Le président ukrainien Volodymyr Zelensky a lancé un avertissement appuyé aux dirigeants de l’Union européenne réunis à Bruxelles, les appelant à trouver rapidement un accord sur l’utilisation des avoirs russes gelés pour soutenir l’Ukraine.
Selon le chef de l’État, l’Ukraine risque de manquer de ressources financières dans les prochains mois. Sans un soutien rapide, Kiev pourrait être contrainte, dès le printemps, de réduire la production de drones, un élément clé de sa capacité militaire et de défense.
Au cœur des discussions figure un projet de prêt de plusieurs milliards d’euros adossé aux avoirs russes immobilisés dans l’Union européenne, estimés à environ 210 milliards d’euros. Une grande partie de ces fonds est détenue par Euroclear, une institution financière basée en Belgique. Jusqu’à présent, Bruxelles et certains États membres se sont montrés réticents, estimant qu’utiliser ces fonds comme « prêt de réparations » poserait des problèmes juridiques et politiques.
La Russie, de son côté, a fermement mis en garde l’Union européenne contre toute utilisation de ses actifs et a engagé une action en justice contre Euroclear devant un tribunal de Moscou pour tenter de récupérer ces fonds. Malgré ces pressions, plusieurs dirigeants européens plaident pour une décision rapide. Le Premier ministre polonais, Donald Tusk, a estimé que l’UE devait « être à la hauteur du moment ».
La présidente de la Commission européenne, Ursula von der Leyen, s’est montrée déterminée, affirmant que les dirigeants ne quitteraient pas le sommet sans solution. Un responsable européen a toutefois reconnu que l’optimisme restait prudent quant à l’issue des négociations.
L’attention se porte notamment sur le Premier ministre belge, Bart De Wever, dont le pays joue un rôle central en raison de la localisation d’Euroclear. Devant le Parlement belge, il a déclaré que si un accord clair et collectif était trouvé, la Belgique assumerait sa part de risque avec ses partenaires européens.
Ces discussions interviennent alors que les États-Unis évoquent une possible avancée vers la fin du conflit. Le président américain Donald Trump a affirmé qu’un accord de paix n’avait jamais été aussi proche. Des responsables américains et russes doivent se rencontrer prochainement à Miami pour poursuivre les échanges, tandis que des représentants ukrainiens se rendent également aux États-Unis.
Pour Volodymyr Zelensky, ces fonds européens sont essentiels, que ce soit pour soutenir l’effort militaire si la guerre se poursuit, ou pour financer la reconstruction du pays en cas d’avancée vers la paix. Moscou, en revanche, rejette toute initiative impliquant une force européenne soutenue par Washington et maintient un discours très critique à l’égard de l’Europe.
About the author
Watford Sack Head Coach Ed Still After Poor Run
Watford Football Club have parted company with head coach Ed Still after a short spell in charge at Vicarage Road, ending his tenure after less than three months. The 35-year-old Belgian was appointed on 9 February on a two-and-a-half-year contract following the departure of his predecessor Javi Gracia. At the time of his arrival, Watford were 11th in the table and only three points outside the Championship play-off positions. However, results quickly declined. The team won just three of their last 15 league matches under Still, eventually finishing 16th in the table. They ended the season 16 points adrift of the play-off places and only 10 points above the relegation zone. Still’s final match in charge was a heavy 4-0 home defeat to Champions Coventry City. It marked Watford’s fifth consecutive loss, during which they conceded 16 goals and scored […]
US Plans to Cut Troops in Germany Sparks NATO Concern
Senior Republican lawmakers in the United States have raised concerns over a Pentagon plan to reduce the American military presence in Germany, warning that the move could weaken NATO deterrence and send an encouraging signal to Russia. The planned reduction involves the withdrawal of around 5,000 US troops currently stationed in Germany, which hosts the largest American military deployment in Europe. The decision was confirmed by Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell, who said it followed a detailed review of operational needs and conditions on the ground. Two senior lawmakers, Senator Roger Wicker and Representative Mike Rogers, who lead the Senate and House Armed Services Committees respectively, argued that the troops should not be withdrawn from Europe entirely. Instead, they suggested that forces should be repositioned further east to strengthen deterrence against potential threats. In a joint statement, they warned that reducing […]
Gaza Families Face Rising Pest and Health Crisis
