European Union

Kęstutis Budrys arrived in Kyiv, despite the intensification of Russian shelling of civilian infrastructure. He will discuss support for Ukraine and pressure on Russia.

The Government of Ukraine has approved a strategy for the development of the field of electronic communications, which provides for the restoration of networks, the development of stable communications and the launch of 5G. The strategy is designed until 2030.

European forests, which have been absorbing carbon for decades, are now emitting it due to extreme weather and deforestation. This threatens the EU's climate goals.

Gitanas Nausėda criticizes the insufficient determination of anti-Russian sanctions, calling for disconnecting banks from SWIFT, sanctions against the "shadow fleet" and energy companies. He also emphasized the importance of supporting Ukraine.

The European Union will continue funding security projects in Ukraine in 2025-2027. The priority is the training of Ukrainian military personnel and investments in the defense industry.

The French government is considering obliging Elon Musk's X to verify users' ages. This may limit children's access to the social network due to the distribution of pornographic content.

German Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig is advocating for age restrictions on social media to protect children and promote their development. This will also make it easier for parents to control their children's online activities.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has said he will not support EU sanctions against Russia if they harm his country's national interests. He will not support the cessation of fuel imports for nuclear power plants.

The Foreign Affairs Committees of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia supported Ukraine's membership in the EU and NATO. They called on other countries to support Ukraine's victory and integration.

Ukraine is facing problems with the purchase of spare parts for Soviet equipment due to certification barriers and restrictions. Imports from the Russian Federation are prohibited, which complicates the maintenance of military equipment.

President of the European Council Costa stated that the EU is assessing Israel's compliance with human rights in Gaza. Measures are being considered, including changes in trade relations.

Ukrainian and EU officials have called on European theaters not to invite Russian artists who support the war. Instead, it is proposed to hire Ukrainian or European performers.

The free trade regime between Ukraine and the EU remains in place, but additional benefits have been abolished. Tariff quotas will apply to 40 categories of agricultural products, which may reduce revenue by $800 million.

Ukraine is preparing to become part of the "roaming like at home" zone from January 1, 2026. The EC has received a report on the laws adopted for integration.

The President of Ukraine stated the importance of progress in negotiations on joining the EU this year. He emphasized Ukraine's contribution to European unity and the need for security guarantees.

Ukraine has expressed dissatisfaction with the EU's plans to pay €3 billion to private investors from frozen Russian assets. Kyiv considers this unfair, insisting on compensation for the victims of aggression.

The EU and Ukraine are negotiating a new agreement on import quotas for agricultural products. The quotas will be set between current levels and temporary exemptions granted after the Russian invasion.

Ukraine's international reserves amounted to $44. 5 billion as of June 1, 2025, decreasing by 4.6% due to NBU's foreign exchange interventions and government debt payments. Despite the decrease, the volume of reserves remains sufficient.

Negotiations are ongoing regarding quotas for the export of Ukrainian products to the EU. Export losses are estimated at $800 million due to the restoration of the pre-war trade regime.

Ukraine and Norway have extended the "transport visa-free regime" until the end of 2025. Special permits for freight transportation are not required if the transport meets the Euro-5 standard.

Due to the destruction of the Kakhovka dam, the EU and IOM are allocating funds for the restoration of pumping stations and water pipelines. The project is designed for 700,000 residents, including IDPs.

Brussels lawmakers are looking for ways to increase financial pressure on Russia. Most members of the European Parliament are in favor of including Russia in the list of countries with weak control over money laundering.

US President Donald Trump has spoken positively about a potential trade agreement with the European Union. Trump hopes for an agreement, otherwise the US will impose tariffs.

EU Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra has said that climate change could quadruple the likelihood of conflict over scarce resources. The military is consulting on the impact of climate on security.

Queen Maxima presented the Cathedral in Prague with the Bell of Freedom, made from Russian shells fired at Ukraine. The bell symbolizes solidarity with Ukraine and all victims of aggression.

NATO defense ministers discussed support for Ukraine and the allocation of 25 billion euros in additional security assistance. Support was also given to assistance proposals announced at the "Ramstein" meeting.

Ukraine is preparing for changes in export policy due to the termination of EU preferences. It is planned to reduce the export of raw materials and increase domestic processing to increase profits.

The shadow economy in Ukraine reaches 50% of the market, which leads to budget losses of 800-900 billion hryvnias. The most profitable sectors are tobacco, alcohol, gadgets, the agricultural sector and the gambling business.

The restoration of the pre-war trade regime with the EU will lead to losses of Ukrainian exports of $800 million. However, these losses are not critical and can be compensated.

The National Council of Slovakia adopted a resolution prohibiting the government from voting for new sanctions against Russia at the international level. The Slovak National Party was the initiator.