Former French PM Launches New Party Two Years Before Presidential Election
De Villepin, 71, was prime minister of France under ex-president Jacques Chirac between 2005 and 2007 and also the late leader's foreign minister between 2002 and 2004.
The traditional right-wing politician made his mark on the global stage as Chirac's head of diplomacy, delivering an impassioned speech against the invasion of Iraq war at a UN Security Council meeting in 2003.
"I decided to create a movement of ideas, of citizens, through the creation of a political party," said de Villepin in an interview with daily newspaper Le Parisien published Tuesday.
"This movement is for everyone. We need to unite all French people to defend social justice and the republican order," he added.
De Villepin -- who was also minister of the interior under Chirac -- did not explicitly make clear his intention to stand for president but the new party is likely to be seen as a key platform for such a bid.
"I am not for escalation... but for a politics of balance and measure," he said.
"Against a path of tension and identity polarisation, I offer one of assembly, public interest and humanism."
"French people deserve to have the choice" and not be caught "between the radicalism of the LFI (hard-left France Unbowed) and that of the RN (far-right National Rally)," he told Le Parisien.
The contours of the French 2027 presidential election remain largely unclear, with centre-right former prime minister Edouard Philippe the only major player to clearly state he will stand and President Emmanuel Macron barred from seeking another mandate.
Far-right leader Marine Le Pen is eager to stand for fourth time but her conviction earlier this year in a fake jobs scandal disqualifies her from running for public office.
She has appealed, and waiting in the wings is her protege Jordan Bardella, 29, who would stand if Le Pen was ineligible.
De Villepin, who polls show to be France's most popular politician along with Philippe, declined to say explicitly that he would stand saying "now is not the time to enter into the presidential debate."
But he added: "Faced with the path of tension and polarisation of identities, I propose that of unity, of the general interest, and of humanism."
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What did Europe achieve at the Washington summit on Ukraine? – DW – 08/19/2025
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"Since Trump returned to the White House, the trans-Atlantic alliance has never been as strong," Akhvlediani argued, stressing that European leaders had succeeded in steering him back toward historical allies. The outcome of the talks also remains provisional. "Trump can change his views very quickly," Möller notes. "This is an evolving situation, and I am hesitant to think of this as a very important moment in this process towards finding peace for Ukraine and territorial integrity for Ukraine." More steps will be needed, yet one lesson stood out: Europe has no choice but to stand united. The challenge is immense, Möller added, but "Europe has no alternative but to try, and they are doing the right things."
DW
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Serbia: Chaos on the streets that could go in any direction – DW – 08/19/2025
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To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has promised a harsh state response, but denies that a state of emergency will be imposed. "At one point, you will see the full determination of the Serbian state. We will use everything at our disposal to restore order, peace, and law in our country, and we will do it. We will oppose all external pressures, everyone who threatens us, who tells us what is allowed and what is not, and until now we have seen that they managed to bring chaos into our country. But we will win," Vucic said. At a press conference, he accused students and citizens of trying to destroy the state, comparing them to fascists and Nazis, and said it was only a matter of days before someone would be killed. He is not alone in thinking this. "I fear for human lives. The lives of us citizens, the innocent, children, activists," said Neda Vrebac. 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DW
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Ukraine: Zelenskyy 'ready' for talks with Putin – DW – 08/19/2025
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked US President Donald Trump for his efforts to "stop killings." Zelenskyy later said would be willing to meet Vladimir Putin. Follow DW for the latest. US President Donald Trump is arranging a meeting between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy Trump hosted Zelenskyy, NATO and European leaders at White House Trump vowed the US would help Europe provide security for Ukraine Zelenskyy hailed the promise as 'a major step forward' German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says Putin-Zelenskyy meeting within two weeks Monday's talks followed the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska on FridayUkraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was ready to hold one-on-one talks with Russia's President Vladimir Putin to end the war. "I confirmed — and all European leaders supported me — that we are ready for a bilateral meeting with Putin," Zelenskyy said. Zelenskyy made the comments to reporters following talks with US President Donald Trump and European leaders at the White House. The Ukrainian leader said that he was ready to meet with Putin in "any type of format" without preconditions. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that discussions were taking place on Ukrainian security guarantees, similar to those of NATO member states. "What we are discussing here is not NATO membership. What we're discussing here is Article 5 type of security guarantees for Ukraine," Rutte said. "And what they exactly will entail will now be more specifically discussed," the NATO chief added. Rutte said there had been no discussion in Washington of deploying ground troops and described the White House meeting as a success. Article 5 refers to NATO's collective defense principle, under which other states come to the aid of a member state if it is attacked. Zelenskyy has called for guarantees of assistance from the West based on Article 5 of the NATO Treaty. French President Emmanuel Macron expressed a degree of caution over a possible meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Macron said that while a meeting between the two would be a move forward after talks with US President Donald Trump, he remained skeptical. "Do I think they could be conclusive? I remain very cautious," Macron said, emphasizing that there was still much to be done. "We have the American president and Ukraine who want peace... I am not convinced about Putin," the French president said. "I have the greatest doubts about the Russian president's desire for peace. His ultimate goal is to take as much territory as possible, weaken Ukraine and have a Ukraine that is not viable on its own or within Russia's sphere of influence. This is pretty obvious to everyone," Macron said. The French leader warned that should the process be rejected then sanctions on Russia would need to be ratcheted up in order to pressure Moscow back to the negotiating table. Joining US President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy in the East Room of the White House, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stressed the importance of a ceasefire in Ukraine whereas France's President Emmanuel Macron talked about the need for security guarantees. DW's Richard Walker analyzes the messages European leaders brought to the negotiation table. