Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever will hold talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on the use of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine. Belgium expresses concerns about legal aspects and potential risks for its taxpayers.
Trump helped the leaders of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo sign a peace agreement and economic pacts. This will give the US access to the region's valuable minerals, although the implications for the 30-year conflict remain unclear.
Envoys of US President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian negotiators for the third time in two weeks to discuss a peace plan, while the Trump administration eased economic pressure on Russia. The US Treasury Department partially suspended sanctions against Lukoil gas stations outside Russia until April 29.
EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius stated that the European Union must develop its own peace plan for Ukraine, without relying on US initiatives. This is due to the fact that Europe was "caught off guard" by a 28-point peace plan developed by American Trump negotiators together with the Russians without the participation of the EU.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine reported that Russia and 11 other countries opposed the return of Ukrainian children, despite the adoption of a UN resolution. Only 1,850 children have been returned home after forced deportation.
The European Union is significantly strengthening its control over drug trafficking, planning to implement the most modern surveillance methods, including satellites.
The European Commission will open an antitrust procedure regarding the use of artificial intelligence in Meta-owned WhatsApp. The investigation will focus on the competitive implications of integrating Meta's AI assistant into the messenger.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz canceled a trip to Oslo to persuade Belgium to support a €165 billion "reparation loan" to Ukraine. The loan is proposed to be secured by frozen Russian state assets located in Belgium.
Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides stated his country's readiness to provide maximum assistance to Ukraine on its path to EU membership. Cyprus will support Ukraine during its presidency of the EU Council, which begins in 27 days.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes that Cyprus' presidency of the EU Council in 2026 could be historic for Ukraine regarding the opening of negotiation clusters. He also thanked Cyprus for its support and emphasized the need for a new package of sanctions against Russia.
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever blocked an EU plan to provide Ukraine with a 140 billion euro loan. He fears legal and financial retaliation from Russia.
Spiegel reported that the Élysée Palace, in a statement to the German publication, denied that Macron had spoken of any betrayal.
A poll has shown that almost half of Europeans consider Donald Trump an “enemy of Europe,” and more than two-thirds believe their country would not be able to defend itself in the event of a war with Russia. Most respondents support EU membership and believe that Brexit has harmed the United Kingdom.
MEPs are considering regulating energy drinks for minors due to health risks. Some EU countries already have age restrictions, but the European Commission notes that there is insufficient data for safe daily limits for children.
French President Emmanuel Macron met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing, where he sought to achieve a ceasefire in Ukraine and discussed trade relations. Macron called for a rebalancing of trade ties and cooperation with the G7.
From 2026, Poland will see an increase in the minimum wage, the introduction of pay transparency, and new rules for calculating seniority. The fight against mobbing will also be strengthened, along with the digitalization of HR document management.
Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov discussed security guarantees for Ukraine and Europe with national security advisors from key European countries, as well as representatives of the EU and NATO, in Brussels. The parties agreed on further consultations to achieve lasting peace.
The European Union has added Russia to its list of high-risk countries for money laundering and as a sponsor of terrorism.
The Verkhovna Rada extended the testing period for the eExcise system until October 12, 2026. The system is expected to launch on November 1, 2026, giving businesses 10 months for testing.
The European Union proposes to cover two-thirds of Ukraine's financial needs, amounting to 90 billion euros, over the next two years. This will be done through EU borrowing or a reparations loan from frozen Russian assets.
Hungary and Slovakia will appeal to the EU's highest court to challenge the agreement to phase out Russian gas by September next year. Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó stated that the new restrictions are unacceptable, as Hungary cannot ensure energy supply without Russian sources.
The European Commission presented two solutions for financing Ukraine in 2026-2027: EU borrowing and a "reparations loan. "
A large-scale scheme for reselling cars imported from the EU as humanitarian aid for the Armed Forces of Ukraine has been exposed in the Lviv region. The organizer from Cherkasy region and his accomplices used the details of charitable foundations to avoid customs payments, selling cars for cash or dismantling them for spare parts.
Ukraine aims to close the negotiation clusters for accession to the European Union by the end of 2026. Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that technically, Ukraine is ready to open all six clusters by the end of this year.
The European Union has agreed on final rules that provide for a gradual cessation of Russian natural gas imports. A full embargo on supplies will come into force by the end of 2027 after approval by the EU Council and the European Parliament.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Ukraine's readiness to immediately open three clusters in EU membership negotiations, and the rest by the end of this year. He emphasized that the European Commission recognizes that Ukraine can open three clusters, which is half.
The defense ministers of the European Union countries discussed further support for Ukraine and European defense, emphasizing the critical importance of making a decision on multi-year funding for Kyiv.
A high-ranking NATO diplomat stated that the Russian army is incapable of attacking EU countries. This was a response to Vladimir Putin's threats about Russia's readiness for war with Europe.
The Irish media regulator has launched an investigation into TikTok and LinkedIn. The reason is a suspicion of inadequate mechanisms for reporting illegal content, which could lead to a fine of up to 6% of annual revenue.
This year, 17 people have been executed in Singapore for drug and murder offenses, the highest number since 2003. This comes amid renewed debate over the use of capital punishment.
