Ukraine and European allies have reasons to be worried about peace deal, expert says

FRANCE 24’s Mark Owen speaks to Natia Seskuria, Associate Fellow at Royal United Services Institute. She says that the signals coming from the Trump administration give European allies and particularly Ukraine “reason to be really worried” about the p…

US ‘wants to please Putin’: Zelensky

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview broadcast Monday that the US is trying to “please” Moscow after a shock policy shift on the Ukraine war under President Donald Trump. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called Europe’s cu…

European leaders hold emergency talks, fearing that Trump has abandoned age-old allies

European leaders sought to form a united front Monday at emergency talks in Paris, called after a U.S. diplomatic blitz on Ukraine which has thrown a once-solid alliance into turmoil and left the Europeans questioning the reliability of their key tran…

The death of NATO? Europe in crisis over Trump-Putin talks

European leaders are meeting in Paris for an emergency summit on Ukraine, following last weekโ€™s call between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. With NATOโ€™s most powerful member sidelining its allies in talks with Russia, is the U.S. still a reliable par…

European leaders race to respond after US policy shift on Ukraine

European leaders sought to find a unified response at an emergency summit in Paris Monday following a shock policy shift on the war in Ukraine by US President Donald Trump. The talks were held as Washington and Moscow’s top diplomats were due Tuesday …

French PM faces scrutiny over sexual abuse claims at Catholic school

French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou on Wednesday battled to contain a new controversy after lawmakers urged him to explain whether he was aware of widespread claims of sexual abuse of minors at a Catholic school. Prosecutors in France have been inve…

France hosts emergency summit on Ukraine: US treats EU as ‘junior partner’

The US is treating the EU like a “junior partner” in attempting to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine, FRANCE 24โ€™s Armen Georgian said in an analysis. Citing President Trump’s phone call with Vladimir Putin and potential talks with Ukraine’s Zelen…

Who is Alice Weidel, AfD’s top candidate forย chancellor

46-year-old Alice Weidel, the leader of Germany’s far-right Alternativeย forย Germany party, is getting closer to holding power amid growing support ahead of Sunday’s elections. FRANCE 24 takes a closer look at AfD’s top candidate for chancellor.

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US tensions overshadow final campaign phase in run-up to German election

Simmering tensions between Europe and the United States are overshadowing the final week of election campaigning in Germany on Monday, with the debate more heated than ever amid controversy over alleged US interference in favour of the far right.

EU leaders meet in Paris over Trump policy shift on Ukraine

European leaders were due to meet in Paris on Monday to address Washington’s shock policy shift on the war in Ukraine, as Britain declared itself ready to dispatch peacekeeping troops to Ukraine. US President Donald Trump sidelined Kyiv and its Europe…

Tens of thousands demonstrate against far right in Germany

Tens of thousands of people joined a demonstration against cooperation with the far right in Berlin on Sunday, after US Vice-President JD Vance called for Germany to drop the longstanding taboo. Protesters voiced concerns that the far-right Alternativ…

Live: Ahead of Paris talks, Sweden says ‘not ruling out’ peacekeepers in Ukraine

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he would deploy troops to Ukraine if needed, a pledge reiterated by Sweden on Monday just hours before European leaders meet in Paris to address Washington’s shock policy shift on the war. France has warned that EU …

‘Playing with fire’: European leaders convene for emergency meeting in Paris

PRESS REVIEW โ€“ Monday, February 17: European leaders flock to Paris to discuss an uncertain future, as US President Donald Trump excludes both Ukraine and Europe from peace talks with Russia. Elsewhere, an investigation by The Observer reveals that Go…

UK PM says ready to send troops to Ukraine if needed as part of peace deal

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Sunday he was “ready and willing” to put UK troops on the ground in Ukraine, as part of any postwar peacekeeping force, to ensure the security of Britain and Europe. Writing in the Daily Telegraph, the UK Prime Mini…

