Zelenskyy to meet Trump in US this week – Europe live | France
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french socialist party He will not vote against the government on motions submitted by the far left and far right, but will submit his own motion of no confidence if he is dissatisfied with the prime minister. Sébastien LecornuThe budget proposals are on budget, parliamentary socialist sources said on Tuesday, according to Reuters.
Russia accuses Khodorkovsky and other exiled dissidents of conspiring to seize power
Russia‘s Federal Security Service (FSB) He said on Tuesday he had filed a criminal case against the exiled Kremlin critic Mikhail Khodorkovskyaccuses him of founding a “terrorist organization” and conspiring to seize power by violent means.
The FSB said it was investigating more than 20 people, including prominent dissidents, in the same case, according to Reuters. Vladimir Kara-Murzaformer world chess champion Garry Kasparovformer prime minister Mikhail Kasyanov and leading economists Sergei Aleksashenko And Sergei Guriev.
The move comes less than two weeks after the incident. Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of EuropeA human rights forum consisting of 46 MPs Europe The countries said they had created a “dialogue platform” with Russian democratic forces in exile. The FSB said in a statement that this was presented by Khodorkovsky as an alternative Russian leadership. He also accused her of financing Ukrainian paramilitary units to use them to eventually seize power.
Flights were canceled due to a national strike in Belgium
National strike over government austerity plan halts flights and disrupts public transport Belgium Tens of thousands of people are expected to attend the demonstration on Tuesday BrusselsS.
Brussels airport According to Agence France-Presse (AFP), Belgium’s largest has canceled all departures because security guards left their tools behind. Charleroi airporta major Europe low cost airline headquarters ryanairHe said he could not fly due to lack of personnel.
The strike was the latest in a series that has hit the European country since then. Flemish nationalist Bart De Wever He took office as prime minister in February.
grappling with a budget deficit that has been breached European Union The government hopes to reform pensions and make other cuts that have infuriated unions.
“This government promised more sustainable jobs and increased purchasing power. Hot weather! And once again, everyone but the rich pays,” the union said. C.S.C. he said and called on people to take to the streets to protest.
Unions expect tens of thousands of people to attend a rally in Brussels on Wednesday, as delays and cancellations also affect the capital’s metro, tram and bus services. Police in the capital advised citizens to avoid some central areas and travel by car.
The protest action will increase pressure on De Wever’s coalition government, which failed to agree on a budget on Monday, forcing the prime minister to postpone a key speech to parliament scheduled for Tuesday.
Unions have expressed strong opposition to planned reforms, including reducing early retirement and freezing wage indexation, AFP reported.
Hoping to achieve savings of around €10bn ($12bn/£8.7bn), Brussels has also pledged to increase defense spending as part of a deal. NATO Press to increase rearmament.
French The government’s 2026 budget plans are based on positive economic assumptions and austerity measures may fall short or never take shape, the independent fiscal watchdog said on Tuesday, according to Reuters.
Prime Minister reappointed on Friday Sébastien Lecornu is racing to submit the 2026 budget bill to parliament before the constitutional limits on reviewing the legislation expire.
The budget was previously presented to the Parliament Haut Conseil des finance publications (HCFP) The fiscal watchdog said it aims to reduce the budget deficit for review to between 4.7% and 5% of GDP, a modest improvement from this year’s 5.4%.
The government’s plan is based on more than €30bn ($34.7bn/£26.1bn) of budget cuts, including cuts to corporate tax breaks, tighter rules on welfare contributions and new taxes. small parcel tax and a Exceptional additional tax for complementary health insurersHCFP said.
It also compresses Taxing holding companies that the wealthy use to lower their tax billsThe insufficient 2 per cent tax on fortunes over 100 million euros ($116 million/£87 million) has been stopped. socialists.
Morning opening: Zelenskyy to meet Trump in the US on Friday as he expresses hopes for Ukraine-Russia peace after Gaza deal
Volodymyr Zelenskyy He announced that he would go WE This week for talks on potential US long-range weapons supply Donald Trump He said he could supply Ukrainian With Tomahawk missiles.
Zelenskyy said he would visit washington He stated that he would meet with Trump on Friday and added that he would also meet with defense and energy companies and their members. Congress.
In a post about X, Zelenskyy said that the Ukrainian delegation, including the prime minister, Yulia Svyrydenkohead of presidential office Andriy Yermaksecretary of the national security and defense council Rustam Umerov and several representatives from the diplomatic sector were on their way to the United States.
Writing on X, Zelenskky said:
I will also have the opportunity to come to Washington and meet with President Trump on Friday. I believe we will discuss a series of steps that I intend to propose. I am grateful to President Trump for our dialogue and support. There will be several more important meetings with defense companies and possibly with senators and members of Congress.
I will also meet with energy companies. This is necessary – it was President Trump’s proposal – and I will meet with these companies because there are urgent needs associated with various forms of attacks, even those that Russia has already carried out. We must be prepared in any situation. So it will be useful. Therefore, the main focus of the visit is air defense and our long-range capabilities aimed at putting pressure on Russia in the name of peace.
On Monday, Zelenskyy expressed hope for peace in his country’s war against him. Russialike Israel And Hamas 1st stage was carried out Gaza ceasefire plan It was suggested by the Trump administration. In a post about X, the Ukrainian president wrote:
Achieving peace in one part of the world increases hope for peace in other regions where life is still under threat. In Ukraine, we welcome all the efforts that led to today’s outcome in the Middle East.
He added:
We are working to bring a day of peace to Ukraine. Russia’s aggression remains the last source of global instability, and if a ceasefire and peace are achieved in the Middle East, the leadership and determination of global actors can certainly work for us in Ukraine, as well as for us in Europe.
Elsewhere, Francenewly appointed prime minister Sébastien Lecornu He will make his first policy speech in parliament today. This is a highly risky speech to a deeply divided parliament.
The new cabinet is expected to present a draft budget on Tuesday targeting a deficit below 5 percent of GDP, according to a new government spokesman Maud Bregeon. The cabinet must give parliament the constitutionally required 70 days to review the plan before the end of the year.
In Russia, the country Federal Security Service (FSB) He said on Tuesday he had filed a criminal case against those deported Kremlin critic Mikhail Khodorkovskyaccuses him of founding a “terrorist organization” and conspiring to seize power by violent means.
Oil tycoon Khodorkovsky, once Russia’s richest man, served in Russia for 10 years. siberian prison over fraud charges that he and many western countries say are politically motivated.
The FSB said the charges related to the activities of a Khodorkovsky-backed group opposing the war in Ukraine. The group called Anti-War CommitteeBanned in Russia. There has been no immediate comment from Khodorkovsky or his representatives.
I’ll bring all the reactions here.
His Tuesday, October 14, 2025I Amy Sedghi and this Europe Live.
Good morning.
