On Europe Day, U. S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken emphasized the importance of the U.S.-EU partnership in defending against Russian aggression in Ukraine and noted shared democratic values and economic prosperity.
According to President Zelenskyy, the time from the decision to provide Ukraine with weapons to their arrival at the front line is measured in weeks and months, not kilometers, due to delays in deliveries, despite approved aid packages.
Zelenskyy outlined the main issues to be discussed at the Peace Summit in Switzerland. Among them are the exchange of prisoners, the return of abducted Ukrainian children and deported citizens, as well as nuclear and food security issues.
Ruslan Stefanchuk, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, met with Robert Metsola, President of the European Parliament, in an air raid shelter during her visit to Kyiv on Europe Day to discuss military support, Ukraine's EU membership bid, and support for parliamentary cooperation.
According to President Zelenskyy, the russians have increased the number of troops across Ukraine, especially in the north and east, taking advantage of a pause in the supply of weapons.
The Ukrainian military will be able to stop the Russian invaders in the east thanks to an increase in arms supplies from the approved US military aid package, which will allow them to seize the initiative from Russia, President Zelenskyy believes.
During a joint press conference between President Zelensky and European Parliament President Metzola in Kyiv, an air raid alarm sounded, revealing Russia's true attitude toward peace and the fight against Nazism.
Ukraine is close to the start of actual accession negotiations with the European Union, and the President of the European Parliament is optimistic that the framework for negotiations will be adopted by EU member states in June.
During her visit to Kyiv, European Parliament President Roberta Mecola met with barista Maria, who continued to make coffee in a cafe damaged by russian shelling, demonstrating the resilience of the Ukrainian spirit.
The European Union does not recognize the so-called Russian elections, especially those held illegally in the occupied territories of Ukraine, and the new European Parliament is expected to take a strong position.
Putin is not going to stop, President Zelensky said.
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.
President Zelenskyy and European Parliament President Mecola met in Kyiv to maximize efforts to protect lives in Ukraine and Europe from Russia's ongoing invasion and attacks.
After the air alert ended, the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Mecola, began her speech in the session hall of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Europe Day.
Ukraine's path to EU accession will be difficult, but the European Parliament and the EU will help rebuild Ukraine's infrastructure and economy because Ukraine is Europe and Europe is Ukraine, said European Parliament President Roberta Metsola.
Ukraine is close to starting EU accession talks after fulfilling all the necessary requirements, and the negotiation phase is expected to begin in June, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Shared values and history make a country truly European, which is a true European strength that must be multiplied in order to protect life and values on the continent, to inherit a peaceful and united Europe to our children, and to defeat evil like Hitler and Putin.
President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola arrived in Kyiv on Europe Day, May 9, as she announced on her social media, where she posted a video of herself greeting Ukrainian Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk at the railway station.
The Central Election Commission of Ukraine emphasized the nullity of the "results" of the Russian presidential election held in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, declaring them illegitimate and calling on foreign states and international organizations not to recognize them.
EU ambassadors expressed concern over Georgia's law on "foreign agents" and its potential impact on the country's European integration process.
According to members of the European Parliament, Georgia's status as an EU candidate is under threat because of the ruling party's ties to the Kremlin and the suppression of protests.
The EU Council has approved the first-ever law on combating violence against women and domestic violence, which provides for harsh penalties for perpetrators and comprehensive support for victims across the EU.
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.
Ukraine calls on the world not to recognize Vladimir Putin as the legitimate president of Russia due to the undemocratic nature of the recent elections and Russia's ongoing aggression against Ukraine.
Some members of the European Parliament earn extra money by working part-time for private companies, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest and influence on EU policy-making.
NATO recognizes two options for direct intervention in Ukraine's war with Russia: a breakthrough on Ukraine's northwestern border to create a corridor to Belarus or a military provocation against the Baltic states, Poland, or Moldova that could test the West's reaction during the elections.
A candidate of the Social Democratic Party of Germany was beaten and seriously injured during campaigning for the European Parliament elections in Dresden, he was taken to the hospital.
The European Commission has launched an official investigation into Meta (Facebook and Instagram) for potential violations of the Digital Services Act related to misleading advertising, disinformation campaigns, lack of effective tools for monitoring public discourse and elections, inadequate mechanisms for detecting illegal content and compensating users, and shortcomings in providing access to data for researchers.
On June 9, Slovenia will hold a referendum on the legalization of euthanasia and the cultivation of cannabis for medical and personal use, combined with elections to the European Parliament.