Rally against Germany’s resurgent far right draws thousands in Berlin

One week out from Germany’s general election, tens of thousands of people gathered in Berlin to protest the growing support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. A quarter of a million people joined a similar rally in Munich last week…

Navalny supporters mark first anniversary of his death as Russian opposition falters

Supporters of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny marked the first anniversary of his death on Saturday, risking retaliation from President Vladimir Putin. The opposition has been badly weakened since Navalnyโ€™s death as many members have fled int…

Thousands mark Serbian Statehood Day with mass protest against corruption

Thousands of Serbians blocked Kragujevacโ€™s main boulevard on February 15 in the latest student-led protest since the deadly collapse of Novi Sadโ€™s train station roof. Marking Serbiaโ€™s Statehood holiday, demonstrators called for government accountabili…

France planning to host informal European summit on Ukraine, diplomatic sources say

France is in talks with its allies about holding an informal European summit on Ukraine on Monday, diplomatic sources said Saturday.ย Donald Trump’s Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg earlier said that Europe would not have a role in Ukraine peace talks plann…

Thousands mark Serbian Statehood Day with mass protest against corruption

Thousands of Serbians blocked Kragujevacโ€™s main boulevard on Saturday in the latest student-led protest since the deadly collapse of Novi Sadโ€™s train station roof. Marking Serbiaโ€™s Statehood holiday, demonstrators called for government accountability …

Ukraine could ‘drive out’ Putin if US armed Ukraine ‘to the teeth’, allowed attacks deep into Russia

European leaders are trying to make sense of a tough new line from Washington on issues including democracy and Ukraine’s future. As the Trump administration continues to upend trans-Atlantic conventions that have been in place since after World War I…

Ukraine will have โ€˜low chanceโ€™ of surviving without US support, Zelensky says

Ukraine will only have a low chance of surviving should it lose the backing of its main ally the United States in the face of Russiaโ€™s war of aggression, the countryโ€™s president Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with NBC that will be broadcast o…

Vance meets with leader of Germany’s far-right AfD, attacks Europe over free speech and democracy

US Vice President JD Vanceย on Friday met with Alice Weidel, leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany party,ย on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, his office said.ย News of the meeting came after top German officials pushed back aga…

The day after: ‘Robust post-war reintegration plan critical for sustainable free democratic Ukraine’

US Vice President JD Vance has pledged that Washington seeks to secure a “lasting” peace as he held a first meeting with Ukraine’s leader Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss Donald Trump’s push for a deal with Moscow. For in-depth analysis and a deeper pers…

90 minutes that changed Ukraine, ‘Uncle Sam & Uncle Sucker’, AI unleashed, Musk v Altman

This week, Moscow got what it wanted. A Trump-Putin call ended with talk of visits and no NATO future for Ukraine. As Vladimir Putin steps back in, Volodymyr Zelensky risks being shut out and the EU warned of a behind-the-scenes deal.ย In Gaza, the tru…

Zelensky, Vance meet amid ‘preliminary posturing to establish parameters for peace negotiations’

A highly anticipated meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US Vice President JD Vance is underway at the Munich Security Conference. For in-depth analysis and a deeper perspective, FRANCE 24’s Erin Ogunkeye welcomes Dr Gavin Hall,…

EU should give Ukraine ‘very strong security guarantees’: Finland’s former president Niinistรถ

Europe is facing increasingly hybrid threats, and it lacks a shared culture of preparedness, according to our guest. Sauli Niinistรถ was the president of Finland from 201HJYYUU2 to 2024 and is now a special advisor to the head of the European Commissio…

The lost children of Romania’s Ceauศ™escu dictatorship

Thirty-five years after the horrors of the Ceauศ™escu dictatorship were discovered in Romania, our reporters investigated one of the darkest episodes in the country’s history โ€“ the squalid, state-run institutions where thousands of children were locked…

Europe and the artificial intelligence revolution: Key provisions of AI Act take effect

