EU leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy were to meet to discuss boosting European countries’ defense spending. Meanwhile, France’s Emmanuel Macron showed openness to sharing Paris’ nuclear deterrent.
https://p.dw.com/p/4rQzq
What you need to know
- Macron says France could consider putting European countries under French nuclear umbrella
- European leaders meet in Brussels to discuss boosting defense
- The meeting comes amid heightened European-US tensions, especially over the war in Ukraine
Here are the main headlines on Russia’s war in Ukraine on Thursday, March 6:
March 6, 2025
France to share intelligence with Ukraine
France is offering intelligence to Ukraine, French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said on Thursday.
“We have intelligence resources that we use to help the Ukrainians,” Lecornu told radio station France Inter.
It comes a day after the United States said it would stop sharing intelligence with Kyiv, which Lecornu said “has been suspended since yesterday afternoon.”
Lecornu said it would be “more complicated” for the United Kingdom to follow France’s lead because it is in an intelligence community with the United States.
“Our intelligence is sovereign… with our own capacities,” he added. “We are passing this on to the Ukrainians.”
Europe, Ukraine can fill US intelligence gap, expert says
https://p.dw.com/p/4rROA
March 6, 2025
Russian officials scold Macron over nuclear deterrent for Europe
Russian lawmakers and other officials slammed French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday for saying that Russia posed a threat to Europe.
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who now heads the Russian Security Council, hit back on social media.
“Macron himself poses no big threat though,” he wrote, misspelling the French president’s surname.
“He’ll disappear forever no later than May 14, 2027. And he won’t be missed.”
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova accused Macron of making “contradictory statements” every day that are “detached from reality.”
Russian Senator Konstantin Kosachev also accused Macron of “maniacally” imposing an erroneous analysis on his citizens.
Kosachev said that “such false conclusions and false suggestions lead to the abyss.”
https://p.dw.com/p/4rRHY
March 6, 2025
2 killed in strike on Kryvyi Rih — regional authorities
At least two people were killed and seven were injured in a Russian missile strike on the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih in the Dnipropetrovsk region, regional authorities said.
Four of the injured were in critical condition, the Dnipropetrovsk regional military administration said.
Dnipropetrovsk Governor Serhiy Lyssak said on the Telegram messaging service that the missile had targeted civilian infrastructure and had hit a five-story hotel.
Kryvyi Rih is the home town of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
https://p.dw.com/p/4rR0g
March 6, 2025
Macron says to consider putting Europe under French nuclear umbrella
French President Emmanuel Macron said Paris could consider putting allied European countries under France’s nuclear umbrella.
“In response to the historic call by the future German Chancellor, I have decided to open the strategic debate on the protection of our allies on the European continent through our deterrent,” Macron said in a televised speech.
He said that France’s nuclear deterrent had played a role in maintaining peace and security in Europe since Paris first developed it in 1964.
Likely new German chancellor Friedrich Merz had suggested talks with France and the United Kingdom over establishing a nuclear umbrella. Germany does not have nuclear weapons.
Multiple European leaders have argued for European countries to boost defense capabilities and reduce dependence on the United States.
Macron warned that “Russia has become a threat for France and Europe,”
adding that “to watch and do nothing would be madness.”
“The future of Europe does not have to be decided in Washington or Moscow,” Macron said.
https://p.dw.com/p/4rR0h
March 6, 2025
Welcome to our coverage of the EU summit and other news regarding Ukraine
Saim Dušan Inayatullah | Rana Taha
European leaders are expected to endorse measures to boost defense spending and pledge continued support for Kyiv in a summit on Thursday in Brussels.
Delegations at the summit are slated to discuss EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s €800 billion ($864 billion) “ReArm Europe” plan.
Leaders of the European Union’s 27 member-states are due to be joined by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The meeting comes after US President Donald Trump’s decision to suspend military aid to Ukraine. He has also called for European countries to take more responsibility for security within the NATO military alliance.
The night before the summit, Macron reiterated his support for plans to reduce the EU’s dependence on Washington.
“I want to believe that the United States will stand by us. But we have to be ready if that is not the case,” he said.
https://p.dw.com/p/4rR0s