European Council

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.

President Zelenskyy invited several other world leaders to the Global Peace Summit in Sweden. In particular, the head of state has invited the presidents of Moldova and the Czech Republic to join the conference.

President of the European Council Charles Michel confirmed his participation in the Global Peace Summit to be held in June during a telephone conversation with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and called on all world leaders to support Ukraine's peace efforts.

Today, on May 9, Ukraine, along with all the countries of the European Union, celebrates Europe Day. The event was launched in 1985 during a meeting of the European Council in Milan.

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.

The Prime Minister of Georgia accused the former US ambassador of fomenting a revolution in the country in 2020-2023.

Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili discussed with European Council President Charles Michel the controversial draft law on foreign agents and Georgia's European integration path amid ongoing protests.

In April, Ukraine did not suspend human rights protection, but partially lifted the restrictions that had been applied earlier, according to the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights.

In April 2024, Ukraine did not suspend the protection of rights, but withdrew reservations on the restriction of a certain set of rights, clarifying existing restrictions and reducing them, within the framework of its international obligations.

The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, said that the US decision to provide military assistance to Ukraine demonstrates the common commitment of the EU and Washington to support a free and independent Ukraine integrated into the Euro-Atlantic community.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell hopes that today's meeting of EU foreign ministers will lead to concrete steps to support Ukraine, as the bloc is working daily to analyze the situation and prepare solutions to help Kyiv.

The European Union has allocated 143 billion euros ($150 billion) in aid to Ukraine, European Council President Charles Michel said.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk calls on protesting Polish farmers to stop blocking the Ukrainian border.

According to Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, 300 billion euros of European savings are transferred abroad, mainly to the United States, every year due to the fragmentation of the EU's capital markets and financial system.

The European Council strongly condemned Russia's air and missile attacks on Ukraine's civilian infrastructure, emphasized the urgent need to ensure Ukraine's air defense, and called for the accelerated and intensified provision of all necessary military assistance, including artillery ammunition and missiles.

President Zelenskyy called on European partners to increase the production and supply of weapons to Ukraine to strengthen its defense against Russian aggression, emphasizing the need for determination and financial support for Ukraine's defense, recovery and social stability.

Belgian authorities have launched an investigation into a Moscow-funded influence network in the European Parliament that paid MEPs to promote the Russian agenda. The network was uncovered by Czech and Polish intelligence agencies on the eve of the European Parliament elections.

The Three Seas Initiative summit adopted a joint declaration expressing a commitment to a more resilient Europe, a stronger transatlantic partnership, and unwavering support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.

The European Parliament refuses to "release" the budget of the EU Council until a decision is made to provide Ukraine with additional Patriot missile defense systems.

Moldova's ambassador to the EU expects Chisinau to start accession talks with the EU by the end of June 2024, moving faster than the Western Balkan countries in the accession process.

Portugal's new government, led by Prime Minister Luiz Montenegro, supports Ukraine's accession to the European Union, having put aside previous hesitations.

The EU called on Georgia to refuse to revise the draft law on "transparency of foreign influence" due to its potential impact on media freedom and Georgia's EU accession process.

European Council President Charles Michel arrived in Romania for the first time since the country partially joined the Schengen area, a step toward free movement of goods and people.

Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, the EU has provided Ukraine with €31 billion worth of military equipment and plans to increase support through a new €5 billion fund and the redirection of excess profits from immobilized Russian assets.

Ukraine expects to start accession talks with the EU in June 2023 on the basis of a gentlemen's agreement with most EU countries.

The EU imposed new sanctions on 33 individuals and 2 organizations involved in the death of ussian opposition leader alexei navalny in a maximum security prison.

Zelenskyy called on EU leaders to provide Ukraine with more air defense systems and ammunition to protect its cities from Russian terror and defeat Putin in the battle for Ukrainian skies.

EU leaders have agreed to use money from frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine buy weapons, with the first €1 billion to be disbursed by July 1, reflecting the growing need due to the war in Ukraine.

The EU leaders unanimously called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of hostages and humanitarian aid.

The European Council has decided to start accession talks with Bosnia and Herzegovina, a key step on the country's path to EU membership.