The EU prides itself on being a global innovator in artificial intelligence regulation. Indeed, August 1, 2024 saw a historic moment as the world’s first comprehensive legislation on AI started coming into force. Now, as of February 2 of this year, so…

Trump’s disregard for Europe confirmed in phone call with Putin over Ukraine

PRESS REVIEWย โ€“ Friday, February 14: Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin’s phone conversation continues to spark concern, panic and worry among European leaders. What does this mean for the future of Europe? Also, The New York Times takes us inside the fam…

EU braces for turbulent diplomacy as US demands โ€˜rebalancingโ€™ of relations

Relations between the US and Europe entered uncharted territory after a week of diplomatic shocks that saw the Trump administration cutting Kyiv and Brussels out of bilateral US-Russia talks to end the Ukraine war and setting a hard line on NATO defen…

Zelensky slams Russian drone attack on Chernobyl, which EU calls ‘reckless’

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a social media post on Friday that a Russian drone armed with a high-explosive warhead struck the cover protecting a power unit at the destroyed Chernobyl nuclear power plant. The Kremlin denied targeting…

Trump’s call: Does direct overture to Putin betray Ukraine?

How about that phone call? The US president has gone over the heads of the Ukrainians and the Europeans by promising talks “immediately” with Vladimir Putin, this on the same day that his new defence secretary told NATO counterparts that returning to …

‘New steps, new commitments would be proof of good faith from this new Syrian authority’

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday urged Syria’s new leaders to ensure “governance that is representative and respectful of all” at a Paris conference on the transition in the war-torn country after Bashar al-Assad’s fall. For in-depth analy…

Syria’s quest for ‘national unity’: On paper, principles of diversity & inclusivity ‘almost perfect’

The Paris conference to chart Syriaโ€™s political future will include all segments of Syrian society except for the Kurdish-led administration in the northeast and loyalists of the repressive former government of Bashar Assad. Interim president Ahmad al…

Live: Zelensky, Vance set to meet in Munich ahead of security conference

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US Vice President JD Vance are set to meet in Munich on Friday, days after US President Donald Trump announced he would hold bilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss ending the war in …

Zelensky warns US not to strike peace deal with Russia ‘behind our backs’

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned Washington not to seek a peace deal without Kyiv’s involvement following reports that the US and Russian presidents spoke this week.ย Zelensky also ur…

Macron: ‘Peace that is a capitulation’ in Ukraine would be ‘bad news’ for all

French President Emmanuel Macron described Donald Trumpโ€™s return to the White House as an โ€œelectroshockโ€ that should force Europe to secure its own future as well as Ukraineโ€™s, in an interview with the Financial Times published on Friday. The French p…

‘In the AI field, there will be an increasingly fragmented regulatory environment’

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has publicly rejected Elon Musk’s $97 billion unsolicited bid, explaining to attendees at a Paris summit on AI that the company is not for sale. OpenAI is controlled by a nonprofit board bound to its original mission of safely bu…

Macron urges Syria’s interim government to join US-led anti-extremist coalition

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday urgedย Syria’s interim government toย cooperate with a U.S.-led coalition fighting against extremist groups,ย amid uncertainty over the United Statesโ€™ commitment to the region. The president spoke at aย confere…

Was India’s Modi snubbed by Macron at the Paris AI summit?

Out-of-context videos have fuelled a false rumour that French President Emmanuel Macron “ignored” India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was his co-chair of the Paris AI Action summit. Initially sourced back to pro-Russian media outlets, the falseh…

‘Kremlin not interested in peace: Objective to terrorise Ukraine into submission, into capitulation’

Ukraine has warned against Kremlin attempts to divide the world after US President Donald Trump revealed he plans to begin peace talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. For in-depth analysis and a deeper perspective, FRANCE 24’s Mark Owen welcomes O…

On the 80th anniversary of the bombing of Dresden, tributes to victims are hijacked by far right

