European Commission

For the first time, the European Commission plans to impose sanctions against Russia without taking into account the vetoes of individual countries. Decisions on sanctions will be made by a qualified majority, not unanimously.

The Ukrainian president expects active cooperation with US President-elect Trump in the spirit of “peace through strength. ” Zelenskyy also hopes to strengthen sanctions against Russia and discussed the prospects of Ukraine's accession to the EU.

The President of Ukraine will take part in the World Economic Forum in Davos on January 21. The event will also be attended by Donald Trump, Ursula von der Leyen and other world leaders.

Ukraine expects the results of negotiations with the EU on joint customs control this year. It is planned to reconstruct 28 checkpoints and build 6 new ones by 2030.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that the creation of a separate European defense alliance would require 8-10% of GDP and 15-20 years. Instead, he promised to deepen cooperation between NATO and the EU.

The European Commission has announced a new humanitarian aid package of 148 million euros. 140 million will go to Ukraine for emergency aid, and 8 million to Moldova to support Ukrainian refugees.

The foreign ministers of the Nordic and Baltic countries have written a letter to the European Commission regarding the reduction of Russian oil prices. A $10 per barrel reduction could cut Russia's military spending by 15%.

Ukraine's President criticized Slovakia's Prime Minister for refusing Ukrainian gas transit assistance. Zelenskyy calls Fico's bet on cooperation with Russia a losing proposition from the start.

Slovakia's prime minister announced guaranteed supplies of 3-3. 5 billion cubic meters of Russian gas to the country. If the situation with gas transit through Ukraine does not change, he threatens to suspend aid and veto further support.

Croatia is holding the second round of presidential elections, with incumbent President Zoran Milanovic leading the pack. In the first round, he received 49.1% of the vote against 19.35% for his opponent Dragan Primorc.

Poland's Defense Minister supports the initiative to increase NATO defense spending to 5% of GDP. Warsaw already allocates 4.7% of GDP to defense and calls on other countries to reach this goal within 10 years.

Mark Zuckerberg said that the new US government should stop fining US tech companies by the EU. Meta also announced the termination of its fact-checking program and DEI initiatives.

MPs from the Voice party are preparing a resolution to dismiss Herman Halushchenko over systemic corruption and a conflict with Inna Sovsun. The minister accused the MP of “mudslinging” the energy sector because of her statements about the Khmelnytsky NPP.

The European Commission and Slovakia are forming a working group to assess the consequences of the cessation of Russian gas transit through Ukraine. The group will consider the economic impact and possible compensation for Slovakia.

The European Union is analyzing hundreds of Biden's executive orders because of fears that Trump will reverse them after the inauguration. Particular attention is being paid to sanctions against Russia.

The Moldovan Foreign Ministry summoned Russia's Charge d'Affaires due to disinformation statements about the energy crisis in Transnistria. The diplomat was told that statements that undermine the country's stability are unacceptable.

Slovakia's Prime Minister accuses Zelenskiy of “sabotage” over the suspension of Russian gas transit. Fico plans to discuss with the European Commissioner compensation for losses of €1.5 billion.

The Czech Republic plans to completely abandon the use of coal by 2033. By 2040, the share of nuclear power in the country will increase to 68% in the electricity generation structure.

Eight Nordic countries have announced their intention to increase assistance to Moldova after the suspension of Russian gas supplies on January 1, 2025. The NB8 countries praised the Moldovan authorities for their efforts to ensure energy stability.

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry denies Hungary's claims that the cessation of russian gas transit will have a negative impact on prices. Most EU countries have already adapted to the new realities, except for a few, including Hungary.

The European Commission has called on Transnistria to stop blocking Moldova's proposals for alternative energy sources. The region was left without heating after Russian gas supplies were cut off due to the end of the transit agreement.

The European Commission canceled a trilateral meeting with Slovakia and Ukraine on stopping the transit of Russian gas due to the absence of the Ukrainian side. Slovakia is waiting for a new date for consultations.

In Warsaw, thousands of farmers protest against the Green Deal and imports from Ukraine outside the European Commission. Politicians from the Confederation and Law and Justice parties are seen at the rally.

Ursula von der Leyen will not be able to attend the inaugural meeting due to Poland's presidency of the EU Council. The European Commission meeting in Gdansk, scheduled for January 9-10, will be postponed to another date.

On January 3, farmers will protest in Warsaw under the slogan “5 x STOP” against the EU and Ursula von der Leyen's policies. The participants are opposed to the Green Deal, imports from Ukraine and other EU initiatives.

The European Commission has announced that Hungary will lose its right to EU assistance due to violations of the rule of law. The country failed to fulfill the requirements for reforms to overcome corruption and conflicts of interest by the end of 2024.

On January 1, 2025, Ukraine stopped the transit of Russian gas through its territory. The EU declares its readiness for change, although the reaction of member states is mixed, ranging from support to concern.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine outlined three key areas of cooperation with Poland during its presidency of the EU Council. Sybiga expects an increase in military support, sanctions pressure, and acceleration of European integration.

The government plans to cover the 2025 budget deficit with $36. 9 billion in external borrowings. The EU, IMF, and the US will be the main donors, and Ukraine's economy may grow by 4.3%.

Poland has begun its six-month presidency of the EU Council, replacing Hungary. The new presidency will focus on defense and security issues, as well as help resolve controversial issues in European legislation.