russia's all-out invasion, and his domestic troubles are an unwelcome diversion from the war effort. Delegations from Russia and Ukraine were set to meet in Istanbul on Wednesday for their third round of direct talks in two months, although the Kremlin didn't confirm the date or venue and its spokesman warned against expecting 'any magical breakthroughs' in the meeting. The changes would grant the prosecutor general new authority over investigations and cases handled by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO). In a post on X, the EU's Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos expressed concern over the vote in the Ukrainian Parliament, called the Rada, calling it 'a serious step back.' The Ukrainian branch of Transparency International criticized Parliament's decision, saying it undermines one of the most significant reforms since what Ukraine calls its Revolution of Dignity in 2014, and damages trust with international partners. It accused authorities of 'dismantling' the country's anti-corruption architecture. The mood of anger and frustration among the war-weary Ukrainians prevailed in the crowd Tuesday. Some protesters accused Ukraine's leadership of prioritizing loyalty and personal connections over the fight against corruption. 'Those who swore to protect the laws and the Constitution have instead chosen to shield their inner circle, even at the expense of Ukrainian democracy,' said veteran Oleh Symoroz, sitting in a wheelchair because both his legs were amputated after he was wounded in 2022.
Fashion Network
5 minutes ago
- Fashion Network
France and Italy meet to defend "made in Europe"
France's finance minister Eric Lombard and industry minister Marc Ferracci will meet with Italy's business minister Adolfo Urso in Paris on Thursday to seek an "aligned position" on European industry. The two countries will seek to boost endangered sectors and defend "made in Europe." "The aim with the Italians is to rally them to the fight to protect European industries, so that we can jointly take it [the issue] to Brussels with them," the offices of the two French ministers told the press. Among the issues to be raised on Thursday is the question of European steel. The survival of the European steel industry is, according to Paris, threatened by "exacerbated" or even "unfair" competition from China and the US. The European Commission has said it intends to present a legislative proposal in September to reduce steel imports into Europe by up to 50% through various trade measures, which France is defending. The two countries' ministers are also expected to discuss automotive issues, with the "shared objective" of "strengthening demand for clean vehicles with European content," and to tackle the question of "European preference," for example in public procurement. "Italy is moving closer and closer to France on a number of positions," said Parisian representatives, referring again to nuclear power, which Italy wants to revive. Italy also advocates, like France, that nuclear power should be treated in a similar way to renewable energies in European legislation. "The issue of competitiveness and technological neutrality is one of the subjects on which we agree with the Italians," added the French ministers' offices. Thursday's meeting in Paris will take place as part of the Quirinal Treaty, signed between the two countries in 2021. The treaty includes annual meetings between French and Italian ministers. Giorgia Meloni and Emmanuel Macron displayed their "shared commitment" and "strong convergences" during a long tête-à-tête in Rome in early June. The meeting was held in part to dispel the tensions of recent weeks, which have been amplified since Donald Trump 's return to the White House.
France 24
33 minutes ago
- France 24
Zelensky defends contested anti-corruption law changes
"We all share a common enemy: the Russian occupiers," Zelensky said after meeting with top law enforcement and anti-corruption officials. "And defending the Ukrainian state requires a strong enough law enforcement system -- one that ensures a real sense of justice," he added. "We all hear what society is saying," he said, promising to "resolve existing issues". The bill would place the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) under the direct authority of the prosecutor general, who is appointed by the president. After meeting with Zelensky, NABU and SAPO repeated their criticism of the changes and said "unambiguous legislative steps are required to reinstate the guarantees revoked by parliament". Zelensky signed off on the widely criticised law on Tuesday, the same day it was passed by parliament. The law sparked the first major protest in Kyiv since Russian troops invaded in 2022, with over 1,000 people taking part. Large gatherings are banned under Ukraine's martial law. 'Serious step back' While the government says the law will make the anti-corruption agencies function better, its critics say it consolidates power in Zelensky's hands. They also argue it will allow government meddling in high-profile graft cases. The Anti-Corruption Action Center, an NGO, said the law would render the agencies meaningless as Zelensky's prosecutor general would "stop investigations into all of the president's friends". The European Union called the decision a "serious step back". NABU began work in 2015, as Kyiv sought to bring the country closer to Europe after a 2014 pro-European revolution. Since its inception, the agency has uncovered widespread graft, including among figures in Zelensky's administration. On Monday, law enforcement conducted large-scale raids at NABU, detaining one employee on suspicion of spying for Russia. Transparency International's Ukraine office called the raids an "attempt by the authorities to undermine the independence of Ukraine's post-Revolution of Dignity anti-corruption institutions." Transparency International ranked Ukraine 105th out of 180 countries in its "corruption perceptions index" in 2024, up from 144 in 2013. Supporters of the law warn that a political crisis over the legislation could work in Russia's favour by undermining unity in the country. Commenting on the protests at a briefing, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Wednesday said there was "a lot of corruption" in the country and the issue was "a sensitive topic" for Ukraine.
