European Union

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and First Lady Olena Zelenska made a surprise visit to Russia-friendly Serbia, signaling warming relations between the two countries despite Serbia's refusal to join international sanctions against Moscow over the war in Ukraine, media reports say.

The European Union has approved the extension of Ukraine's 'trade visa-free regime', allowing duty-free and quota-free trade for another year, providing important support to Ukrainian producers, exports and the economy.

Experts from the Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise use 3D scanning, aerial photography and other methods to accurately record and document the destruction caused by Russian aggression for use as evidence in future trials.

Zelenskyy will visit Spain to sign a bilateral security agreement with Madrid that will provide long-term military support for Ukraine and cooperation in defense, intelligence, sanctions against Russia, and war crimes prosecution.

Passenger traffic on Ukraine's western border reached 168,000 over the weekend, with more people leaving Ukraine than entering.

12 EU foreign ministers demand a report from Borrell on how Georgia's draft law on "foreign agents" will affect its EU membership application amid criticism of the document.

The situation in the energy sector remains consistently difficult but under control: the most difficult situation is in Kharkiv and Kharkiv region, and restrictions are in place for industrial consumers in Kryvyi Rih.

Gazprom, once Russia's most profitable company, is facing a prolonged period of poor performance due to the loss of gas sales to Europe, trying to compensate for this at the expense of the domestic market and exports to China.

Ukraine is facing a significant electricity shortage for most of the day, which necessitates a consumption restriction for industrial consumers from 5 p. m. to midnight and record electricity imports from 5 European countries.

Due to significant damage to energy facilities and electricity shortages, Ukraine has received emergency electricity from Poland, Romania and Slovakia, and consumption restrictions for industrial consumers may be imposed in the evening.

Gitanas Nausėda and Ingrida Šimonite will meet in the second round of the presidential election in Lithuania. In the first round, Nausėda received 44.19% of the vote, and Šimonite - 19.78%.

An Australian court has overturned an order by the country's cybersecurity regulator to remove a video of an attack on an Assyrian bishop, rejecting the regulator's proposal in a legal dispute that has sparked heated conversations between Elon Musk and Australian officials.

The Greek ambassador left the inauguration of North Macedonia's new president in protest after she referred to the country as simply "Macedonia" during the oath of office, violating an agreement between the two countries.

Kuleba discussed with the new Portuguese Foreign Minister, Paulo Rangel, the implementation of Ukraine's "peace formula" and the bilateral agenda, including Portugal's support for Ukraine's EU membership application.

Thousands of opponents of the law on "foreign agents" in Georgia will spend the night of May 12-13 outside the parliament building ahead of a vote on the controversial bill scheduled for May 14.

Students at Tbilisi State University have been on strike, boycotting classes since May 13 to protest the draft law on "foreign agents" and demand its withdrawal.

Today in Tbilisi, Georgia, a large-scale pro-European protest demanding the withdrawal of the controversial law on "foreign agents" will take place, with participants marching to European Square.

French President Emmanuel Macron said that the EU could increase its aid to Ukraine, including more equipment, and warned that if Russia goes too far, the Europeans should be ready to act.

Poland begins work to further strengthen its entire eastern border.

According to the State Border Guard Service, passenger traffic on Ukraine's western border has remained roughly flat recently, with a slight increase in the number of people traveling abroad than returning to Ukraine.

The European Union plans to provide Ukraine with broad security commitments, including political, military, economic, and reconstruction assistance, by early July, but excluding direct EU military involvement in combat operations against Russia.

Due to damage to energy infrastructure and shelling, Ukraine received emergency electricity supplies from Poland, Romania, and Slovakia, and more than 1,000 consumers in Kharkiv region were cut off from gas supply.

Ukraine is working on the logistics to deploy new U. S. military assistance, including artillery, anti-tank weapons, air defense equipment and systems, to the frontline as soon as possible.

European intelligence agencies are warning of Russian plans for large-scale sabotage across the continent, including explosions, arson and attacks on infrastructure that could lead to civilian casualties, as a new threat emerges involving locals recruited online to attack Western targets.

Georgia's foreign minister criticized the resignation of the country's ambassador to France over the controversial law on "foreign agents," calling it an insult to Georgia and its diplomats.

Iryna Kobeleva, a 16-year-old girl from Mariupol, won 5 medals, including 4 gold and 1 silver, at the European Wushu Championships in Stockholm.

Georgian parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili refused to meet with the EU delegation, which arrived amid protests against the controversial law on "foreign agents," saying their visit could encourage radical opposition actions.

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a draft law to bring Ukrainian excise legislation in line with EU norms, including the definition of "intermediate products", raising excise tax rates on such products and fuel to the EU minimum level by 2028, and clarifying the term "weighted average retail price of cigarettes".

Ukraine and Belgium have begun negotiations on a security cooperation agreement, following President Zelenskyy's order and his recent conversation with Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Kroo.

Ukraine will insist on full territorial integration without any restrictions in the EU membership agreement, citing the precedent of Cyprus and demanding guarantees of inclusion of Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk regions.