E5 defence ministers meet in Paris, vow Ukraine support won't fade

The defence ministers of Europe's five biggest military powers — France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy and Poland — met in Paris on Monday, October 26, 2026, and promised that their support for Ukraine will not weaken. French Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin said satellite communications that Ukraine lost for more than a week had been fully restored, while German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said Europe would work hard to keep US intelligence and satellite data flowing to Kyiv.

The meeting of the so-called E5 group came as the war in Ukraine enters its fifth winter, as a dispute over Starlink access has strained ties between Kyiv and Washington, and as the US–Iran confrontation in the Gulf pulls attention and weapons towards the Middle East.

What was decided

French officials said the agenda covered further help for Ukraine, European defence and the regional conflict in the Middle East. No new aid package was announced in Paris, but the ministers stressed the need to work together inside NATO and to spend more on Europe's own forces.

Participant	Role / message
Catherine Vautrin (France, host)	Support for Ukraine "will not decline"; satellite links fully restored
Boris Pistorius (Germany)	Europe will do everything possible to keep US support, especially intelligence and satellite data; new air-defence system being developed with Kyiv
United Kingdom, Italy, Poland	Defence ministers or deputies attended; Poland's deputy minister Paweł Zalewski cited heavy Russian losses
Kaja Kallas (EU foreign policy chief)	Joined the talks
Andrius Kubilius (EU Defence Commissioner)	Joined the talks
Ukraine's defence minister	Took part by video link

In a joint message after the talks, the ministers said Europe must "invest more in our own capabilities and resources" for the Euro-Atlantic area to stay secure.

Background: the Starlink row

For more than a week this month, Ukrainian units reported restrictions on Starlink and its military version, Starshield, which they use to control drones and keep front-line units connected. SpaceX chief Elon Musk said Ukraine had broken the service's terms by using commercial terminals for long-range strikes and that the company had closed a "loophole"; Kyiv denied breaking any rules. On Saturday, October 24, Ukraine said both systems were fully working again, and on Monday Vautrin said she had confirmation that the service was fully restored.

The episode showed how much Ukraine's military still depends on US-controlled technology, which is why Pistorius singled out intelligence and satellite data as areas where Europe wants to keep Washington engaged. The E5 ministers last met in Berlin in June, when they also pledged continued support for Kyiv.

The war on the ground

Fighting and long-range strikes continued on the day of the meeting. In Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region, the governor said a Russian strike injured four people on Monday morning, and the emergency service reported two more people hurt in the Chernihiv region. Russia's defence ministry said it hit power stations in the Kharkiv and Khmelnytskyi regions and port infrastructure in Chornomorsk. Inside Russia, regional officials in Voronezh reported casualties and fires after a Ukrainian drone attack.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview aired on Sunday that Kyiv would stop striking Russian oil refineries — a US request — only if Moscow stops hitting Ukraine's power grid.

Why it matters

With winter approaching, Russian attacks on Ukraine's electricity system are expected to intensify, making air defence and early-warning data critical. The E5 countries are Ukraine's biggest European backers and together account for most of Europe's defence spending, so their message is closely watched in Kyiv, Moscow and Washington.

For the wider world, including energy importers in South Asia, the war remains one of the main drivers of high energy prices alongside the Gulf crisis; European gas prices hit a four-year high this week.

What happens next

• Early-to-mid November: Ukrainian, Russian and US negotiators are expected to meet in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
• Air defence: Germany and Ukraine are continuing work on a new air-defence system; details and timelines have not been published.
• NATO: The ministers said further coordination will take place within the alliance ahead of winter.