European Union

Friedrich Merz stated that Ukraine cannot become a member of NATO or the EU while the war is ongoing. He also warned against underestimating the resilience of Russia and its policies.

The Estonian Department of Transport has discovered 40 violations on the tanker Kiwala, detained in the Gulf of Finland. Because of this, the ship cannot continue to move until the shortcomings are eliminated.

The Trump administration intends to conclude a large number of trade deals in a short period. The introduction of duties on more than 75 countries has been postponed for this period.

EU finance ministers are discussing the creation of a European Defense Mechanism (EDM) for the joint procurement of weapons. Countries outside the EU, such as Ukraine, will be able to join the fund.

Kaspar Veldkamp in Lviv honored the memory of the fallen defenders of Ukraine. The visit program includes a conference, meetings and discussions on Ukraine's integration into the EU.

The Estonian Navy detained the tanker "Kivala", which was heading to Russia and is under EU sanctions. The vessel is suspected of illegal movement without a flag.

Rachel Reeves stated the need for closer cooperation with the EU due to Trump's rhetoric. Britain seeks access to the EU defense fund and participation of companies in the bloc's armament.

A contact center for rights holders was presented at the BEB. It will help to respond more quickly to the circulation of counterfeit goods. Since the beginning of the year, counterfeit goods worth over UAH 480 million have been seized.

Lithuania plans to introduce national sanctions against Russia and Belarus if the European Union does not extend the existing economic restrictions. The relevant bill is already being considered in the Seimas.

In 2024, European Union countries have allocated over 23 billion euros in military aid to Ukraine. This is more than the 20 billion euros allocated last year.

Research shows that plastic recycling is hardly increasing, despite the increase in its production. In 2022, only 9.5% of new plastic was made from recycled materials.

Ukraine is preparing a draft law to legalize virtual assets, which is based on the European MiCA directive. The NSSMC, together with the NBU, are working on the document to protect investors.

Kaja Kallas stated that the EU still lacks clarity on the forces needed to guarantee Ukraine's security. She emphasized the importance of increasing pressure on Russia.

Ukraine is ready to provide the EU with information on the involvement of sanctioned individuals in financing Russian aggression. This was stated by Stefanishyna during a meeting of the European Commission's Working Group.

The Chinese leader will visit three Southeast Asian countries to strengthen economic ties. The visit takes place against the background of trade tensions between the USA and China.

EU representatives plan to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in July to discuss trade. This comes amid trade tensions between the US and China.

Great Britain and France are planning to increase military support for Ukraine. In particular, security guarantees and the restoration of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are being considered.

Ukraine and Belgium will cooperate in the defense sector and increase joint production. The parties also discussed sanctions against Russia and Ukraine's European integration.

Ukraine is preparing new sanctions packages against Russia, including against the shadow tanker fleet. The sanctions are aimed at stopping the financing of the war and will be synchronized with partners.

The Special Tribunal regarding aggression against Ukraine will not try Putin, Mishustin, and Lavrov in absentia while they are in power. An absentia trial is possible only after Putin's resignation.

EU institutions have reached an agreement on the first law on soil, which provides for a five-level assessment of their condition. A public list of contaminated sites and the "polluter pays" principle will also be created.

The US and China are fighting for rare earth metals, affecting economic stability. Ukraine and the US are working on an agreement to jointly protect minerals.

Trump's decision to suspend tariff increases was positively received in Europe and Asia. Uncertainty remains, keeping the world on edge, but there is hope for economic prudence.

The plant, which is part of the Russian military-industrial complex, was damaged. Ukraine, the EU, the US, Britain, Japan and Switzerland have imposed sanctions against the plant for supporting the war.

From April, entrance to museums and archaeological sites in Greece will become more expensive, with a ticket to the Acropolis costing 30 euros. Free admission for EU citizens under 25 years of age remains.

Tomorrow, technical consultations will take place in Washington with teams from the Ministries of Justice and Economy. Any agreement cannot harm Ukraine's goals regarding the EU.

Next week, Hungary will begin sending out ballots for a survey of citizens regarding support for Ukraine's membership in the EU. The Hungarian government continues to express concern about this issue.

Putin's spokesman said that the Kremlin will "protect" its frozen assets. He added that some EU countries are against using them for the reconstruction of Ukraine.

The European Union is suspending planned counter-tariffs on American goods for 90 days. This happened after the US announced a moratorium on tariffs for negotiations.

Ukraine is sending a working group to the US to negotiate a minerals agreement, seeking greater investment. Shmyhal emphasized that the agreement will not harm European integration.