European Union

EU envoys agree to provide Ukraine with €35 billion from frozen Russian assets. According to Prime Minister Shmyhal, the funds should be available by the end of 2024.

The Ministry of Education and Science supports a bill to ban the Russian language in schools during breaks and in private communication. Minister Oksen Lisovyi emphasized the importance of protecting the Ukrainian language and the languages of national communities.

The European Commission says the EU is shocked by reports of the death of journalist Victoria Roshchina in Russia. The EU calls on Moscow to comply with international law and stop violating the rights of prisoners.

From 6 museums in 5 de-occupied regions of Ukraine, 34,872 museum objects from the state part of the Museum Fund were stolen. The return of cultural property may take years, the Ministry of Culture said.

The Ministry of Agrarian Policy of Ukraine has discussed with FAO the implementation of a project to develop agrarian diplomacy. The plan is to train specialists to promote Ukrainian agricultural products on international markets.

The ministers of agriculture of Ukraine and Hungary discussed the idea of opening a joint agro-industrial hub on the border. The goal is to process, transship and pack Ukrainian export products.

The head of the Budget Committee, Roksolana Pidlasa, explained the need to distribute the $50 billion loan from the EU and the US over two years. This is due to the one-time nature of the payment and the lack of new agreements for the future.

The EU has postponed the introduction of fingerprint and face scanning at the borders. Germany, France, and the Netherlands declared that the systems are not ready, and no new implementation schedule has been set.

The World Bank Board of Directors has approved the establishment of a Financial Intermediary Fund for Ukraine. The Fund will receive funds from the United States, Japan, and Canada.

The President of Ukraine said that the implementation of the Victory Plan will force Russia to end the war. Zelenskyy discussed with the Italian Prime Minister the preparation of a new security package and the situation at the front.

The Latvian Saeima has passed amendments allowing citizens of other countries to serve in the Latvian army during mobilization. This applies to citizens of the EU, NATO, and Ukraine, provided they have legal residence and knowledge of the language.

The Verkhovna Rada has adopted a draft law amending the Law on Administrative Procedure. The amendments are aimed at fulfilling European integration obligations and unifying the rules of administrative procedures.

The Georgian Prime Minister said that election banners with ruins in Ukraine “exposed the truth”. Ukraine's Foreign Ministry condemned the statement as unfriendly, calling it an attempt to drag Ukraine into Georgia's internal political processes.

Advisor to the President Dmytro Lytvyn denied an Italian newspaper report that Zelenskyy was ready for a ceasefire along the current front line. He emphasized that Ukraine adheres to the Peace Formula and will present a plan for victory to its partners.

The participants of the summit in Croatia reaffirmed their support for the Ukrainian peace formula and called for increased assistance to Ukraine. The declaration condemns Russian aggression and reaffirms Ukraine's territorial integrity.

The foreign ministers of Ukraine and Croatia held talks during the Dubrovnik summit. They discussed military support, Ukraine's European integration, and cooperation on international platforms.

The EU Council approves a €35 billion financial aid package for Ukraine. The funds are aimed at Ukraine's urgent needs, and the loan will be repaid from frozen Russian assets.

EU member states have agreed on a plan to lend 35bn euros to Ukraine using frozen assets of the Central Bank of Russia as collateral. This is part of a wider G7 initiative to provide Kiev with 45bn euros in aid.

The President of the European Commission accused the Hungarian prime minister of flirting with Putin and allowing foreign interference. She also criticized his policies on migration and the EU single market.

Ukraine imposed sanctions against the manufacturer of “Kinzhals” - do western restrictions apply to the Rostec corporation.

The Verkhovna Rada has passed a law introducing a guaranteed tax liability for ethyl alcohol and bioethanol producers. Producers will pay excise tax on the volume corresponding to the maximum productivity of their equipment.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy arrives in Croatia to meet with Prime Minister Plenkovic and participate in the Ukraine-Southeast Europe Summit. Defense cooperation, rehabilitation of soldiers, and international efforts for peace will be discussed.

The Verkhovna Rada appealed to the EU to synchronize Ukrainian sanctions with EU restrictive measures. A total of 304 deputies voted in favor of the resolution.

Taiwan's president said that China cannot be the island's “homeland”. China accused Taiwan of “severing historical ties”. The visit of Taiwan's ex-president to Europe may increase tensions.

In 2024, Russia used more than 1,000 munitions against Ukraine's energy facilities. The loss of energy capacity exceeds 9 GW, which is equivalent to the electricity supply of four EU countries.

The European Union has suspended €121. 3 million in aid to Georgia due to deteriorating democratic standards. This decision is related to the adoption of the law “On Transparency of Foreign Influence” and the restriction of LGBT rights.

Hungary has stalled the final agreement on a $50 billion G7 loan to Ukraine until after the US presidential election. The decision is related to the timing of the renewal of EU sanctions against Russia and the use of frozen Russian assets.

A German businessman sold Porsche and Mercedes to Russia for 4 million euros through third countries, violating EU sanctions. A criminal case was opened against him, and his accounts and cars were seized.

The EU Council has established new principles for restrictive measures in response to Russia's actions abroad. The mechanism will allow for the imposition of sanctions on individuals and organizations that undermine EU values and security.

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has adopted draft law #11310 on the basic principles of state climate policy. The law will facilitate strategic planning, integration of climate issues, and fulfillment of Ukraine's international obligations.