Air defense topped the agenda at talks between Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and France’s Emmanuel Macron. And a Russian drone attack on Ukraine’s Odesa region has caused fires at port and energy facilities. DW has more.
Von der Leyen says EU states can fund Ukraine if they balk on using Russian assets
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Monday sought to tamp down fears among EU member states when it comes to the possibility of seizing Russian assets frozen by the bloc to finance Ukraine’s reconstruction.
Several nations, especially Belgium, fear that by seizing Russian assets they may open themselves up to massive legal and financial penalties.
Von der Leyen also detailed how Russian funds held by commercial banks in other EU states could be used, estimating they added up to some €25 billion ($29 billion).
According to the Commission, the EU must somehow provide Ukraine with at least €135.7 billion by the end of 2027 — that on the assumption that the war can be brought to an end during the course of next year and military assistance of €51.6 billion in 2026 can be cut to €31.8 billion in 2027.
Budgetary aid for the Ukraine is pegged at €20.1 billion in 2026 and €32.2 billion in 2027.
Von der Leyen suggested that Ukraine’s €100 billion-plus budget deficit could also be plugged by EU member state contributions, joint loans, or a combination of the two if Russian assets were not used, though she warned that this approach would be considerably more expensive for all involved.
Von der Leyen and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz recently presented a plan in which a €140 billion loan could be provided to Ukraine using the Russian funds.
Moscow could get the money back, say the two, but only after agreeing to pay reparations to Ukraine.
The Commission president called clearing up Ukraine financing crucial, noting that it is key to maintaining pressure on Russia and dashing any hopes Russia may have of victory.
This sentiment was echoed by Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who told reporters in Brussels that it is vital to use frozen Russian assets to help fund Ukraine.
The EU’s next steps in the matter are to be discussed at a regular EU summit on December 18.
READ: The Russian army’s brutal treatment of recruits
The Russian army is reputed to treat its own members with extreme callousness.
DW looks at reports of torture and even murder in its ranks in this article by Irina Chevtayeva: Why does the Russian army’s brutal culture go unchecked?
Moscow slams ‘warmongering rhetoric’ by German defense minister
Moscow has described recent warnings by German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius that Russia could attack a NATO member in the near future as “warmongering rhetoric.”
“There are no supporters of any kind of confrontation with NATO in Russia,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday, in comments carried by the Russian state news agency TASS.
Pistorius suggested in an interview in the daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung that Russia could carry out an attack on a NATO member state in 2029 or even earlier.
“Such militaristic and warmongering rhetoric is increasingly heard from European capitals,” Peskov said, while stressing that Russia was taking steps to protect its own interests.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has also rejected Pistorius’ statements as those of an “aggressor.”
Moscow has often claimed, in its turn, that NATO is preparing to go to war against Russia.
Germany’s vice chancellor urges China to do more for peace in Ukraine
German Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil has called on China to step up its efforts to end the war between Russia and Ukraine.
Speaking at a meeting with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng at the start of an official visit, Klingbeil said he was convinced that China could “play a decisive role” in creating peace.
Among other things, the Social Democrat (SPD) politician, who is also Germany’s finance minister, argued that the war in Ukraine was destabilizing global economic development.
Vice Premier He said in his turn that China’s stance on what he called the “Ukraine crisis” was unchanged and that Beijing supported all efforts leading to peace.
China wanted to continue playing a constructive role in resolving the situation together with the international community, “including Germany,” he said.
Beijing, while always maintaining that it wants the conflict in Ukraine to end, has never condemned Russia’s actions in carrying out a full-scale invasion of its neighbor since February 2022.
It is also trades heavily with Russia, being among other things a major buyer of Russian oil, and has been accused by Kyiv of providing military materials to its neighbor, as well as intelligence — claims Beijing denies.
Klingbeil is the first German minister to travel to China since Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservative-led administration took office in May.
A planned trip by Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul was postponed a few weeks ago after he failed to find adequately ranked discussion partners in Beijing amid friction over Taiwan.
Macron confirms Ukraine arms accord, praises Kyiv’s anti-corruption capability
French President Emmanuel Macron has said he firmly believes that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy can successfully bring corruption in his country under control.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Zelenskyy in Paris, Macron noted that Ukraine would have to carry out reforms to the rule of law to be eligible for EU accession, to which Kyiv has long aspired.
The Ukrainian leader last week called for the dismissal of two cabinet ministers amid a scandal over an alleged $100 million (€86 million) corruption scheme involving state-run energy firms.
