Overview
- The Elysée said Zelenskyy will hold talks with Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Nov. 17 to cover bilateral relations, energy, the economy and defense.
- France plans to use the visit to restate long-term support for Ukraine and to keep momentum on security guarantees led by France and the United Kingdom.
- The meeting occurs during a corruption investigation alleging associates of Zelenskyy sought to skim about $100 million from the energy sector as Russian strikes trigger blackouts.
- Presidential adviser Andriy Yermak defended Zelenskyy, calling him “not corrupt” and “a very principled person.”
- Kyiv is pursuing EU financing while Brussels weighs channeling frozen Russian assets and seeks Belgium’s consent, as Germany urges faster anti-corruption reforms.