European Council

The European Council has extended restrictive measures against Iran until July 27, 2025, due to Iran's military support for Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine and armed groups in the Middle East and the Red Sea region.

President of the European Council Charles Michel condemned the attack on former US President Donald Trump during his election campaign.

EU Ambassador to Georgia Pavel Gerchinsky, speaking about Georgia, said that EU leaders have decided to freeze the accession process and are patiently waiting for more clarity from the Georgian government.

After his meeting with Putin, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban sent a letter to EU leaders in which he paraphrased Russian propaganda about "peace for Ukraine," including false claims about Ukrainian military losses.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba congratulated Hungary on its presidency of the EU Council, thanked Belgium for its historic decisions during the presidency, and expressed interest in constructive cooperation and unity of the EU to protect peace and stability in Europe based on reliable support for Ukraine.

EU leaders express serious concerns about Georgia's law on "foreign agents," saying it deviates from EU recommendations and de facto halts Georgia's accession process.

President Zelenskyy said that within a few months, before the second Peace Summit, as a next step after the first summit, a detailed plan should be prepared to address each crisis caused by Putin's war in Ukraine.

Ukraine and the European Union sign a Security Agreement during an EU leaders' summit attended by President Zelenskyy, Charles Michel, and Ursula von der Leyen.

Arriving at the European Council meeting in Brussels, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his desire to discuss with EU leaders the next steps after the start of negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the bloc, as well as pressing issues such as air defense and the need for urgent delivery of military aid packages.

President Zelenskyy is in Brussels to attend a European Council meeting, sign a security agreement with the EU and two other security agreements, and hold talks.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban will meet with French President Macron in Paris ahead of Hungary's EU presidency amid tensions over support for Ukraine and migration policy.

Ursula von der Leyen, Kaya Callas and Antonio Costa were nominated for top positions in the EU after an agreement between EU leaders representing the bloc's three main political groups.

The European Council meeting will start with an exchange of views with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which will provide an opportunity to discuss the situation on the ground and welcome Ukraine's path to European membership.

Ukraine is confidently moving towards full membership in the European Union with projected accession dates until 2030, according to the forecast of the president of the European Council, Charles Michel.

The European Union has opened negotiations on Ukraine's accession, and although we still have a lot of work to do on the way to joining, the Ukrainian side is ready for it, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has said.

Six EU leaders agreed that Ursula von der Leyen, Antonio Costa and Kaya Callas should receive leadership positions in the European Commission, the European Council and the foreign policy service, respectively.

The EU Council approved the common positions and negotiating framework for accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, setting the stage for the start of negotiations on June 25 in Luxembourg.

Kuleba discussed with the Polish Foreign Minister providing greater opportunities for Ukraine's air defense and strengthening security in the entire region.

EU leaders failed to agree on candidates for key EU positions, including Ursula von der Leyen's second term as president of the European Commission.

Iraq and Jordan withdrew their signatures from the joint communiqué of the Global Peace Summit, bringing the document aimed at achieving peace in Ukraine to 78 countries.

President of the European Council Charles Michel said that Ukraine should determine when a dialogue with Russia is possible, but it should be based on international law and the UN Charter.

Estonia's Prime Minister Kaja Kallas is being considered for the post of Europe's top diplomat and head of the European Commission's Foreign and Security Policy Service, according to reports citing European diplomatic sources.

The EU notes a rapidly emerging consensus on preferred names for top EU leadership positions: naming Ursula von der Leyen for a second term as president of the European Commission, António Costa as president of the European Council, Roberta Metsola as head of the European Parliament and Kaja Kallas as head of EU diplomacy.

Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Germany to attend a conference on Ukraine's reconstruction, hold talks with Chancellor Olaf Scholz on defense support, air defense, joint arms production, and coordinate positions ahead of future summits.

Ursula von der Leyen, the current president of the European Commission, is the main candidate to be re-elected to the post on July 18 after being officially nominated by EU leaders.

The EU Council adopted a resolution on the introduction of increased duties on grain, oilseeds and processed products imported from Russia and Belarus to prevent destabilization of the EU grain market and Russian exports of illegally appropriated Ukrainian grain.

The EU Military Assistance Mission (EUMAM) will train 60,000 Ukrainian soldiers by the end of summer 2024, expanding training to maritime and air, and the EU Advisory Mission Ukraine (EUAM) will increase support for Ukrainian law enforcement agencies in the liberated territories and related reforms.

The European Union emphasizes the critical importance of accelerated deliveries of military equipment, including ammunition, missiles, air defense, artillery and drones, to meet Ukraine's urgent needs, and welcomes progress on the implementation of the Ukraine Assistance Fund and on the potential use of Russia's immobilized assets.

The EU intends to sign security commitments with Ukraine by the end of June to ensure long-term support for Ukraine's defense capabilities and deterrence against future aggression.

President Zelenskyy discussed with President of the European Council Charles Michel preparations for the Peace Summit to achieve a just peace.