More than 25,000 people died during the Allied firebombing of the city of Dresden, Germany, from February 13 to 15, 1945.ย Eighty years later, thousands of people have linked hands to form a human chain in the city to pay tribute to the victims and to …

‘A just peace: Safe, prosperous Ukraine with robust security guarantees in interest of US and EU’

Ukrainians are reeling in the wake of a call between US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin that has spurred fears Kyiv will be sidelined from peace talks. Trump’s defence chief on Thursday denied the US president was betraying Uk…

What’s next? Austria’s political crisis deepens after failed coalition talks with far right

PRESS REVIEW โ€“ Thursday, February 13: The political crisis in Austria deepens after coalition government talks fail once again and far-right leader Herbert Kickl gives back the mandate to form a coalition. What’s next? Also: French Prime Minister Fran…

Putin’s claim to want peace not to be trusted, says Zelensky

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday warnedย against US President Donald Trump’s belief that Vladimir Putin “wants peace”, adding that he wanted the US to agree a “plan to stop Putin” before any negotiations.ย Trump’s intention to begin ta…

Ukraine, Europe must be involved in any peace talks, say NATOโ€™s European members

Any peace negotiations to end the war in Ukraine must involve Kyiv, saidย NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Thursday, as European defence ministers meeting in Brussels responded to US President Donald Trump’s announcement that he and Russian Preside…

Trump’s actions transform ‘dissent within Canadian populace’ into staunch ‘anti-American sentiment’

Buffeted by tariffs and threats from Washington, the European Union and Canada seek an economic rapprochement and to diversify trade away from the United States. For in-depth analysis and a deeper perspective on a looming trade war, FRANCE 24’s Franรงo…

Russian missile strike on Kyiv kills at least one, sparks fires, Ukraine says

A Russian missile strike on Kyiv early Tuesday morning killed at least one civilian, injured three others, and sparked fires across the city, Ukrainian officials confirmed. The attack comes as prospects for renewed peace talks increase following Presi…

Ukraine prepared to swap territory with Russia in peace negotiations, Zelensky says

Kyiv would be prepared to exchange Russian territory seized in its Kursk offensive last year in return for Ukrainian land under Russian control, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday. He also told the UK’s Guardian newspaper that security guarante…

Ally or threat? Paris summit weighs AI’s impact on democracy

Drawing world leaders, top tech executives and policymakers from across the globe โ€“ the AI summit in Paris aims to lay the groundwork on how to govern the budding sector. But during a roundtable discussionย onย how to use AI and uphold democratic princi…

‘AfD becoming strong in German Parliament: Increasingly difficult to form coalitions excluding them’

In the lead-up to Germany’s Parliamentary Elections, centre-left Chancellor Olaf Scholz accused his conservative election arch rival Friedrich Merz of planning an immigration crackdown that would “bury Europe”. For in-depth analysis and a deeper persp…

Denmark stays in top spot as US, France slide in Transparency corruption index

Transparency International released its annualย corruption index on Tuesday with Denmark remaining in the top spot as the least corrupt nation while France, Germany and the United States all fell in the rankings, with Transparency notably citing “serio…

Europe vows ‘firm’ response to new US tariffs on steel and aluminium

European leaders vowed a tough response to US tariffs on Tuesday, with EU chief Ursula von der Leyen saying the “unjustified” move will be met by “firm and proportionate countermeasures”. US President Donald Trump has announced an increase on steel an…

Europe should have ‘united’ response to US tariffs, French minister says

French industry minister Marc Ferracci on Tuesday said Europe must respond to US President Donald Trump’s new 25% tariffs on aluminium and steel imports in a firm and united manner.ย France is not a major producer of aluminium or steel, but Ferracci sa…

At AI Summit, ‘Macron puts EU in front of contradiction: Falling behind yet fearful of accelerating’

