European Union

Donald Trump has signed a document extending US sanctions against Russia for a year over the invasion of Ukraine. The restrictive measures imposed in 2014-2022 will remain in effect until March 6, 2025.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is facing a dilemma over a possible EU military mission in Ukraine. She has to balance between supporting European ambitions and maintaining good relations with Trump.

The US imposes a 25% duty on goods from Canada and Mexico due to drug trafficking and illegal migration. An additional 10% duty is imposed on Chinese imports, causing financial markets to fall.

The President of Ukraine met with Michael Martin to discuss steps to end the war and security guarantees. The parties discussed cooperation in demining, EU training missions and the Food from Ukraine program.

The study identified three areas where Ukraine could strengthen the EU's strategic autonomy: critical materials, industry, and food. Ukraine's integration could double its GDP in 10 years and create 815,000 jobs.

The UK has imposed sanctions on 40 tankers of Russia's shadow fleet. Together with the EU and Canadian sanctions, more than half of the tankers transporting Russian oil are under restrictions.

The EU may not extend trade preferences for Ukraine after June 6, 2025. This could lead to annual losses of EUR 3.5-4 billion for the Ukrainian economy and a return to the old system of quotas and duties.

The President of Ukraine will visit Ireland to meet with Prime Minister Michael Martin. Zelenskyy will then travel to the United States to discuss an agreement on rare earth minerals.

Lithuanian Revolut Bank UAB started operating in Ukraine without obtaining the necessary permits from the NBU. The regulator emphasizes that the company must obtain a banking license, and Ukrainian consumer protection legislation does not apply to its customers.

The European Union is developing the largest regional security initiative since the Cold War. The plan includes hundreds of billions of euros for defense and consists of three key funding elements.

The US administration has terminated nearly 5,800 USAID grants, keeping only 500 worth $57 billion. Secretary Rubio has made a decision on each grant, but the plaintiffs are challenging the possibility of such a quick review.

According to forecasts, Ukraine's population could drop to 25 million by 2050. Currently, the country is home to about 36 million people, 5 million fewer than before the war.

European Council President Antonio Costa invites Zelenskyy to Brussels for a special meeting on European defense. The meeting will begin at 12:30 with a discussion of security guarantees for Ukraine.

European officials are developing proposals to create a special defense fund to increase military investment. They are considering a “rearmament bank” and a special targeted instrument with a budget of 500 billion euros.

Macron did not receive specific commitments from Trump regarding Ukraine's security guarantees during his visit to Washington. The US refuses to provide significant guarantees, shifting the responsibility to Europe.

CDU/CSU leader Friedrich Merz made his first foreign visit to Paris to meet with Macron. The conservative bloc won 208 seats in the Bundestag, but this is not enough to form a government.

The planned meeting between EU High Representative Kallas and US Secretary of State Rubio was canceled due to “scheduling issues. ” The cancellation comes amid rising tensions between the US and EU over migration and freedom of speech.

Viktor Orbán's government proposes to move the annual LGBT pride parade from the streets of Budapest to an enclosed space, explaining it as “child protection. ” This continues a series of restrictions on the rights of the LGBTQ+ community in Hungary.

Donald Trump announced the introduction of 25% tariffs on imports from the EU, including cars. The US President accused the EU of creating a bloc to “rob” the United States.

The European Union has reduced the sanctions list for embezzlement of Ukrainian state funds from 18 to 3 people. Viktor Yanukovych, who has been under sanctions since 2014, is no longer on the list.

44 WTO members and Ukraine sign the annual statement condemning the impact of Russia's invasion. For the first time, the United States refused to support the document, indicating a change in its position.

The European Union has extended sanctions against individuals associated with Yanukovych, but the list has been reduced from 18 to 3. Yanukovych himself is no longer on the sanctions list.

The French president held a videoconference with the leaders of 27 EU countries after meeting with Trump. Macron reaffirmed their shared commitment to creating conditions for lasting peace in Ukraine.

Hungary threatens to block the extension of EU sanctions against Russia, demanding the exclusion of 9 influential Russians. Among them are oligarchs Friedman, Usmanov and Sports Minister Degtyarev.

Polish Prime Minister Tusk said that the country would not directly participate in the EU peacekeeping mission in Ukraine. Instead, Poland is ready to provide full logistical support to the European mission with the support of the United States.

French President Macron briefed EU leaders on the results of his meeting with Trump in Washington. This discussion took place on the eve of a special European Council meeting on March 6 to support Ukraine.

Head of the State Tax Service of Ukraine Ruslan Kravchenko met with the Ambassador of Austria to discuss cooperation in the tax area. The parties discussed transfer pricing control and exchange of financial information.

The NBU published data on payment transactions in Ukraine for 2024. Credit transfers dominated with 3.6 billion domestic transactions worth over UAH 43 trillion, and 7.1 million international transfers were also made.

The European Union does not have enough money to compensate for the suspension of USAID on its own. About 55.8 billion euros of American aid could disappear, which would especially affect Ukraine and Eastern Europe.

Tesla shares fell 9% after sales in the EU and UK nearly halved in January. The company's market capitalization fell below $1 trillion for the first time since November due to competition and Musk's controversial statements.