French President Emmanuel Macron has traveled to China for talks, including about the situation in Ukraine. Against the background of statements by a former US Secretary of Defense about alleged Russian and US plans to isolate Ukraine from European support, European leaders are demonstrating continued backing for Kyiv. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced €90 billion in financial support to help Ukraine cover its needs in the coming years.
Meanwhile, Russia is engaged in closed-door negotiations, initially rejecting compromises but sending four documents to Western partners for consideration. The situation is complicated by Russia's refusal to meet with Zelensky, highlighting Russia's unwillingness to discuss security guarantees or the status of Donbas on Ukraine’s terms.
Additional pressure comes from Donald Trump, whose decisions could influence US military and financial support for Ukraine. Former US defense secretary Joseph Boskov opined that Russia seeks to intimidate Europe into dropping its support for Kyiv, calling such a plan misguided.
In China, Macron aims to persuade Xi Jinping to use his influence on Moscow to end the war. China has signaled skepticism about Russia, participating in talks as an observer rather than a direct ally.
The EU has also proposed placing Russia on the blacklist for money laundering and as a terrorist state. The approval of Ukraine’s budget for 2026–2027, with strong support in parliament, demonstrates legislative unity, though corruption remains a challenge.
Key upcoming questions include whether European and US support will remain consistent, how China's stance will affect the situation, and whether Ukraine can leverage these alliances to counter Russian aggression.
