European Union
The European Commission has officially denied information about the possibility of resuming purchases of Russian gas in exchange for peace talks. The spokesperson for the EC President confirmed the course of refusal from Russian gas.
The flag of the European Union was removed from the ceremonial hall of the Georgian president's residence. The new president, Mikheil Kavelashvili, left only the national flag and the presidential standard.
The European University of Viadrina documents the environmental damage caused by Russia's war in Ukraine, which could reach 72 billion euros. 220 nature reserves have been damaged, 25 thousand hectares of forest destroyed, and 1 million hectares of land mined.
The President of the European Council announced the readiness of NATO member states in the EU to increase defense spending by more than 2% of GDP. Since 2022, military spending has already increased by 30%.
Ukraine protested to the Slovak ambassador over Prime Minister Fico's statements about interference in internal affairs. The Foreign Ministry called on Bratislava to stop relaying Kremlin rhetoric and return to constructive dialogue.
Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, and Poland call on the EU to increase military spending to 3% of GDP. The countries propose to use joint borrowing and allocate 50 billion euros for the production of artillery.
The Ministry of Culture has included Nikita Dzhigurda in the list of persons threatening the national security of Ukraine. The actor took part in anti-Ukrainian events in the occupied territories and sent aid to Russian troops.
The European partners demand that the Healthcare and Defense Departments work effectively and with full management. Deputy Prime Minister Stefanishyna emphasized the importance of fulfilling commitments and avoiding aggressive communication.
The PACE adopted the resolution “European commitment to a just and lasting peace in Ukraine” with 86 votes. The document supports the “peace through strength” formula and for the first time recognizes China's role in supporting Russian aggression.
50. 2% of Poles believe that Ukraine will not be able to join the EU and NATO without resolving the issue of exhumation of the victims of the Volyn tragedy. Most supporters of this position are oppositionists and middle-aged people.
Russia's sovereign wealth fund will be exhausted in early 2026 at current military spending levels. Russia is actively seeking support from the EU to resume energy purchases and ease sanctions.
European officials are discussing the possibility of resuming imports of Russian pipeline gas as part of a peace settlement. Germany and Hungary support the initiative to reduce energy prices.
The European Commission plans to cut administrative costs for companies by 25% and for small businesses by 35%. The plan is aimed at stimulating innovation and increasing competitiveness with China and the United States.
The Syrian government has asked Russia to extradite Bashar al-Assad, who fled to Moscow in December. Damascus is also demanding compensation for supporting the Assad regime and participating in the reconstruction of the country.
The EU Court of Justice has rejected an appeal by Oleksandr Vinokurov to lift sanctions imposed over the war in Ukraine. Lavrov's son-in-law, who is the president of Marathon Group and a shareholder in Magnit, remains under restrictive measures.
“Moldovagaz and Tiraspoltransgaz signed an agreement to supply 3 million cubic meters of gas on credit. Transnistria must repay the borrowed gas by March 2025.
The EU plans to add 35 individuals and 19 companies from Russia, the DPRK and China to the sanctions list. The new package will include prohibitive duties on fertilizers and certain agri-food products.
U. S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with EU representative Kaja Kallas about sanctions against Russia. The parties discussed strengthening transatlantic security and increasing European defense spending.
The 16th EU sanctions package against Russia will not include a complete ban on Russian LNG imports. The package will include restrictions on shadow fleet tankers, aluminum, and gaming equipment.
The EU plans a phased ban on imports of Russian aluminum and to disconnect 15 banks from SWIFT. The new package of sanctions will also include restrictions on 70 ships of the “shadow fleet”.
During his visit to Lviv, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares announced new humanitarian aid. Spain also confirmed military support and training for the Ukrainian military.
European countries are ready to join in establishing peace in Ukraine.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico threatens to block EU aid to Ukraine if Russian gas transit does not resume. He called President Zelenskyy an “enemy” and accused him of creating problems for Slovakia.
In 2024, about 70 second-level protective structures were built on Ukrenergo's powerful transformers. The structures effectively protect against drones and missiles, which helped to avoid power outages.
Denmark turned to France for help because of concerns about US territorial claims to Greenland. The French Foreign Minister confirmed his readiness to provide military support at Denmark's request.
EU High Representative Kaja Kallas commented on possible obstacles to Ukraine's accession to the EU from Hungary. She emphasized that despite the complexity of decision-making, the EU always reaches consensus.
The summer period on the European gas market is turning from a traditionally calm one to a high-risk season. Due to reduced supplies from Russia and geopolitical factors, summer gas prices are higher than winter prices.
The European Union is preparing new sanctions against Russia, which will include a ban on the sale of PlayStation and Xbox game consoles. The reason is that the consoles are used by the Russian military to control drones.
The US has introduced a 90-day pause on foreign aid and will audit its use. Scandals at the NBU and corruption cases may affect the trust of international partners and the amount of future assistance.
PACE adopted a resolution on reforming the UN Security Council with 109 votes. The document envisages expanding the membership, revising the veto and strengthening the role of the UN General Assembly.