President Emmanuel Macron announced France would slash through red tape to build artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, aiming to keep Europe in the running for the technology’s hoped-for benefits at a global summit in Paris. Co-hosted with Indi…

Zelensky to meet JD Vance at Munich Security Conference on Friday, Kyiv says

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to discuss the Trump administration’s push for an end to the almost three-year war between Russia and Ukraine with US Vice President JD Vance at the Munich Security Conference this Friday, a source in the …

Romania’s President Iohannis resigns in face of impeachment threat from hard-right opposition

Outgoing Romanian president Klaus Iohannis resigned Monday ahead of a mounting impeachment threat pushed by a coalition of hard-right parties. Iohannis’s mandate was extended in December after the Constitutional Court cancelled last year’s presidentia…

Artificial Intelligence: ‘Most obvious use cases are related to information retrieval & synthesis’

Heads of state, top government officials, CEOs and scientists from 100 countries are meeting for an AI summit in Paris, where challenging diplomatic talks are expected as tech titans fight for dominance in the fast-moving technology industry. For in-d…

Tariffs on EU will raise prices for Americans, Macron tells CNN

French President Emmanuel Macron told CNN in an interviewย aired Sunday that he would not have any qualms about confronting Donald Trump head-on should the US president make good on his threats to impose tariffs on Europe. Macron also warned that Ameri…

Tech titans and government chiefs gather in Paris for landmark AI summit

Political and tech leaders convene in Paris for a summit co-hosted by French President Macron and Indian PM Modi to discuss AI governance, aiming for ethical, accessible AI and bolstering European sovereignty over the technology. The event, at Grand P…

Kosovo’s PM party leads in parliamentary polls, may fall of majority

In Kosovo’s parliamentary elections, Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s ruling party led with the most seats but faced uncertainty in forming a majority. The election highlighted Kurti’s anti-Serbian agenda against the opposition’s economic promises. Withou…

Macron says ready to respond to any US tariffs on Europe

French President Emmanuel Macron warned in a CNN interview aired Sunday that US tariffs on Europe could fuel American inflation. Macron vowed to confront Donald Trump over his financial threats, suggesting that the EU should not be a top priority for …

Germany’s Scholz slams CDU rival Merz for accepting far-right support in heated debate

Germanyโ€™s Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Sunday clashed with opposition leader Friedrich Merz in a heated debate, accusing him of accepting favours from the far-right AfD party. Merzโ€™s conservative CDU party received backing from the AfD to push through a …

Parliamentary elections in Kosovo: ‘Key issue is relationship with Serbia’

Polls opened in Kosovo on Sunday after a combative election campaign in which opposition candidates clashed with Prime Minister Albin Kurti over the economy, corruption and relations with the country’s old foe and neighbour Serbia. “As ever, with Koso…

‘Nicely done’: Macron promotes Paris AI summit with deepfakes of himself

French President Emmanuel Macron used artificial intelligence-generated videos of himself dancing, rapping and acting in a spy film to promote a technology summit opening in Paris on Monday. In a social media post, he highlighted AIโ€™s potential while …

Kosovo votes in parliamentary elections amid tensions with Serbia

Voters began casting ballots in Kosovo elections Sunday in a contest that pits combative incumbent Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s quest to stamp out Serbian influence against a fractured opposition’s vow to boost the economy. Condemned by the EU and the…

Kosovo votes in legislative elections seen as key test for PM Kurti

Kosovars cast their votes Sunday in a parliamentary election considered a key test for Prime Minister Albin Kurti as talks on normalising ties with rival Serbia remain stalled and foreign funding for one of Europe’s poorest countries in question.

