Europe bulletin: Trump threatens BBC, Zelenskyy seeks more Patriot defense systems
European markets ended higher on Monday as optimism around US political developments outweighed weaker Eurozone data.
On the other hand, a series of major headlines, from Donald Trump’s legal warning to the BBC, to Ukraine’s request for more Patriot systems, and Nicolas Sarkozy’s release from prison, shaped the day’s broader European narrative.
European markets close higher despite weak data
European equities closed in positive territory on Monday, lifted by renewed optimism in US politics after the US Senate voted 60–40 to advance a deal to end the record-long government shutdown.
President Donald Trump remarked that the impasse was “getting close” to resolution, helping offset investor concerns about weakening consumer confidence in the Eurozone.
At the close, France’s CAC 40 rose 1.32%, led by Societe Generale SA with a 4.14% gain.
The FTSE 100 in London advanced 1.09%, supported by Fresnillo PLC’s 5.38% rally.
The EURO STOXX 50 climbed 1.71% as Prosus NV added 4.66%, while Germany’s DAX jumped 1.76%, bolstered by a 6.57% rise in Commerzbank AG.
In currency markets, the euro was steady against the US dollar at $1.15546, while the British pound traded nearly flat at $1.31590.
Trump threatens BBC with legal action
US President Donald Trump sent a letter to the BBC threatening legal action over claims that the broadcaster edited his January 6, 2021, speech in a Panorama documentary.
The BBC confirmed receiving the letter and said it would respond “in due course.”
Trump has previously accused the broadcaster of “doctoring” his remarks and labeled senior BBC executives as “very dishonest people.”
The controversy intensified after the resignations of BBC Director General Tim Davie and News CEO Deborah Turness on Sunday.
BBC Chair Samir Shah acknowledged the corporation’s apology to Trump and noted that a personal apology could follow.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s spokesperson defended the BBC’s institutional integrity, emphasizing that it was “not corrupt nor biased” but must “act quickly to correct mistakes.”
He underlined the broadcaster’s vital role in countering disinformation and maintaining public trust.
Ukraine requests 25 Patriot systems from US
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday that Kyiv plans to order 25 Patriot air defence systems from the US to strengthen defences against persistent Russian aerial attacks that have caused widespread blackouts ahead of winter.
Zelenskyy acknowledged the high cost and long production timeline of the systems but urged European allies to lend Ukraine their Patriots until replacements arrive.
He noted that “we would not like to wait,” stressing the urgency of protecting Ukraine’s power grid.
Germany, the leading supplier of Patriot systems to Ukraine, recently sent additional units and committed to further deliveries backed by US guarantees.
Despite these efforts, Ukraine’s defences remain stretched thin amid continued Russian drone and missile strikes targeting regional power infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Kyiv faces mounting pressure in the eastern city of Pokrovsk, where Russia has reportedly deployed 170,000 troops for a renewed offensive.
Nicolas Sarkozy released from Paris prison
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy was released from La Santé prison in Paris on Monday after an appeals court granted his release under judicial supervision, less than three weeks into his five-year sentence for conspiracy tied to illegal Libyan financing of his 2007 campaign.
Sarkozy, 70, is barred from leaving France and contacting witnesses or co-defendants.
Speaking via video link, he described prison as a “hard ordeal” and maintained his innocence, insisting, “I will never admit something I didn’t do.”
The court emphasized that release is the norm pending appeal, with detention an exception.
Sarkozy still faces multiple legal challenges, including a 26 November ruling related to his 2012 campaign financing and a separate corruption conviction upheld in 2023.
The post Europe bulletin: Trump threatens BBC, Zelenskyy seeks more Patriot defense systems appeared first on Invezz