Wars 2022 02/24 Monitoring Russian and Ukraine War.

[Saif]

France makes ‘historic’ accord to sell Ukraine 100 warplanes

France’s president Emmanuel Macron and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday signed an accord for Kyiv to acquire up to 100 fighter jets and other hardware, including drones, in a boost for Ukraine as it fights Russia’s invasion.

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France makes ‘historic’ accord to sell Ukraine 100 warplanes
Agence France-Presse . Paris, France 18 November, 2025, 01:31

France’s president Emmanuel Macron and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday signed an accord for Kyiv to acquire up to 100 fighter jets and other hardware, including drones, in a boost for Ukraine as it fights Russia’s invasion.

Delivery of the Rafale fighter jets — the crown jewel of French combat aviation — is only foreseen under the letter of intent over a 10-year horizon, although the production of drones and interceptors would start by the end of this year, Macron said.

The announcement, made as Zelensky visited Paris, came with the Ukrainian leader in need of support after setbacks over the last week due to a corruption scandal at home, Russian forces closing in on the Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk and continued aerial attacks by Moscow.

Macron acknowledged that this was currently a ‘difficult moment’ in the conflict, which was sparked by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

‘Russia alone is making the choice to continue this war and to intensify it,’ he told reporters alongside Zelensky, accusing Russia of having an ‘addiction for war’.

But the French leader said he hoped ‘peace will be obtained before 2027’ when his own mandate expires, adding that there needed to be then a ‘regeneration’ of the Ukrainian army so that it is ‘capable of dissuading any new incursion’ by Russia.

The letter of intent inked by the two leaders at France’s Villacoublay air base sets out possible future contracts for Ukraine to acquire 100 Rafale fighter jets ‘with their associated weapons’, the French presidency said.

It also lays out deals for the new generation SAMP-T air defence systems which are under development, radar systems and the drones.

‘It is a historic agreement,’ Zelensky said.

The Ukrainian president has already signed a letter of intent to acquire 100 to 150 Swedish Gripen fighter jets.

France has delivered Mirage fighter jets to Kyiv but this is the first time Rafale planes have been promised.

Financial details were not disclosed but France intends dip into its own budget contribution and use joint EU borrowing mechanisms, despite the risk of potential German resistance, to help Kyiv finance the deal.

The visit by Zelensky to France was his ninth since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

It comes ahead of what analysts predict will be a tough winter for Kyiv as Moscow presses on the battlefield.

Overnight, Russian strikes killed three people in a city in Ukraine’s eastern Kharkiv region, its military administration chief said. Seven people were killed after Russia struck apartment blocks across the capital Kyiv on Friday.

The Russian army seized three more villages across eastern Ukraine, the defence ministry in Moscow said Monday, the latest in its grinding advance.

Efforts by US president Donald Trump to force a peace deal have stalled as Moscow has rejected calls for a ceasefire and refused to drop hardline territorial demands.

With the delivery of the Rafale jets only expected after the war, Macron said: ‘There will be no robust, lasting peace if there is not a strong Ukrainian army.’

Zelensky at the weekend announced an overhaul of state-owned energy companies after a corruption scandal, ordering two ministers to resign and sanctioning a former business partner who was named as its mastermind.

Macron said Ukraine’s path to join the European Union required ‘demanding and deep efforts and reforms notably on governance and fight against corruption’, adding he had ‘confidence’ in Ukrainians and Zelensky to do this.

Pressed during the news conference over whether enough had been done to fight against corruption, Zelensky said: ‘It is not enough. We will continue the appropriate actions.’

Macron and Zelensky also visited the headquarters of a Ukraine multinational force that France and Britain are preparing in the event an international force is deployed in Ukraine after any ceasefire.

The headquarters, at Mont Valerien, west of Paris, is where countries from the ‘coalition of the willing’ organised by France and Britain have sent officers to prepare the force.

France says that 34 countries and Ukraine have already offered to take part.​

 

[Saif]

Trump blasts Ukraine for 'zero gratitude' to US as talks start

Comments while US and Ukrainian officials met in Geneva to discuss truce plan

www.thedailystar.net

Trump blasts Ukraine for 'zero gratitude' to US as talks start
Comments while US and Ukrainian officials met in Geneva to discuss truce plan

Photo: Alex Wroblewski / AFP

US President Donald Trump on Sunday once again accused Ukraine of showing a lack of "gratitude" for Washington's support against Russia's invasion, as senior US and Ukrainian officials met in Geneva to discuss a proposal aimed at halting the war.