Trump says he spoke to Putin, Kremlin canโ€™t โ€˜confirm or denyโ€™

The Kremlin on Sunday declined to confirm or deny a US media report of a phone call between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin about ending the war in Ukraine.ย 

Hundreds of thousands protest far right in Germany

Moreย thanย 200,000ย protestersย ralliedย inย Munich,ย Germany,ย onย Saturdayย againstย far-rightย extremismย aheadย ofย theย country’sย generalย election. Theย far-right,ย anti-immigrantย Alternativeย forย Germany,ย orย AfD,ย isย inย secondย placeย inย recentย pollsย andย hasย prompte…

EU far-right parties rally in Madrid behind slogan ‘Make Europe Great Again’

After last year’s European Parliament elections, in which far-right parties performed strongly in several countries, a rally Saturday in Madrid was a meant as a show of force by the EU parliament’s biggest far-right bloc. The rally adopted the slogan …

Paris AI Summit: From AI safety to commercial development

As Paris prepares to host a global artificial intelligence (AI) summit next week, experts are voicing concerns over the focus of the event, which has according to Stuart Russellย โ€“ professor of computer science at UC Berkeleyย โ€“ย moved away from managing…

Kosovo votes in parliamentary elections clouded by tensions with Serbia

Kosovars are voting Sunday in parliamentary elections that could determine who will lead the Kosovo side in negotiations with Serbia, which stalled last year. Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s party campaigned on a tough line with Serbia while the oppositi…

Baltics disconnect from Russian grid: Decrease โ€˜vulnerability to Russian blackmailโ€™

Three Baltic nations โ€“ Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania โ€“ disconnected from Moscow’s power grid to join the EU’s electricity network in an attempt to decrease their “vulnerability … to Russian blackmail”, FRANCE 24 Chief Foreign Editor Rob Parsons said…

Slovakians protest PM Fico over govt pro-Russia policy shift

Huge crowds gathered in dozens of cities and towns across Slovakia on Friday to mount vocal protests against the pro-Russian policies of populist Prime Minister Robert Fico. The latest wave of anti-government rallies was fueled by Ficoโ€™s recent trip t…

Baltic nations switch from Russian power grid to EU network

The three Baltic states on Saturday cut ties with Russia’s power grid to join the European Union’s network, the culmination of a years-long process that gained urgency with Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuaniaย โ€“ all former Sovie…

Paris AI Summit: โ€˜Start of everything is transparencyโ€™, researcher says

AI researcher and founding member of Climate Change AI Dr Sasha Luccioni spoke to FRANCE 24 about the upcoming summit on artificial intelligence in Paris and the technologyโ€™s impact on the climate. Luccioni called for more transparency and accountabil…

Paris AI summit: ‘Zero signatories’ from Big Tech on copyright charter

One of the hoped outcomes of the AI summit which would be held in Paris on February 10-11 is a charter on copyright, a contentious issue that many creators have raised with the spread of AI technology, FRANCE 24 Technology Editor Peter O’Brien said. A…

Baltic states cut ties to Russian power grid in historic switch away from Moscow

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania disconnected their electricity systems from Russia’s power grid on Saturday, the region’s operators said, part of a plan designed to integrate the countries more closely with the EU and boost security.ย 

EU far-right parties rally in Madrid behind slogan ‘Make Europe Great Again’

After last year’s European Parliament elections, in which far-right parties performed strongly in several countries, a rally Saturday in Madrid was a meant as a show of force of the EU parliament’s biggest far-right bloc. The rally adopted the slogan …

Enrico Letta to Europe: ‘Now is the time to act’

Forty years after Europe’s Single Market was conceived as the cornerstone of post-war integration for millions of citizens across its member states, a divided continent is in danger of behind left behind in a fierce global competition dominated by the…

Locked out of decent housing, disabled residents in France struggle for dignity

For people with disabilities in France, finding accessible housing is particularly challenging. From emergency shelters unfit for mobility needs to social housing failing wheelchair users, the housing crisis hits disabled residents hardest and pushes …

Economy, migration, defence loom large in German election: A turning point for Europe?

Of all the elections happening in the EU this year, the vote in Germany is probably the one that is being watched most closely across the bloc. Europe’s largest economy is in trouble; the old model of cheap gas and easily accessible export markets is …