A mother in the Gaza Strip has described a terrifying night when her young daughter was attacked by a wild animal inside their makeshift shelter, as worsening sanitation conditions fuel a growing public health crisis across the territory. Samah al-Daabla told the BBC that her four-year-old daughter, Mayaseen, began screaming at around 2am. When her husband switched on a torch, a weasel reportedly fled the scene. The child’s hand was badly injured and covered in blood, leaving the family in shock. Mayaseen was later taken to a hospital in Gaza City, where she received a tetanus injection. She experienced several days of fever and vomiting but is now recovering in the family’s tent. The incident reflects a wider crisis in Gaza, where displaced families are living in overcrowded camps with limited access to sanitation, clean water, and waste removal services. […]
Barcelona Close in on La Liga Title After Osasuna Win
Barcelona have moved a step closer to securing a second consecutive La Liga title after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Osasuna at Estadio El Sadar. The win extends Barcelona’s lead at the top of the table to 14 points, leaving them on the verge of being crowned champions under head coach Hansi Flick. The Catalan side could officially seal the title as early as Sunday if Real Madrid fail to beat Espanyol. If Real Madrid win, Barcelona will still have the opportunity to clinch the championship by avoiding defeat in their upcoming home clash against Real Madrid on May 10. The match in Pamplona was tightly contested for long spells before Barcelona broke the deadlock through a well-worked attacking move. Substitute Marcus Rashford delivered a precise cross into the box, where striker Robert Lewandowski rose to head home the opening […]
Man Charged After Death of Five-Year-Old in Australia
A man has been charged with murder and two counts of sexual assault following the death of a five-year-old girl in Australia, in a case that has deeply shaken communities in the Northern Territory. The child, identified only as Kumanjayi Little Baby, a culturally assigned pseudonym used by her family after her death, was found on Thursday after a multi-day police search. Authorities confirmed she had disappeared the previous Saturday night after being put to bed at an Aboriginal town camp near Alice Springs. Police arrested 47-year-old Jefferson Lewis and later charged him with murder on Saturday night. He is scheduled to appear in court in Darwin on Tuesday. Northern Territory Police Commissioner Martin Dole said the investigation remains ongoing and described the case as deeply distressing. He urged the public to allow the judicial process to proceed without interference, […]
Zelenskyy Expands Gulf Defence Partnerships
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a notable visit to Saudi Arabia in March, arriving in a black outfit and walking across a lilac carpet in what observers described as a carefully staged diplomatic moment. He said the trip was aimed at “strengthening the protection of lives,” highlighting Ukraine’s effort to expand international security partnerships amid its ongoing war with Russia. Zelenskyy’s visit formed part of a broader push by Kyiv to position itself as a global hub for battlefield-tested drone warfare expertise. Ukraine has increasingly showcased its military experience to Gulf states, particularly in countering drone and missile threats, in an effort to build strategic and defence-related partnerships. According to Ukrainian officials, agreements have now been reached with Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Qatar to share drone technology and operational know-how. These countries have themselves faced missile and drone […]
Related
US Plans to Cut Troops in Germany Sparks NATO Concern
Senior Republican lawmakers in the United States have raised concerns over a Pentagon plan to reduce the American military presence in Germany, warning that the move could weaken NATO deterrence and send an encouraging signal to Russia. The planned reduction involves the withdrawal of around 5,000 US troops currently stationed in Germany, which hosts the largest American military deployment in Europe. The decision was confirmed by Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell, who said it followed a detailed review of operational needs and conditions on the ground. Two senior lawmakers, Senator Roger Wicker and Representative Mike Rogers, who lead the Senate and House Armed Services Committees respectively, argued that the troops should not be withdrawn from Europe entirely. Instead, they suggested that forces should be repositioned further east to strengthen deterrence against potential threats. In a joint statement, they warned that reducing […]
Gaza Families Face Rising Pest and Health Crisis