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video DW's Washington bureau chief, Ines Pohl, asked German Chancellor Friedrich Merz if he would be willing to send German peacekeeping troops to Ukraine. "The question of who should be involved in the security guarantees and to what extent will have to be discussed with our European partners and the US government," said Merz. "What is totally clear is that all of Europe should be involved. This isn't just about Ukraine's territory, it's about the political order of Europe and there, Germany has a major interest and a major responsibility," the German chancellor stressed. "So being involved for me is clear, to what extent, we have to discuss that in Europe," Merz said. Earlier, US President Donald Trump said that the issue of security guarantees for Ukraine had been discussed with European partners. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is to take place within the next two weeks. "The American president spoke with the Russian president on the phone and agreed that there would be a meeting between the Russian president and the Ukrainian president within the next two weeks," the Reuters news agency quoted Merz as telling reporters. The German chancellor said the location was yet to be determined. The comments come after President Donald Trump said arrangements were being made for face-to-face talks between Putin and Zelenskyy to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. US President Donald Trump said that his meeting with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders had been "very good." Trump said that arrangements were now being made for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelenskyy. "At the conclusion of the meetings, I called President Putin, and began the arrangements for a meeting, at a location to be determined, between President Putin and President Zelenskyy," Trump said, adding that US Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff would make arrangements between the two countries. "After that meeting takes place, we will have a Trilat, which would be the two Presidents, plus myself," Trump said. The US president also said that security guarantees for Ukraine, provided by European countries and coordinated by the US, were discussed. A White House official has announced that US President Donald Trump's meeting with European leaders in the East Room has ended. It was not immediately clear if the leaders would meet in another format later in the day. Trump had earlier said he would invite them back to the Oval Office after the session ended. French President Emmanuel Macron has proposed expanding negotiations on Ukraine to include European leaders. He made the comments Monday during peace talks with US President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and other EU leaders. Macron called a touted trilateral meeting with the US, Russia, and Ukraine "very important" but said Europe should also take part, without naming who would represent it. Macron added that a quadrilateral format would be needed because security guarantees must cover the entire continent. He said this was why Europe stood united with Ukraine. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the talks for peace in Ukraine, taking place in Washington, were an important moment. "We are here, as allies and friends, for peace in Ukraine and in Europe," Von der Leyen said in a post on social media platform X. "This is an important moment, as we continue to work on strong security guarantees for Ukraine and a lasting and durable peace," the EU chief added. Von der Leyen is among a group of European leaders attending talks at the White House aimed at bringing an end to the war in Ukraine. When Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last visited the White House, his military-style outfit drew scorn from US President Donald Trump. Their February meeting ended in bickering and Zelenskyy being escorted out early, without lunch. On Monday, under pressure to accept a peace deal in Europe's deadliest war in 80 years, Zelenskyy returned in a black-on-black ensemble — no tie, but closer to formalwear. The change won Trump's approval. A reporter who had ribbed Zelenskyy in February over not wearing a suit complimented his new look. "You look fabulous in that suit," the reporter said. Trump quickly added: "I said the same thing." Zelenskyy seized the moment with a quip. "You're wearing the same suit," he told the reporter. "I changed." The Ukrainian leader has worn military-style clothes since Russia's 2022 invasion to show solidarity with his troops. But after the February fiasco, he began shifting to more formal attire — wearing a black field jacket and shirt, buttoned to the collar but tie-less, at Pope Francis's funeral in April. The criticism over his White House appearance earlier this year was widely rejected in Ukraine, where Zelenskyy's wartime leadership has drawn broad support. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Germany's best-selling newspaper, reported that US President Donald Trump interrupted talks with the visiting European delegation to make a phone call to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The publication's deputy editor-in-chief, Paul Ronzheimer, wrote that Trump had announced he would call Putin following his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and that the round of talks with European leaders would resume afterwards. The nature of the call was not yet known. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived at the White House for crucial talks with US President Donald Trump. Ahead of the bilateral meeting Zelenskyy told reporters that his country was ready to agree on a peace deal with Russia. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Monday praised US President Donald Trump for opening a path to peace in Russia's war in Ukraine, calling him the one who broke the deadlock with Vladimir Putin. "I really want to thank the president of the United States, dear Donald, who broke the deadlock with President Putin by starting that dialogue back in February. From there we are now where we are today," Rutte said at the White House. Rutte, sometimes described in European capitals as the "Trump whisperer" for his rapport with the US leader, urged all sides to seize the moment. "If we play this well, we can end this. We have to stop the killing, we have to stop the destruction of Ukraine's infrastructure. It is a terrible war and I am really excited. Let's make the best out of today and get this thing to an end as soon as possible," he added. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said the talks he had with US President Donald Trump had been the best the pair have had so far. "I think that we had a very good conversation with President Trump and it really was the best one, or sorry — maybe the best one will be in the future — but it was very good and we spoke about very sensitive points," Zelenskyy said at the discussion table with Trump and a group of European leaders. "The first one is security guarantees and we are very happy... that all the leaders are here." Zelenskyy added that issues around Ukraine's "territories" would be discussed at a later, trilateral meeting Trump is hoping to set up with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump had referred to the possibility of swapping territories. 'The security of Ukraine depends on the United States and on you and on those leaders who are with us in our hearts." Zelenskyy noted that many countries were on the side of Ukraine. "All of us want to finish this war, stop Russia, stop this war."
