Welcome to the latest edition of What about Ukraine?, a newsletter that helps you keep updated about what has been said recently about Ukraine in Ukraine, and in the international media.

Our Ukrainian article of the week, translated by n-ost, reveals the impact of the USAID funding freeze on critical sectors in Ukraine. Journalist Kateryna Amelina explores how US support has been vital for healthcare reform, energy infrastructure restoration, humanitarian demining, and services for veterans and children at the frontline. The uncertainty surrounding future funding raises concerns about sustaining these essential programs.

This week's coverage was dominated by the diplomatic aftermath of developments surrounding Donald Trump’s proposal for a peace plan. Spain's El País published an editorial titled 'Ukraine is not for sale', emphasising that Europe must engage to prevent Washington and Moscow from negotiating behind Kyiv's back, while Bulgaria expressed disappointment over its exclusion from the crucial Paris summit on Ukraine’s future convened by president Emmanuel Macron. In Italy, prime minister Giorgia Meloni proposed extending NATO's Article 5 to Kyiv as an alternative to sending European troops. These events highlight growing concerns about Washington's shifting stance on Ukraine and the need for a united European response.

Public opinion across Europe remains divided on military support for Ukraine. A Forsa survey in Germany shows 49 percent supporting potential peacekeeping missions, while in Spain, an impressive 79 percent favour continuing military assistance to Ukraine. These numbers reflect the complex debate about European troop deployment, with France already discussing practical scenarios for post-ceasefire peacekeeping operations.

The evolution of drone warfare has emerged as a crucial topic in several countries' media. French military officials, who once dismissed drones as "gadgets," are now rapidly developing their drone capabilities, while German media explores how these weapons are transforming warfare imagery and raises concerns about their future use in everyday life.

Enjoy reading!

Clara Marchaud
Editor of this week's edition

At the end of January, hundreds of organisations around the world working with USAID, including in Ukraine, received letters ordering them to freeze the activities of their projects for the next 90 days. The money couldn’t be used, until the US sent further instructions. This step caused emotional discussions in Ukrainian society. Most citizens were not aware of the amount of help provided through USAID channels to critical spheres of the state.

In a piece, translated by n-ost this week, journalist Kateryna Amelina reports on some of the most important sectors affected. With the support of US money, healthcare reform has continued since 2016, energy infrastructure attacked by the Russian army was restored, bomb shelters for schools were built, humanitarian demining was held, and psychological aid for veterans and children was given. The full list also includes support for business, media, local governments and scientists. 

As of now, the situation with funding remains unclear. Project leaders are looking for other sources of support. But their capacities are limited. Bohdana Levytska, head of the Vesta Foundation which provides psychological support to veterans in the Kyiv region, explains:

"The demand is enormous, which is something we can’t just ignore,” she adds. "As volunteers, our input is limited, as we still have to provide for ourselves. Plus, it’s often the veterans who do such projects. Take Borodianka’s project alone: my husband is in the military, the partner of our accountant is in the military, both the father and partner of our communications specialist are in the military… We have veterans involved, from logistics specialists to instructors. This is exactly the type of work that is useful for those returning to civilian life or for those looking for a crowd to join."

This piece was originally published by LB.ua, an online Ukrainian independent media covering internal and foreign affairs. 

Translated by Tetiana Evloeva.

Bulgaria

Sofia "excluded from the European table"

Bulgaria voiced strong disappointment over its exclusion from a crucial Paris summit convened by French president Emmanuel Macron, which aimed to address Washington's sharp turn on Ukraine and recent US-Russia negotiations that sidelined both Kyiv and Brussels. The summit brought together representatives of the EU, NATO and major European countries, but Sofia, despite its contribution to the Ukrainian war effort, remained outside. "If Europe has been excluded from the Russian-American table [...] Bulgaria has been excluded from the European one," news portal Sega noted. "I believe the meeting should have taken place with all leaders of the European Union," Bulgarian vice-president Iliana Yotova added. (Sega)

Bulgarian president Rumen Radev reiterated that he is categorically against sending troops to Ukraine. His statement follows the Foreign Ministry's disclosure that the United States has approached Bulgaria, among other nations, to gauge its potential participation in an international peacekeeping mission in Ukraine. The issue has already caused heated debates in local politics: even though Bulgaria has provided significant military support to Kyiv in recent years, political forces in the country have repeatedly expressed opposition to putting troops on the ground. (OFFNews)

