As Vladimir Putin annexes four Ukrainian provinces, representing 15 percent of Ukraine's territory, the Czech Republic's Minister for European Affairs Mikulas Bek told FRANCE 24 that this is "totally unacceptable… the EU cannot step down from our support for Ukraine". After former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev declared earlier this week that Russia had the right to defend itself with nuclear weapons, Bek responded that if that did happen, "it would mean a total change in modern history, and would have heavy consequences even for present allies of Russia or neutral countries, which would be forced to take a position".

In the week when Russian President Vladimir Putin launched referendums in Russian-held parts of Ukraine and made a thinly veiled threat to use nuclear weapons against the West, Talking Europe speaks to the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell.

Earlier this week, the United Nations General Assembly opened with a warning from the UN Secretary General that we are in a "suicidal war against nature". The European Union’s leaders have made it clear that they want the bloc to be a champion for climate. But given these words by Antonio Guterres, we ask whether that is really the case. Our guest is German MEP Peter Liese, who is leading intra-EU negotiations on the EU's carbon emissions trading scheme for the European Parliament.

As households and businesses face rising energy bills, the EU's Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights is stressing the importance of supporting small and medium-sized businesses all over Europe. "A lot of households and household incomes depend on the survival of SMEs. That's why it's important to support businesses and particularly SMEs," Nicolas Schmit told FRANCE 24's Armen Georgian. Schmit also discussed the latest developments on minimum wages and the regulation of platforms such as Uber Eats and Deliveroo.

In a much-awaited speech this week, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen focused on the acute problems facing the Union: the war in Ukraine, energy prices and the challenge from autocracies. But some of the MEPs in the audience said the solutions she proposed are vague. We debrief von der Leyen's annual address with two MEPs.

France's Secretary of State for European Affairs Laurence Boone has outlined to FRANCE 24 the sacrifices necessary to continue putting pressure on Moscow, saying "it is a war against Russia for democracy, for freedom and supporting Ukraine. We are not asking horrible things. To put the temperature at 19 degrees, that has always been the unspoken rule."

Inflation is a word that viewers are likely now hearing almost every day. It's the term we use to talk about the cost of things that most of us regularly buy, like food and clothes, electricity bills, and the materials and resources used by businesses. Wherever you're watching, it’s almost certain you've noticed these prices rising – your home and vehicle fuel costs, or certain foodstuffs like wheat, flour and sunflower oil that have been particularly impacted by shortages due to Western sanctions on Russia. In late August, French President Emmanuel Macron said it was time to accept "the end of abundance".

Ireland's foreign minister has told France 24 that Dublin sees the United Kingdom's search for a new prime minister as "an opportunity for a fresh start" in the two countries' relations. This Friday, the European Commission launched new legal action against the government of Boris Johnson — this, as it pushes on with moves to unilaterally breach part of the Brexit treaty relating to Northern Ireland.

The ruling by a majority of judges in the United States’ Supreme Court to overturn the right to a legal abortion across the entire country has also sent shockwaves through Europe.

In our programme we examine abortion rights around the EU and look at how the situation might evolve.

France 24’s Europe team invites you to look back on the most recent parliamentary season (which started in September 2021) and some of the key European decision-makers we’ve been scrutinising, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.