European Union

Law enforcement officers exposed a scheme to smuggle men of military age abroad. The organizers charged $10,000 per person, transporting about 40 people through Zakarpattia to Romania.

Billionaires Arkady and Boris Rotenberg have seized 10 plots of land in Crimea that previously belonged to Ukrainian businessmen. The land is needed for the construction of a yacht marina in Balaklava Bay on behalf of Putin.

Pavlo Gerchynsky called the posters of the “Georgian Dream” with the ruins of Ukrainian cities outrageous and shameful. The ambassador emphasized that peace in Georgia and the EU was achieved at the cost of the sacrifices of the Ukrainian people.

The European Court of Justice has ruled that certain FIFA rules on player transfers are in conflict with EU legislation on the free movement of workers. The decision may have significant implications for the transfer market.

Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico has expressed a desire to restore economic relations with Russia after the war in Ukraine ends. He is also in favor of maintaining the transit of Russian raw materials to Europe through Ukraine.

The EU plans to impose sanctions on Iran for supplying ballistic missiles to Russia. The first package of restrictions will apply to about a dozen individuals and legal entities, including companies in the machine-building, metallurgical and aviation industries.

Vladyslav Kosinyak-Kamysh said that Ukraine will not join the EU without resolving the issue of exhumation of the victims of the Volyn tragedy. He emphasized the importance of historical truth and reconciliation for EU accession.

In Kyiv, an increased air quality index was recorded in almost all districts except Holosiivskyi. Doctors advise to limit outdoor activities and physical activity in the open air.

In Moldova, five websites were blocked on the instructions of the Information and Security Service, including Russian Yandex, Rutube, and Dzen. Two websites of the MD24 Internet TV channel, associated with oligarch Ilan Shor, were also blocked.

Moldovan police say that Russia transferred $15 million to 130,000 citizens to vote against joining the EU. The funds were transferred through the network of pro-Russian oligarch Ilan Shor.

The Romanian Minister of Agriculture announced his intention to restrict imports of eggs and poultry meat from Ukraine. Romania supported Bulgaria's proposal to ban imports of Ukrainian eggs due to the negative impact on local producers.

Ukraine plans to create a €16 billion investment fund to support communities and businesses affected by the war. The fund will be part of the Ukraine Facility program and will be financed by international financial institutions.

The external independent audit of the NABU has started. Experts will assess the effectiveness of detectives' work, which is important for Ukraine to receive international financial assistance and EU membership.

Shalva Papuashvili signed a package of laws restricting the rights of LGBT people in Georgia. The country's president refused to sign the document, but the speaker of the parliament did so in accordance with the constitution.

Over the past two years, almost 120 thousand transit declarations have been processed in the NCTS system. The number of declarations has increased 3.7 times over the past year, with the total amount of guarantees reaching EUR 450 million.

The Ukrainian Defense Minister discussed expanding cooperation with leading defense companies. Umerov called for the localization of production and the creation of joint ventures, in particular for the production of missiles and drones.

The decree provides for the allocation of at least 26. 3% of GDP to the security and defense sector in 2025. Priority areas of funding have been identified, including the development of the Armed Forces and cybersecurity.

EU ambassadors have approved a new sanctions mechanism aimed at countering Russia's hybrid actions. It will come into force next week, and names will be added to the sanctions list later.

The SBI transferred the case of Oleksandr Zyma to the police after 9 months of investigation. Experts believe that delaying the case could undermine confidence in the state's anti-corruption efforts.

The strategy identifies demographic threats and ways to overcome them in Ukraine. The goal is to ensure demographic growth, preserve human capital, and create conditions for the return of Ukrainians who have been forced to leave the country.

China increased its weight in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index to 27. 8%. This was due to a $3.2 trillion increase in the value of Chinese stocks following the US Federal Reserve's monetary easing and China's stimulus measures.

Andriy Sybiga met with President of Poland Andrzej Duda in Warsaw. They discussed Ukraine's priority defense needs.

The President of Ukraine discussed with the Prime Minister the financial situation and the acceleration of decisions on the use of Russian assets. Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of ensuring justice for Ukraine.

Georgia has begun to compile a list of “foreign agent” organizations. The list includes the Youth Organization of Ukrainians in Georgia - Svitanok, which helps Ukrainian refugees integrate in the country.

European countries are asking their citizens to leave Lebanon because of the threat of an Israeli offensive. Some governments are organizing charter flights, while others are advising to use commercial flights from Beirut.

PACE adopted a resolution calling for sanctions against Russian state media and propagandists. The document also recognizes the Russian Orthodox Church as an instrument of Russian influence and propaganda.

Former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has taken over as NATO chief, replacing Jens Stoltenberg. His main tasks are to support Ukraine, increase defense spending by member states, and maintain US involvement in European security.

The European Asylum Agency (EUAA) recently released data on asylum trends in the European Union for the first half of 2024.

President Zelenskyy has announced that he is preparing to sign the 27th security agreement for Ukraine. The country has already signed 26 such agreements, the most recent being with Ireland in September of this year.

The Deputy Foreign Minister of Poland said that the rule of law and the justice system will be a priority in the negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU. He also emphasized the importance of exhuming the victims of the Volyn tragedy.