The Ukrainian parliament recently gave the green light to the purchase of two Russian-technology nuclear reactors from Bulgaria. Initially intended for the never-completed Bulgarian plant of Belene, the equipment should now increase the capacity of the Khmelnytskyi plant in west Ukraine. All that is missing is president Zelensky's signature. In Ukraine, opposition politicians remain firmly against the purchase: for many deputies, they would prefer to spend the 600 million USD on diversifying energy sources. Many also point out the potential risk of corruption linked to the purchase. (DW Bulgaria)

France

A dangerous 'tête-à-tête' between Putin and Trump

The French media extensively covered the Trump-Putin dynamics this week, with Libération's Valentine's Day edition featuring a striking cover of both leaders smiling at each other in a 'tête-à-tête', accompanied by the ironic headline 'Alone in the World'. Le Figaro described it as a "catastrophic scenario breaking allied unity and Russia's diplomatic isolation", while Le Monde called for Europe to take a more decisive role in supporting Ukraine. France Inter misread Ukraine's recent proposal to exchange territory it occupies in Russia’s Kursk region for occupied Ukrainian territory, interpreting them as signs of weakness and "capitulation" rather than strategic engagement. (Liberation, Le Figaro, Le Monde, France Inter)

French military officials are discussing the practicalities of troop deployment to Ukraine following a potential ceasefire. While a high-ranking defence ministry official criticises current discussions as "messy" with diplomats making plans "without considering practical realities", concrete military planning is slowly starting. France alone could deploy an armoured brigade of 6,000-7,000 soldiers. The ambitious European strategy envisions deploying three divisions of European contingents in major Ukrainian cities, potentially reaching 50,000 troops. Key questions remain about force volumes, mandate specifics, potential agreements with Moscow, and managing escalation risks if Russia decides to strike. (Le Figaro)

French engineers, who once dismissed drones as "gadgets," now see them as vital tools in modern warfare, thanks to lessons learned from the Ukraine conflict. At the Innovation Forum hosted by the 61st Artillery Regiment, the French Army showcased its collaboration with civilian industries, including car manufacturers, to mass-produce affordable drones. This marks a shift after decades without civilian involvement in defence production. France also opened a drone pilot school in 2023, which trains over 1,000 operators annually. These efforts highlight the urgency of modernising France’s defence industry to meet high-intensity conflict demands and adapt to evolving military technologies and strategies. (L’Express) 

Germany 

Slight majority favours joining peacekeeping operations

Germany is divided on sending Bundeswehr soldiers to Ukraine as part of a potential peacekeeping mission, with 49 percent in support, and 44 percent against, according to a recent Forsa survey conducted by Stern. A stark East-West divide emerges, as 65 percent of East Germans reject the proposal, contrasting with 52 percent support in West Germany. Political parties show varied support: Green voters (77 percent) and CDU/CSU (59 percent) are more supportive, while AfD (83 percent) and FDP (50 percent) are opposed. Chancellor Olaf Scholz has ruled out participation without US involvement, deeming the debate premature, as peace negotiations have yet to begin. (Tagesspiegel)

The evolving use of drones in conflict has shifted both the perception and imagery of war, with soldiers under fire now depicted through the drone lens in hundreds of videos online. "These videos from drones implicitly attribute power and invincibility to the people operating the drones, which has nothing to do with reality," says scientist Svitlana Matviyenko in an interview with SZ. Because drone pilots are often in close vicinity, their location is frequently compromised during drone use. The interview also warns about the potential misuse of drones in civilian life, particularly for surveillance, sparking concerns and calls for stricter legal regulation to prevent mass public monitoring by drones. (Sueddeutsche Zeitung)

In Ukraine, collaboration with Russia carries severe penalties, with over 4,400 people charged and more than 10,000 cases underway. The ARD bureau in Kyiv met those who admit to collaborating and others who may have been wrongly accused, and face lifelong consequences. When does dissent cross into collaboration, and how can it be defined? Years of hybrid warfare and Russia’s violations of the Geneva Conventions have fueled distrust, with freedom of expression weaponised to sow division. At the same time, "the need for justice is very big," the journalist found. This report explores how a society at war navigates guilt, mistrust and accountability. (tagesschau) 

Hungary

Governing party accuses independent press of being on Ukraine payroll

After a meeting of the Hungarian Parliament’s National Security Committee on 4 February, the chairman of the Hungarian government party Fidesz's parliamentary group, Máté Kocsis, accused the independent press of using Ukrainian money to launch a smear campaign against prime minister Viktor Orbán. Kocsis presented no evidence to support his claim, saying that the secret services had informed the National Security Committee that the Ukrainian state was trying to discredit Viktor Orbán "with the help of Hungarian and foreign journalists". (Telex English) 