"UKRAINE 'LEADERSHIP' HAS EXPRESSED ZERO GRATITUDE FOR OUR EFFORTS," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, while reiterating frustration at the war's "HUMAN CATASTROPHE" and attacking his predecessor Joe Biden. Notably, he offered no direct condemnation of Moscow.

Trump's remarks against Ukraine and US allies reflected his growing irritation over the conflict, which began when Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, seizing and devastating large areas of Ukrainian territory.

During his presidential campaign last year, Trump claimed he could broker peace within 24 hours. However, his sporadic diplomatic initiatives have achieved little, and he now faces sharp criticism from within his own party over a new 28-point plan under discussion in Geneva, which critics say would hand Russia several of its key war objectives.

Although Trump has previously said he is disappointed in Vladimir Putin, he rarely criticises the Kremlin leader directly or condemns the invasion, instead placing pressure on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

In his latest social media post, Trump also attacked European nations for continuing to purchase Russian oil and labelled Biden "crooked Joe" for supplying Ukraine with weapons "free, free, free."

The only reference to Putin in the lengthy post was Trump's claim that the Russian president believed "Now is my chance!" to invade Ukraine solely because "Sleepy Joe" Biden was in office.

Zelensky, meanwhile, has repeatedly expressed gratitude for the extensive US military support, as Ukrainian forces continue to resist Russia's occupation across a battlefront stretching hundreds of miles.​

 

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[Saif]

Can the world afford to miss latest US move to end Ukraine war?

There are moments in global affairs when the trajectory of history pauses just long enough for diplomacy to intervene. The latest US-driven effort to broker an end to the war in Ukraine may well be one of those rare moments. After more than 1,370 days of bloodshed, displacement, economic upheaval a

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Can the world afford to miss latest US move to end Ukraine war?
MIR MOSTAFIZUR RAHAMAN

Published :
Nov 24, 2025 22:27
Updated :
Nov 24, 2025 23:10

There are moments in global affairs when the trajectory of history pauses just long enough for diplomacy to intervene. The latest US-driven effort to broker an end to the war in Ukraine may well be one of those rare moments. After more than 1,370 days of bloodshed, displacement, economic upheaval and escalating geopolitical risk, a faint ray of hope has emerged - fragile, fraught and fiercely contested, but unmistakable.

Last week, the Trump administration quietly circulated a 28-point proposal to both Kyiv and Moscow. What came next was surprising: neither side rejected it outright. Russia called it a "potential basis for negotiations." Ukraine signalled that, with revisions, the proposal could be workable. And on Sunday, representatives from both nations arrived in Geneva for the first serious talks in months, convened under U.S. auspices.

This moment did not materialise by accident. Since returning to power, President Donald Trump has made ending the Ukraine war a top diplomatic priority, hosting several rounds of back-channel consultations, most of which stalled midway. Yet the newest initiative has moved further and faster than previous ones, largely because the battlefield reality - and the global economic situation - is pressing all parties toward a deal.

The world, and especially countries like Bangladesh that have already endured the double shock of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine war, desperately needs a geopolitical ceasefire. The surge in commodity prices, energy instability, disrupted grain exports and volatile financial markets have collectively strained economies that were barely recovering from the pandemic's devastation. For developing countries, there is no path to sustainable recovery without a reduction in geopolitical conflict.

The 28-point U.S. proposal - portions of which have been leaked - is not a triumph for either side. It is designed as a compromise that will make many Ukrainians uneasy and many Russians dissatisfied. That, perhaps, is why it has a chance.

According to reports cited by media, the draft envisions Ukrainian troop withdrawal from parts of eastern Donetsk now under Kyiv's control, effectively affirming Russia's de facto control over Donetsk, Luhansk and Crimea - regions that Moscow now considers non-negotiable. It also suggests freezing the front lines in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia along their current positions, even though both territories remain partially occupied.

