German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius suggested that drone sightings over Belgium could be related to discussions about the use of frozen Russian assets. Belgium holds 183 billion euros in Russian assets, which constitutes the majority of all Russian state assets in the EU.
The European Council and Parliament have agreed to accelerate investments in the EU defense industry as part of the ReArm Europe plan. Ukraine will gain access to the European Defense Fund for joint developments.
Ukraine is actively preparing for EU accession negotiations, with the support of 26 member states and working to change Hungary's position. Deputy Prime Minister Kachka stated that all six clusters will be ready for opening by the end of November, and completing negotiations by 2028 is a realistic goal.
The National Bank of Ukraine has set the official exchange rate of the dollar for November 5 at 42. 07 hryvnias, which is 3 kopecks more. The euro exchange rate is 48.33 hryvnias, and the zloty is 11.35 hryvnias.
The European Commission confirmed the commitments made at the EU summit to meet Ukraine's financial needs in 2026 and 2027, continuing work, including on a "reparations loan. " The issue will be discussed again at the European Council in December, after the Belgian Prime Minister blocked the use of frozen Russian assets at the October summit.
On November 4, a "EU enlargement summit" will be held in Brussels with the participation of leaders of candidate countries, including Ukraine. The future of European integration will be discussed live at the event.
The European Commission is examining the concerns of EU leaders regarding a "reparation loan" for Ukraine, particularly those expressed by the Belgian Prime Minister. This concerns the use of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine.
The European Commission will propose other options for supporting Ukraine after the EU summit failed to agree on a "reparation loan. " The main focus remains on frozen Russian assets, said European Commission spokeswoman Paula Pinho.
The European Union is considering a plan to raise tens of billions of euros in common debt to support Ukraine. This comes after Belgium blocked the use of frozen Russian assets for financial aid to Kyiv.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico stated that his government will never sign a loan guarantee for Ukraine for military expenditures. Slovakia will not spend a single cent from its own budget for these purposes, but is ready to help Ukraine with humanitarian issues.
EU member states supported the idea of introducing a minimum age for access to social networks. The European Commission is working on the technical basis for implementing age restrictions.
The President of the European Council, António Costa, announced that the EU will make a decision on financing Ukraine in December 2025, confirming continued support.
The team of European Council President António Costa is changing the conclusions to persuade Belgium to support a €140 billion loan to Ukraine. EU leaders are discussing new wording that addresses the red lines of Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy held a series of meetings with European leaders during the EU Summit in Brussels.
The European Council is preparing a decision on financing Ukraine's needs in 2026-2027, including the procurement of military equipment. European Council President António Costa stated that support would continue "as long as it takes," and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the need to increase pressure on Putin.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to attend a meeting of the European Council, where further support for Ukraine and pressure on Russia will be discussed. EU leaders will also consider financial assistance, including the use of frozen Russian assets.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó denied reports about a possible relocation of the summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin to Budapest. He called them false, pointing to expected "disinformation" before events that influence the choice between war and peace.
Cyprus will focus on cutting red tape during its EU Council presidency, which begins on January 1, 2026. The country aims to foster a more business-friendly environment, enhancing the EU's competitiveness and resilience.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders, including Merz, Macron, and Starmer, advocated for an immediate ceasefire. They propose considering the current line of contact as a starting point for negotiations, supporting Trump's position.
Ukraine's allies are seeking to strengthen its position ahead of Trump-Putin talks, fearing a bad deal. They are preparing a support package that includes funding, weapons, and new sanctions against Russia, and plan to involve Zelenskyy in any negotiations.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a conversation with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. He announced numerous meetings and negotiations in Europe this week.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that Europe's solidarity with Ukraine against Russian aggression is more important than ever before. This became clear after President Zelenskyy's negotiations at the White House and with European leaders.
European leaders, including Finnish President Alexander Stubb and European Council President António Costa, expressed full support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after his conversation with Donald Trump. They reaffirmed military, financial, and diplomatic assistance, as well as security guarantees for Ukraine.
The European Commission has presented the "Preserving Peace - Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030" to strengthen European defense capabilities. It includes four flagship areas and sets goals for achieving full defense readiness by 2030.
The EU Council discussed the future defense readiness roadmap, which will define goals and objectives until 2030. The document will be adopted on October 16 and presented on October 23, 2025.
From October 12, the EU is gradually implementing the biometric registration system EES, which will replace passport stamps. Ukrainians with temporary protection or a residence permit are not subject to registration, but for others, border crossing times may increase.
As of the end of August 2025, 4. 37 million Ukrainians had temporary protection in the EU, which is 30,980 more people than at the end of July. The largest increase was recorded in Germany, the Czech Republic, and Romania.
The EU is proposing a law that would oblige companies to scan messages in messengers before encryption. But many experts warn that this will undermine user privacy and security.
Polish and Baltic officials sharply reacted to statements by former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who, in their opinion, partially blamed them for Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Merkel pointed to the refusal of Eastern European countries to engage in direct negotiations with Putin in 2021.
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof has expressed support for using frozen Russian assets to provide a loan to Ukraine, despite financial and legal risks. He emphasized the need for risk sharing to enable swift action.