Later, the government media also started claiming that Ukraine was financing Hungarian journalists, without publishing evidence, and have sent inquiries to major media outlets, asking whether they have received financial support from Ukraine. The investigative portal Direkt36, which recently published a film about the business empire of Viktor Orbán's family members, was highlighted by name in the allegations. However, sources told Telex that at the security meeting, the services did not claim that Direkt36 was part of any Ukrainian intelligence operation. The portal also denied any of their material was financed by Ukraine. (Telex English)

For Ukrainian soldiers on the front line, holding their positions is a huge challenge. Enthusiasm has been replaced by frustration in the experience of a Válasz Online journalist during the two days he spent with the veteran mountain assault brigade of Mukachevo. The brigade commander has six children, which means he could go home by law, yet he stayed at the front: "I couldn't look my own children in the eyes. This is my land, it has to be protected," he said. He also complained that they don't have enough soldiers, and it's hard to get new ones. And Western help is "a tenth of what it should be". (Válaszonline)

Italy

Italy caught between the USA and Europe

Prime minister Giorgia Meloni attended the summit on Ukraine scheduled by Emmanuel Macron in Paris, and has opposed the idea of sending European troops to Ukraine. She suggested that "other paths should be explored", including extending to Kyiv Article 5 of the NATO treaty, which requires members to collectively defend any single member who is attacked, while not actually bringing Ukraine into the Atlantic alliance. In her view, this should be done in coordination with the United States. Meloni is looking for a way to stay connected to Europe, without annoying Trump. "We are not anti-Trump," she said. (La Stampa).

Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Maria Zakharova has accused the president of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella, of voicing "blasphemous inventions" in a lecture he gave at the University of Marseille. On 5 February, Mattarella compared the Third Reich’s project in Europe with the Russian aggression against Ukraine. Zakharova promised that there will be "consequences" (Il Sole 24 Ore). In response to Mattarella’s words, the Russian hacker group NoName057(16) launched a series of attacks against several Italian websites, claiming the action as "punishment for Italy with DDoS missiles". (Corriere)

The oil tanker Seajewel, registered under the flag of Malta, which left Algeria and arrived in Savona on 14 February to deliver oil to Italy, was damaged after an explosion that caused a one metre leak on the side of the vessel. The Savona Coast Guard is conducting an on-site investigation with divers. According to Ukrainska Pravda, the Seajewel is part of Moscow’s "shadow fleet", which uses outdated oil tankers to violate sanctions by transporting Russian oil to Europe. (Quotidiano Nazionale)

Spain

Major public support for Ukraine till the end 

Seventy-nine percent of Spaniards are in favour of continuing military support for Ukraine. The latest survey conducted by the Elcano Institute highlights how Spain’s figure is higher than other EU countries. Breaking down the support figures, the study reveals that 36 percent believe it is necessary to arm Ukraine until the country regains its 1991 borders. Twenty-nine percent support Ukraine returning to its 2022 status, while 14 percent back military assistance until Russia is completely defeated and can no longer attack another country. (El Confidencial)

Newspaper El País has published an editorial, 'Ukraine is not for sale', emphasising that Europe must engage to prevent Washington and Moscow negotiating behind Kyiv’s back (El País). Its competitor, El Mundo, printed an opinion column titled 'What Spain has at stake in Ukraine', reminding readers that Madrid should not only be concerned with facilitating favourable negotiations for the benefit of Ukraine and the EU, but also in its own interests. The article says that accepting Putin’s terms of aggression and conquest could lead to a dangerous precedent for Morocco, which lays claim to Ceuta and Melilla, two Spanish cities on the African continent that it might assert as its own in the future. (El Mundo)

Russia has opened a criminal case against Spanish journalist Alberto Rojas, correspondent for El Mundo in Ukraine, for allegedly entering Russian soil without Moscow’s permission. The Russian Federation’s Investigative Committee made this announcement following an article published by RIA Novosti. This latest move represents another assault on press freedom, coming just after seven other cases involving journalists who covered the Kursk military operation. In this instance, the accusation is false: Rojas never crossed into Russian territory. He was reporting from the Sumy region alongside a Ukrainian brigade, as clearly stated in the feature published on 8 February, four days before the criminal case was opened. (El Mundo)

The Europe-Ukraine Desk curated this newsletter. This week's edition has been composed by our team from all over Europe: Lidia Baratta, Kornelia Kiss, Clara Marchaud, Oksana Mamchenkova, Francesco Martino, Antonina Rybka and Fermin Torrano. Michael Bird was our proofreader.

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