Such concessions would be bitter for Kyiv. But the proposal also demands painful sacrifices from Moscow. Russia would be "reintegrated into the global economy," but only through a complex and staged lifting of sanctions. It would be invited to rejoin the G7, forming a new G8 - a symbolic reversal of its pariah status. Yet it would also be expected to pledge not to invade neighbouring countries again, an assurance Moscow has resisted making.

The most controversial element for Kyiv is likely the limitation on Ukraine's armed forces - capping personnel at 600,000 down from nearly 880,000 today - and the requirement that Ukraine abandon its NATO membership aspirations. In exchange, the U.S. promises "reliable security guarantees," though the nature of those guarantees remains murky.

This ambiguity is both deliberate and dangerous. Ukraine has long argued that without NATO membership or iron-clad security assurances, any agreement with Russia risks being a temporary pause before the next invasion. Moscow, for its part, has demanded precisely such restrictions as proof that Ukraine will not become a forward operating post for Western military power.

The contours of the deal thus reflect a geopolitical trade-off: a reduced Ukrainian military, a frozen conflict line, Russian territorial gains, Western economic reintegration of Moscow - all balanced by a U.S.-backed security framework intended to deter future aggression.

It is not perfect. But it may be the best chance available.

To understand why, one must confront the evolving battlefield reality. Russia now controls roughly 20 per cent of Ukraine's territory. Its forces, despite suffering heavy casualties, have made incremental gains across eastern Ukraine. Moscow has demonstrated that it is willing to expend considerable lives and resources to secure the Donbas and maintain control of occupied territories. Ukraine's counteroffensives, once emboldened by Western support, have slowed due to ammunition shortages, manpower constraints and growing political fatigue in Washington and European capitals.

President Volodymyr Zelensky knows this. His country's survival has depended on U.S. aid, and without it the military balance may tilt decisively toward Moscow. Trump's ultimatum - urging Kyiv to accept the proposal before Thursday - was blunt, but it reflects the shifting strategic environment. Ukraine's battlefield leverage is diminishing, not expanding, and the promise of indefinite Western support is weakening.

Yet Russia, too, faces limits. Its economy, though resilient under sanctions, is stretched. Its demographic losses are mounting. A prolonged war risks further international isolation and deepening dependence on China. President Vladimir Putin may calculate that a negotiated settlement granting him control over key territories - and restoring Russia's place in global economic institutions - is preferable to an endless, costly conflict.

Still, optimism must be tempered. The gaps between the parties remain wide. Ukraine will resist any plan that formalises Russian land seizures. Russia will reject any demand that includes full withdrawal. Western governments remain split over the scope of sanctions relief. And Trump's approach - transactional, unpredictable - could fracture the diplomatic consensus needed to enforce any agreement.

Yet there is a deeper truth: the world cannot afford another decade of this war. The economic repercussions have been global, persistent and profound. Every month the conflict continues, food prices surge, supply chains fray, energy markets destabilise, and fragile economies face new strains. For countries like Bangladesh, still grappling with pandemic recovery, the war is an imported catastrophe.

The global economy cannot recover without geopolitical stability. And geopolitical stability cannot be restored unless the war in Ukraine - the largest European conflict since 1945 - is brought to an end.

That means compromise. It means concessions. And it means accepting a peace that will leave bruises on all sides.

The United States, which has shaped the battlefield by supplying weapons and financing Ukraine's defence, now seeks to shape the peace. But the responsibility does not lie with Washington alone. Europe must engage more fully, Ukraine must weigh its long-term survival against short-term losses, and Russia must choose between reintegration and isolation.

The alternative is a grinding, endless conflict that will claim tens of thousands more lives, deepen global economic pain, and entrench a dangerous militarised standoff in the heart of Europe.

Peace requires courage - and not just on the battlefield. It requires political courage, moral courage and strategic imagination. As negotiations continue in Geneva, both Kyiv and Moscow must decide whether they can accept an imperfect settlement for the sake of their own people and the stability of the world.