A mother in the Gaza Strip has described a terrifying night when her young daughter was attacked by a wild animal inside their makeshift shelter, as worsening sanitation conditions fuel a growing public health crisis across the territory. Samah al-Daabla told the BBC that her four-year-old daughter, Mayaseen, began screaming at around 2am. When her husband switched on a torch, a weasel reportedly fled the scene. The child’s hand was badly injured and covered in blood, leaving the family in shock. Mayaseen was later taken to a hospital in Gaza City, where she received a tetanus injection. She experienced several days of fever and vomiting but is now recovering in the family’s tent. The incident reflects a wider crisis in Gaza, where displaced families are living in overcrowded camps with limited access to sanitation, clean water, and waste removal services. […]
Man Charged After Death of Five-Year-Old in Australia
A man has been charged with murder and two counts of sexual assault following the death of a five-year-old girl in Australia, in a case that has deeply shaken communities in the Northern Territory. The child, identified only as Kumanjayi Little Baby, a culturally assigned pseudonym used by her family after her death, was found on Thursday after a multi-day police search. Authorities confirmed she had disappeared the previous Saturday night after being put to bed at an Aboriginal town camp near Alice Springs. Police arrested 47-year-old Jefferson Lewis and later charged him with murder on Saturday night. He is scheduled to appear in court in Darwin on Tuesday. Northern Territory Police Commissioner Martin Dole said the investigation remains ongoing and described the case as deeply distressing. He urged the public to allow the judicial process to proceed without interference, […]
Zelenskyy Expands Gulf Defence Partnerships
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a notable visit to Saudi Arabia in March, arriving in a black outfit and walking across a lilac carpet in what observers described as a carefully staged diplomatic moment. He said the trip was aimed at “strengthening the protection of lives,” highlighting Ukraine’s effort to expand international security partnerships amid its ongoing war with Russia. Zelenskyy’s visit formed part of a broader push by Kyiv to position itself as a global hub for battlefield-tested drone warfare expertise. Ukraine has increasingly showcased its military experience to Gulf states, particularly in countering drone and missile threats, in an effort to build strategic and defence-related partnerships. According to Ukrainian officials, agreements have now been reached with Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Qatar to share drone technology and operational know-how. These countries have themselves faced missile and drone […]
Taiwan Leader Visits Eswatini Amid China Tensions
Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te has arrived in Eswatini, just days after his administration said a planned visit had been disrupted by alleged Chinese pressure on African nations to deny him overflight access. Speaking about the trip, Lai said it was made possible through “careful arrangements” by Taiwan’s diplomatic and national security teams, without revealing specific travel details. China criticized the visit, describing it as a “stowaway-style escape farce.” Beijing maintains that Taiwan is part of its territory and rejects any form of official diplomatic engagement between Taiwan and other states. On arrival, Lai was received by Russell Dlamini and welcomed with a formal guard of honour. Taiwan’s delegation includes Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung and National Security Council adviser Alex Huang, according to the presidential office. The visit was not publicly announced in advance. It had initially been scheduled for April […]
Somali Pirates Hijack Oil Tanker Near Yemen
Somali pirates have seized an oil tanker near Yemen, according to several Somali security officials who spoke to the BBC. Earlier, Yemen’s coastguard confirmed that the vessel, MT Eureka, had been taken over and was heading toward Somalia. Reports indicate the hijacking occurred in the Gulf of Aden, close to the port of Qana. Security sources from Puntland said the attackers launched their operation from a remote coastal location near Qandala, a town along the Gulf of Aden. Three officials independently confirmed the details to the BBC. This is the second oil tanker hijacked in the region within 10 days. On April 22, pirates captured the vessel Honor 25, which was transporting 18,500 barrels of oil to Mogadishu. Before the incident, MT Eureka was sailing under the flag of Togo. According to officials, armed men boarded the tanker at approximately […]