War

Ukraine, dialogue between Macron, Starmer, Merz and Trump. Towards freezing Russian assets

Ft: EU towards freezing 210 billion Russian assets. The telephone conversation between Macron, Starmer, Merz and Trump marks a crucial moment in Western coordination on the Ukrainian crisis. Amidst strengthened economic sanctions, tensions with Russia and plans to increase Ukrainian military production, the article explores the different positions and initiatives underway, highlighting the importance of a united front and the diplomatic challenges ahead

10 December 2025

Membri dell'unità di evacuazione della polizia degli Angeli Bianchi parlano con una residente durante l'evacuazione dalla città di Dobropillia, in Ucraina, durante l'attacco russo all'Ucraina, nella regione di Donetsk

4' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

4' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Emmanuel Macron announced that he had spoken by phone with US President Donald Trump and other European leaders on Ukraine, 'to try to make progress'. The call lasted 40 minutes, according to the French president. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also participated in the conversation, the Elysée Palace reported.

The EU wants to approve as early as this week, and thus before the European summit on 18-19 December, a decision to permanently freeze up to EUR 210 billion of Russian sovereign assets, thus bypassing the renewal of the sanctions regime every six months. The Financial Times reports that the move aims to bypass Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban's threats to veto the renewal of sanctions. Article 122 of the treaty, which allows economic emergency measures to be approved by qualified majority, not unanimity, would be used for the decision.

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"It is our duty to continue to support and defend Ukraine, and I believe that the scheme that has been prepared is the closest solution to something that is in line with international principles," said ECB President Christine Lagarde, making an opening about the mechanism for a European loan to Ukraine leveraging Russian assets frozen in Europe. "If we are able to explain our position," Lagarde said, "I think investors in euro-denominated assets will realise that this is not a recurring practice whereby we take possession of someone else's property, but an exceptional case that moreover does not remove Russia's title to those assets.

Russia meanwhile is increasingly aggressive. The Russian foreign minister, Serghei Lavrov, warned that Moscow would respond to a possible deployment of European troops in Ukraine. Moscow, Lavrov said, has "no intention of going to war with Europe", but is ready to react to a possible deployment of European troops in the neighbouring country. The Russian minister, as quoted by the Ria and Tass news agencies, objected to what he called the 'hopeless political blindness' of the European Union, which is deluding itself about the possibility of defeating Russia.

Russia also continues to emphasise its agreement with the White House. What Donald Trump said in the Politico interview about Ukraine not joining Nato, about the territories and Kiev losing ground are 'in line' with Russia's position. This was said by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, quoted by Tass.

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Moscow is also commenting on the elections in Ukraine yesterday called for by Trump. President Volodymyr Zelensky's promise to hold elections in Ukraine if Westerners guarantee its security looks like a scene from puppet theatre. This was said by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. Zelensky says she wants "independence" for Ukraine, but "calls for other countries to guarantee the possibility of holding elections, and at the same time calls these elections 'democratic'," Zakharova told Radio Sputnik, picked up by Tass, saying that this resembles the "Karabas-Barabas theatre". That is, the tyrannical head of a puppet theatre in a fairy tale by Alexei Tolstoy.

Ucraina: Zelensky a Londra vede Starmer, Merz e Macron

There is no shortage of praise for the American president. ''World War III was, is and will be avoided thanks to US President Donald Trump and his team''. Kirill Dmitriev, the special representative of Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin and head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, is convinced of this. In a post on 'X', Dmitriev also thanked the US president for making it clear that Russia 'has a stronger negotiating position than Ukraine to resolve the conflict'.

Ucraina, Trump: "Deluso da Zelensky, non ha letto piano di pace"

Berlin defends Zelensky

From Europe comes once again the defence of the Ukrainian leader. "Our position is clear and so that there is no doubt I can answer that Volodymyr Zelensky is a voted and elected president, and he has all the legitimacy. On everything else Ukraine must decide." This was said by Steffen Meyer, spokesman for the German chancellor, at a press conference in Berlin, responding to a question about Donald Trump's request on new elections in Ukraine and the willingness shown by the Ukrainian leader. "We have taken note of his statement," he added. Then quoting Zelensky himself, he said: 'there are a number of legal and political preconditions that will have to be respected'.

La geopolitica come proseguimento della comunicazione con altri mezzi

Kiev: we will produce drones in Italy with Leonardo

The Ukrainian foreign minister calls it a 'deterrence package', containing, among other things, the idea of manufacturing drones together, Ukraine and Italy, at the limit relocating them on our territory. "It is among the topics Zelensky discussed with Meloni," says Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha, who accompanied the president to Rome, in an interview with Repubblica. These are 'measures to strengthen the Ukrainian army and make us more self-sufficient, while also increasing our production of drones. At the moment we produce 40 per cent of requirements, the goal is to reach 50 per cent in the near future,' explained the head of Kiev's diplomacy. Then, responding to a question on a possible collaboration with Leonardo, Sybiha announced: 'Yes, we are ready to co-produce, sharing experience and technologies with Italy'. And this was discussed in the bilateral between Zelensky and Meloni: 'Industrial cooperation must be an advantage for both of us. You have a great defence, for us it is strategic to diversify, so we need to manage production with our European allies'. Does this include the possibility of relocating to Italy or other states? 'We are already pursuing co-production with some countries, as far as Italy is concerned we are discussing it. The products can be tested on the battlefield, it is a guarantee of quality'. Then, speaking to Il Messaggero, the Ukrainian foreign minister underlines 'the delicate moment''. And Kiev also asks Italy to 'support security guarantees and in particular your prime minister's idea to develop a protection mechanism starting from Article 5 of NATO. But it must be legally binding'. Are there other solutions? 'Military presence of the European allies with organisational support from the US and EU membership of Ukraine'.