At the news conference, Macron also confirmed an agreement to sell 100 Rafale fighter jets made by French manufacturer Dassault Aviation to Kyiv
He also said French train maker Alstom signed a contract worth around 475 million euro ($551.05 million) to supply locomotives to the Ukrainian railways operator.
Zelenskyy has also hailed the agreement in remarks to reporters, saying: “It will be the greatest air defense, one of the greatest in the world.”
At the news conference, Zelenskyy also said Kyiv would also rceive “very strong French radars” and “eight ari-defense systems SAMP/T, each with six launching systems.”
“This is a strategic agreement that will work for 10 years, starting next year,” he added.
France has delivered Mirage fighter jets to Kyiv, but this is the first time Rafale planes have been promised.
However, Ukrainian pilots would require a considerable amount of time to learn to operate the planes.
Zelenskyy and Macron sign letter of intent on air defense acquisition
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, have signed a letter of intent for Kyiv to acquire up to 100 Rafale fighter jets and other air defense weaponry from French companies, the French presidency has said.
The letter of intent outlines possible future contracts for Ukraine’s potential acquisition of 100 Rafale fighter jets “with their associated weapons” as well as the SAMP-T air defense system, which is still under development, radar systems and drones.
The signed document is not a concrete purchase and sales agreement, and the possible contracts it sets out would be agreed “over a timeframe of about 10 years,” the French presidency added.
In a statement on X following the signing, Macron wrote “Great day” in French and Ukrainian.
Grand jour.
Великий день. pic.twitter.com/YwfGV4d7Ii— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) November 17, 2025
Explosion on Polish railway an ‘unprecedented act of sabotage — PM Tusk
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Monday described damage caused by an explosion on the Warsaw-Lublin railway line on the weekend as an “unprecedented act of sabotage aimed at the security of the Polish state.”
“An investigation is underway. Just like in previous cases of this kind, we will catch the perpetrators, regardless of who their backers are,” he said on X, also mentioning that the route was used to deliver aid to Ukraine.
Blowing up the rail track on the Warsaw-Lublin route is an unprecedented act of sabotage targeting directly the security of the Polish state and its civilians. This route is also crucially important for delivering aid to Ukraine. We will catch the perpetrators, whoever they are.
— Donald Tusk (@donaldtusk) November 17, 2025
No injuries were reported from the incident, but Tusk said in a video address that “the legal implications are very serious.”
Warsaw has in the past blamed Russia for such incidents amid a wave of arson, sabotage and cyberattacks on Poland and other European countries since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Poland, which borders on Ukraine, has become a major hub for aid to Kyiv, making it a potential target for Russian sabotage attacks, but Moscow has repeatedly denied undertaking any such actions.
Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said the militarywas inspecting a 120 km (74.6 mile) stretch of track leading to the Ukrainian border.
EU must include Ukrainian defense capabilities to protect itself — commissioner
Europe currently does not have the means to defend itself against potential Russian drone attacks and needs to integrate Ukraine’s know-how and capabilities to boost its defense, EU defense commissioner Andrius Kubilius said on Monday.
“Why did it take us more than two years and the trigger of the Russian provocation with drones against Poland, and also against Baltic States and Romania, to understand that we are not ready to detect Russian drones and to destroy them with cost-effective means?” Kubilius said in a speech in the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius.
“The Russians are learning. Are we?” he added in his address at the conference “Defending Baltics 2025: War Lessons from Ukraine.”
Kubilius said European nations needed to include Ukraine and its “battled-tested” military of some 800,000 personnel to bolster their defenses.
“If we do not do that, we shall make a historical mistake, which shall leave us weaker. And which shall leave Ukraine weaker,” Kubilius said.
His remarks come as European intelligence agencies warn that Russian President Vladimir Putin could attack a NATO country in the coming years if the war in Ukraine ends.
Europe has experienced a spate of mysterious drone sightings in recent months that have also spurred countries to improve their defenses against this form of aerial attack, which has figured largely in the conflict in Ukraine.
Kharkiv region comes under deadly aerial attack
Russian missile strikes have killed at least three people and injured 10 more in the eastern Ukrainian region of Kharkiv, Ukrainian officials say.
The casualty toll could possibly rise, as reports of possible victims are still being received by authorities.
Two missiles struck the town of Balakiia during the night, while civil defense authorities said a drone attack in the settlement of Velykyi Burluk in the same region killed one and injured another.
Source : https://www.dw.com/en/ukraine-france-seals-historic-warplane-deal-with-kyiv/live-74772550