History rarely offers second chances. This may be one. Let us hope the parties involved do not squander it - because the world cannot bear the cost of failure.​

 

[Saif]

Russia hammers Kyiv as talks over US plan rumble on

Russia rained missiles and drones on Kyiv overnight, killing six people, as frantic diplomatic efforts over a draft US plan to end the war intensified.

www.newagebd.net

Russia hammers Kyiv as talks over US plan rumble on
Agence France-Presse . Kyiv, Ukraine 25 November, 2025, 23:57

Law enforcement officers inspect a crater next to the heavily damaged logistics hub of the Novus supermarket following Russian missiles and drones strikes in Kyiv on Tuesday, amid Russian invasion in Ukraine. | AFP photo

Russia rained missiles and drones on Kyiv overnight, killing six people, as frantic diplomatic efforts over a draft US plan to end the war intensified.

Negotiators from the United States, Ukraine and Russia were all due in Abu Dhabi, US and British media reported, days after president Donald Trump tabled a 28-point plan that would enshrine most of Russia’s hardline demands.

People crowded into Kyiv’s deep metro stations overnight amid the attack, setting up sleeping bags, tents and camping chairs, AFP reporters saw.

Powerful explosions rocked the city beginning around 1:00am (2300 GMT), while thick smoke, illuminated red and orange by the fire from Ukrainian air defence, covered parts of Kyiv as Russian missiles and drones flew towards the capital.

Fires raged in multi-storey apartment blocks hit in the strikes, which president Volodymyr Zelensky said killed six people. Elderly locals scooped up their belongings and draped themselves in blankets and coats after being evacuated in the middle of the night.

Ukrainian officials slammed the Russian attack as a sign of Russian president Vladimir Putin’s unwillingness to end the war, launched by his February 2022 invasion. ‘Putin gave his terrorist response to the United States’ and president Trump’s peace proposals. With a barrage of missiles and drones against Ukraine,’ foreign minister Andriy Sybiga said on social media.

Russia fired 464 drones and 22 missiles at Ukraine in the overnight barrage, Kyiv’s air force said.

Ukraine also fired almost 250 drones at Russia overnight, Moscow’s defence said, killing three people in the southern border region of Rostov in what the governor of nearby Krasnodar called one of the ‘most sustained and massive attacks’ of the war.

Trump initially gave Kyiv until November 27 — the American holiday of Thanksgiving — to respond to his proposal to end the fighting, a timeline and blueprint that European leaders baulked at.

A senior source briefed on the matter said it would ‘become clear’ on Tuesday whether that deadline still holds.

Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov said Tuesday that Kyiv was pushing for a meeting between Zelensky and Trump ‘at the earliest possible date in November to finalise the remaining stages and reach an agreement’.

Kyiv and its allies spent the weekend hammering away at Washington’s plan, which initially required Ukraine to cede territory, cut its military and pledge never to join NATO.

An updated version, aiming to ‘uphold Ukraine’s sovereignty’, was thrashed out at emergency talks in Geneva, but has not been published.

Washington, Europe and Kyiv have all hailed the progress made, however.

Putin had welcomed Trump’s plan as a possible basis for a peace deal, and the Kremlin has called changes proposed by the EU ‘not constructive’.

Foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday that Moscow was expecting the United States to send it any updated version.

Countries supporting Kyiv are due to hold a video call Tuesday.

‘We must be cognisant that Russia will not ease its pressure on Ukraine,’ Zelensky said ahead of the meeting.

France’s Emmanuel Macron warned against any ‘capitulation’ by Kyiv.

‘The only question we don’t have an answer to is whether Russia is ready to make a lasting peace,’ he said in an interview broadcast Tuesday.

Putin has threatened to seize more Ukrainian territory if Kyiv walks away from the negotiations.

Russia’s military already occupies around a fifth of Ukraine — much of it ravaged by years of fighting.

Tens of thousands of civilians and military personnel have been killed since Russia launched the invasion. Millions have fled the east of the country, their homes and cities destroyed.

The United States had bypassed Europe with the original plan, and many EU governments were unsettled by the prospect of ending the war on Moscow’s terms.

The White House has pushed back on criticism that Trump was favouring Russia, calling it a ‘complete and total fallacy’.

Ivan Zadontsev, a sergeant in the Ukrainian army, gave the talks a cautious welcome.

‘This is healthy thought about negotiations. We also are getting tired of war; we need a break,’ he said.

But the proposals by both the United States and EU ‘do not serve Ukraine’s national interests,’ he said.​