The euro weakened against most of its Group-of-10 peers on Monday, October 19, 2026, as geopolitical tensions in Ukraine and violent protests in France rattled investor sentiment. The common currency dropped as much as 0.5% against the dollar in early Asian trading after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused U.S. President Donald Trump of pressuring Kyiv to surrender to Russia.
In France, widespread protests turned violent, with clashes between police and demonstrators marking some of the worst street violence the country has seen in years. The unrest heightened concerns about France’s fiscal stability, further weighing on the euro’s performance.
The combination of escalating tensions in Ukraine and domestic turmoil in France created a perfect storm for the euro, as traders sought safer assets amid growing uncertainty.