Interpreters are not merely translators; they are also among the few witnesses to confidential discussions between leaders. The European Commission was recently reminded of this after an incident – kept confidential until now – led to disciplinary action against a Franco-Ukrainian interpreter working for the institution. The incident took place on December 19, 2024, during a European Council meeting in Brussels, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in attendance. The findings of the internal investigation have since been forwarded to Belgian authorities, who will decide whether to pursue further investigations and whether the actions in question constitute Russian espionage.

On that December day, the European Council was hosting Volodymyr Zelensky. The meeting was crucial: it was intended to determine the future of European support for Kyiv, which has been under attack by Russia since February 2022. The re-election of US President Donald Trump one month prior – who had promised during his campaign to end the war "in 24 hours" – changed the dynamic. On that day, European leaders sought to agree on a common position before the newly elected president returned to the White House.

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