TOP STORY

A dramatic change of course in Washington. Yesterday, Donald Trump abandoned his demand that Ukraine cede territory in order to make peace with Moscow. After meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky in New York, the US president said that Kiev, with Europe's support, was now "in a position to fight and take back all of Ukraine within its original borders."

This U-turn contrasts sharply with the line he has taken since arriving at the White House. In August, after a three-hour tête-à-tête with Vladimir Putin in Alaska, Trump deemed it "inevitable" that Ukraine would make territorial concessions. A few months earlier, he had criticized Zelensky for "not having the cards in his hand" and had appeared alongside the Kremlin leader. Now, he describes Russia as a "paper tiger," weakened by three and a half years of war, economic difficulties, and lines at the gas pump.

However, this statement has caused confusion. His Secretary of State and Acting National Security Advisor, Marco Rubio, reiterated that the conflict "cannot be ended militarily" and that only negotiation will bring it to an end. Trump, for his part, did not announce a massive resumption of US military aid, merely stating that Washington would continue to deliver weapons to NATO so that "the Alliance can do what it wants with them."

Zelensky, who had fallen out with Trump in February, chose to welcome this speech, calling the US president a "game-changer." ." The question remains as to who this will benefit: Ukraine, which is still struggling to regain ground despite Western support, or Russia, which could take advantage of the ambiguities in the US position. Trump has refused to explicitly guarantee that he would defend NATO allies militarily in the event of a direct air confrontation with Moscow.

In Moscow, this vacillation is being closely scrutinized. Putin may see it as an opportunity to stall, convinced that Washington no longer wants to invest heavily in the conflict. But he could also choose to escalate, hoping that time will work in his favor. The New York Times

IN SHORT

🇵🇸 Palestine • The Global Sumud humanitarian flotilla, consisting of around 50 ships and 500 participants of 47 nationalities, was targeted last night by around 15 drones as it headed towards Gaza to break the Israeli blockade. There were no casualties, but several boats suffered significant material damage. Launched in mid-September, the initiative aims to deliver humanitarian aid to the Palestinian enclave. The UN has called for an end to the attacks on the flotilla and demanded an investigation.

🇪🇬 Egypt - 🇮🇱 Israel • Egypt has confirmed the deployment of troops in the Sinai, near the Israeli border, claiming to be acting against terrorism and smuggling in accordance with the 1979 peace agreement. Israel, skeptical, accuses Cairo of building prohibited military infrastructure and has asked Washington to limit this presence. Tensions are mounting as Egypt refuses to accept the influx of Palestinians fleeing Gaza and seeks to assert its sovereignty in this semi-demilitarized zone.

🇩🇰 Denmark - 🇳🇴 Norway • Denmark has described Monday's drone flight over Copenhagen airport as "the most serious attack on critical infrastructure," causing it to close for four hours and disrupting 20,000 passengers. Oslo airport was also briefly closed for similar reasons. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen cited a recent trend of drone incursions and cyberattacks in Europe. Russia denies any involvement. Danish authorities suspect a state actor seeking to test the country's responses.

🇲🇼 Malawi • President Lazarus Chakwera conceded defeat in today's election to his predecessor Peter Mutharika, after partial results showed an "insurmountable" lead for the latter. Despite allegations of irregularities, Chakwera called for a peaceful transition and respect for the Constitution, thus avoiding a crisis similar to that of 2019, when elections had to be reorganized. Analysts attribute Mutharika's comeback to Chakwera's inability to turn around a struggling economy, leaving many Malawians in precarious circumstances.

🇨🇳 China - 🇺🇸 United States • Nvidia and Alibaba have signed a major technology partnership despite Sino-American tensions. The announcement boosted the Chinese giant's stock market share price. This agreement, concluded between two major players in AI, highlights the persistence of economic collaboration despite geopolitical rivalries between Beijing and Washington.

🇫🇷 France • France has refused political asylum to Paul Watson, environmental activist and founder of Sea Shepherd, who is wanted on a Japanese arrest warrant for actions against whaling in 2010. The OFPRA (French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons) deemed his fears of extradition from the United States or Canada, his countries of nationality, to be "unfounded," believing that these states are capable of guaranteeing a fair trial. Watson, who was detained for five months in Greenland in 2024 before being released, expressed his disappointment but is counting on the support of Emmanuel Macron to remain in France, where he says he feels "safe." His lawyer and Sea Shepherd denounce the decision as inconsistent with Paris' past commitments.

CONFLICTS