European Union

The Hungarian Foreign Minister announced the blocking of payments from the European Peace Fund to compensate for the supply of weapons to Ukraine. The reason for this was Ukraine's tightening of sanctions against Lukoil, which led to the suspension of Russian oil transit.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba announced Ukraine's active participation in the Transnistrian settlement process. Ukraine supports a peaceful resolution of the conflict with respect for Moldova's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Viktor Medvedchuk's yacht Royal Romance is under arrest under EU sanctions. The Prosecutor General's Office is actively cooperating with international partners to develop a mechanism for its confiscation and sale.

Kristen Mihal, the new Prime Minister of Estonia, announced long-term support for Ukraine in the war against russia. He said that Estonia plans to raise 1 billion euros to purchase ammunition and increase defense spending.

The President of Ukraine discussed further support for Ukraine with Kristen Michal. Estonia confirmed the preservation of defense aid at 0.25% of GDP and support for Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic aspirations.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba met with his Moldovan counterpart Mihai Popcea. They discussed security, energy, logistics, and European integration, strengthening cooperation between the two countries.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that the country's recovery will bring multibillion-dollar investments. Kuleba also emphasized the prospects for closer economic cooperation with Moldova in the context of both countries' accession to the EU.

The Strategic Investment Council under the Government of Ukraine plans to approve the list of public investment projects for 2025 in September. The Council was created to prioritize and prepare a single portfolio of public investment projects.

The average global air temperature reached a record 17. 09°C. This exceeded the previous record of 2023 by 0.01°C, confirming the trend towards global warming.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba is making his first visit to China since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion. He plans to hold detailed talks with his Chinese counterpart on ways to achieve a just peace.

Ukrzaliznytsia will receive €43 million from the EU for the development of the European gauge. The project involves improving the railway network and developing a 1435 mm gauge on the Chop-Lviv and Lviv-Chernivtsi-Vadul-Siret sections.

The government launched loan programs for the installation of alternative energy sources. The first loans were issued to businesses and individuals.

Euroclear promises a first installment of €1. 5 billion from frozen Russian assets for Ukraine in July. The funds will be used for weapons, air defense, ammunition, and the development of the defense industry.

The Deputy Minister of Energy refuted the myth about Ukraine's electricity exports. Due to the destruction of 9 GW of generating capacities, the country imports electricity to cover domestic needs.

Ukraine fulfilled the conditions for receiving a tranche from the EU in September. The government is also attracting a grant from the US for salaries and social programs through the World Bank.

Ukraine's agricultural exports increased by 5% to $12. 45 billion in the first half of 2024. The EU remains the main importer, and exports to Africa increased 1.7 times.

Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration Ihor Zhovkva emphasized the importance of using the next 5 years effectively in negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU. Bilateral screening, which is a more technical stage of the process, has begun.

Borrell supports Zelenskyy's intention to hold a second peace summit, but Russia's participation should not be on Putin's terms. The EU and Ukraine discussed the next steps after the Peace Summit in Switzerland and cooperation with global partners.

Radoslaw Sikorski called on the EU to allow Ukraine to use long-range weapons for self-defense. He also suggested holding an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Lviv as a sign of solidarity.

Robert Fico said that the sanctions against lukoil hurt some EU countries, not russia. He says that this could lead to a reduction in oil supplies to the Slovnaft refinery and affect supplies to Ukraine.

Poland will not be involved in recruitment to the Ukrainian Legion, the process will be carried out through Ukrainian consulates. Instead, the Polish army will conduct basic training for volunteers on its territory.

The President of Ukraine called for preserving unity in Europe despite Putin's attempts to create a split. Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of joint actions and determination of European countries to ensure peace.

President Zelenskyy signed a decree on a new maritime security strategy for Ukraine. It provides for the creation of an international platform 'Safe Black Sea' and the conclusion of agreements on security guarantees in the Azov-Black Sea basin.

Estonia joined the ban on the entry of cars with Belarusian license plates imposed by Latvia and Lithuania. The ban is related to the tightening of EU sanctions against Belarus for supporting Russian aggression in Ukraine.

Georgian NGOs and media organizations, along with the president, have filed a lawsuit with the Constitutional Court against the controversial Law on Foreign Agents, which requires NGOs and media outlets receiving foreign grants to register as foreign agents, citing violations of citizens' rights and Georgia's integration into the EU and NATO.

The European Commission has agreed to provide Ukraine with about EUR 4. 2 billion, which will strengthen Ukraine's macro-financial stability in the face of the ongoing war.

The Ministry of Economy discussed expanding cooperation with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to attract additional resources for Ukraine, in particular for projects in the energy sector, strengthening war risk insurance, increasing financial instruments, and supporting demining and investment initiatives.

Japan plans to provide Ukraine with a $3. 3 billion loan as part of a $50 billion financial support package from the Group of Seven countries, which will be repaid from the proceeds of frozen Russian assets.

Lithuania will ban the entry of cars with Belarusian license plates into the country from July 18, with the exception of diplomatic vehicles and personal use until August 16, 2024.

Chinese company ByteDance, which owns TikTok, has lost its appeal against the European Union's decision to recognize the digital company as a “gatekeeper” - a platform with special influence - under the EU's new law on digital markets.