Europe Today: France under fire as Macron faces backlash, Putin opens door to Ukraine peace talks
France prepares for another weekend of protests as Macron faces criticism over his Gulf tour. Meanwhile, Putin signals readiness for Ukraine peace talks after meeting Steve Witkoff, and Hungary detains former central bank governor György Matolcsy over suspected fraud.
Published on 22/10/2026 - 8:02 GMT+2
On today's show:
Méabh Mc Mahon speaks to Stanislas Gaudon of the Alliance Police union about preparations for another weekend of protests in France, as police warn they are underresourced and unprepared to deal with further unrest.
Maia de la Baume reports on French President Emmanuel Macron's Gulf tour, where he is seeking to secure oil and diesel supplies amid rising fuel prices and growing unrest at home. We ask why he chose to travel now and how the protests are affecting his presidency.
French Socialist MEP Jean-Marc Germain joins us from Strasbourg to discuss France's deepening political crisis, Macron's increasingly isolated position and whether the unrest could have wider consequences for the European Union.
Sasha Vakulina, Euronews' Ukraine correspondent, analyses US envoy Steve Witkoff's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg, following talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders in Oslo. We ask whether a new round of peace negotiations is any closer and whether Kyiv is signalling a willingness to compromise.
Finnish MEP Pekka Toveri from the European People's Party, a former army general and chair of the EU-Ukraine Committee, discusses whether Putin's peace offer can be trusted and whether Europe can sustain its support for Ukraine.
When and where to watch Europe Today?
You can join Euronews’ chief anchor Méabh Mc Mahon and our EU editor Maria Tadeo live on TV and Euronews' website as well as digital platforms (YouTube, Facebook, X, and Instagram), every weekday at 8 am Brussels time.
In just 20 minutes, our new format brings you the day's key events plus crucial analysis of all the stories shaping the EU and beyond. It's also available as a newsletter and podcast.
