European Commission

Jim O'Brien, head of the US State Department's Office of Sanctions Coordination, will visit Georgia in the coming days to meet with the opposition amid ongoing protests against the controversial law on foreign influence transparency.

Georgia's foreign minister criticized the resignation of the country's ambassador to France over the controversial law on "foreign agents," calling it an insult to Georgia and its diplomats.

Georgian parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili refused to meet with the EU delegation, which arrived amid protests against the controversial law on "foreign agents," saying their visit could encourage radical opposition actions.

President Zelenskyy has his first phone conversation with the new Prime Minister of Iceland, Bjarni Benediktsson, congratulating him, inviting him to the Peace Summit in Switzerland, and discussing preparations for the Ukraine-Northern Europe Summit and the bilateral security agreement.

Ukraine will insist on full territorial integration without any restrictions in the EU membership agreement, citing the precedent of Cyprus and demanding guarantees of inclusion of Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

Ukraine's Minister of Justice Denys Malyuska acknowledged that the Constitution needs to be improved, but argues that this should not happen during the ongoing war.

President Zelenskyy discussed preparations for the Global Peace Summit with European Commission President von der Leyen, who confirmed her participation.

Violent attacks and intimidation tactics were used against opposition activists and NGOs protesting Georgia's controversial law on "foreign agents.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine expects the negotiation framework to be approved and the actual start of negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the European Union in June, marking the next stage of rapprochement with the EU.

Georgia's Ambassador to France, Gocha Javakhishvili, resigned over a controversial law on foreign agents that has strained Georgia's relations with its European partners and made his mission extremely difficult.

90% of the frozen Russian assets worth about €192 billion held in the Belgian securities depository Euroclear will be used to support Ukraine, while the remaining 10% will go to the EU, leaving a significant portion of the total €220 billion of frozen Russian assets in the EU financial system unused.

The participation of several EU diplomats in Putin's inauguration in Moscow does not contradict the EU's agreed position on continuing to support Ukraine against Russia's illegal aggression, an EU spokesman said.

Serbia became the first European country to sign an agreement with China on a "shared future" and deepening of a comprehensive strategic partnership.

The EU has started negotiations on the 14th package of sanctions against Russia, which includes restrictions on Russian gas, including a ban on transshipment of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) and restrictions on three Russian LNG projects.

The President of the European Commission welcomed the political agreement reached by the EU countries to use funds from frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine.

EU ambassadors expressed concern over Georgia's law on "foreign agents" and its potential impact on the country's European integration process.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk called on the European Union to mobilize at least 100 billion euros for defense and create a joint air defense system to counter Russian aggression.

The European Union has proposed to impose restrictions on 11 vessels that contribute to Russia's war against Ukraine, including banning them from entering EU ports, prohibiting European companies from providing services, and limiting insurance and technical assistance.

The European Union is proposing to ban political parties, think tanks and other groups from accepting funding from Russia, as well as to ban the use of the Russian central bank's financial messaging system as part of the next package of sanctions against Russia.

The European Commissioner and the Ukrainian minister discussed strengthening Ukraine's energy resilience, increasing electricity production for next winter, EU support for infrastructure rehabilitation, terminating the Russian gas transit contract, and integrating Ukrainian energy markets into European ones.

The European Union is ready to use all trade tools to protect its economy if China fails to offer fair access to its markets, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned after talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized that China has consistently supported peace talks in Ukraine, and therefore has no involvement in the Ukrainian crisis.

The European Union is hesitant to attend Vladimir Putin's inauguration ceremony, but EU High Representative Josep Borrell opposes the EU's participation in the event.

Over the past five years, the amount of cocaine seized in the port of Hamburg has tripled, making it the third most important port for drug cartels in Europe after Antwerp and Rotterdam.

During the Ukrainian Defense Industry Forum in Brussels, Ukraine discussed the creation of joint ventures with European defense companies and financing the production of priority weapons for the Armed Forces at Ukrainian defense companies.

The European Commission has sent the EU countries a draft of the 14th package of sanctions against Russia, which includes restrictions on imports of Russian liquefied natural gas, a ban on transshipment of Russian LNG in European ports, sanctions against the Russian "shadow fleet" transporting oil, restrictions on trade with more than 50 non-EU companies that help Russia avoid sanctions, and a ban on Russian funding of political parties and non-governmental organizations in the EU.

Von der Leyen and Macron expect China to use all its influence on Russia to stop its aggressive war against Ukraine and limit the supply of dual-use goods to Russia that end up on the front line in Ukraine.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for greater strategic coordination and partnership between China and the EU amid disputes.

French President Macron told Chinese President Xi that coordination on the crises in Ukraine and the Middle East is crucial, advocating for balanced Sino-European trade relations and dialogue amid the international situation.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping arrives in France on a state visit to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Franco-Chinese diplomatic relations and meet with Emmanuel Macron.