European Union

The Government of Ukraine and the IMF mission discussed further joint steps to restore economic growth, implement reforms, implement the government's action program, confiscate frozen Russian assets, support business, increase military production, and obtain additional funding under the IMF EFF program of $2. 2 billion.

Farmers blocked a national road near Warsaw to protest the Green Deal and draw attention to the losses they have suffered due to the drought, demanding aid and a waiver of Green Deal rules.

The head of the European Union's diplomacy, Josep Borrell, said that the recognition of a Palestinian state is not a gift to Hamas, but rather the opposite.

President Zelenskyy imposes 10-year sanctions on 70 people, including Russian media and companies operating in Crimea.

Poland's prime minister and the Greek prime minister have asked the president of the European Commission to create a European air defense shield to protect the EU from future threats such as planes, missiles, and drones.

The U. S. Senate is preparing a bipartisan bill to impose sanctions on Georgian politicians responsible for the Foreign Agents Act, which impedes Georgia's Euro-Atlantic integration.

In 2023, Ukraine exported 45,800 tons of honey to the EU, becoming the second largest exporter of honey from outside the EU after China.

The EU is preparing to tighten sanctions against belarus, which will, among other things, close a loophole that allowed russia to import Western luxury goods and goods with potential military use.

Nine out of ten Europeans support the provision of humanitarian aid and the acceptance of refugees from Ukraine amid the Russian invasion.

U. S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen urged G7 ministers to explore more ambitious options for using $325 billion in frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine, in addition to the EU's plan to use the interest earned on those assets.

The European Commission fined Mondelez EUR 337. 5 million for anti-competitive behavior.

A number of state-owned companies have announced their intentions to go through corporatization, which is expected to attract billions of hryvnias in investment and open up new opportunities through corporate governance.

The EU is seeking to assume greater responsibility for security and defense, including creating an internal defense market, expanding production capacity, promoting joint procurement, and funding major European flagship projects such as the EU air defense shield and improving cybersecurity.

A Russian oil tanker's engine failed while passing through the Turkish Dardanelles Straits, temporarily blocking maritime traffic for three hours.

President Zelenskyy discussed with Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis efforts to engage a wide range of states in the upcoming Peace Summit and prepare for the conclusion of a bilateral security agreement between Ukraine and Greece.

In April 2023, India and Egypt became the main export destinations for Russian marine fuel oil: India received 0. 6 million tons, and Egypt almost 0.5 million tons, as Russian exports were redirected after the EU embargo.

Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Ihor Zhovkva discussed the completion of negotiations with Greece on a bilateral security agreement and thanked the country for its support of Ukraine, including its support for Ukraine's EU and NATO membership applications.

EU countries intend to reach an agreement within a few weeks on the next package of sanctions against Russia, targeting Moscow's “shadow fleet” of oil tankers, banning the re-export of Russian liquefied gas and imposing individual sanctions on more than 100 people involved in the deportation of Ukrainians and arms production.

Ukraine imposed power supply restrictions on consumers while receiving emergency aid from the EU, and at a mine in Donetsk region, more than 160 workers remained underground due to shelling that stopped ventilation equipment.

The State Labor Service of Ukraine will be deprived of some of its non-essential functions as part of deregulation: the Parliament has supported a draft law on the redistribution of certain functions to other central executive bodies.

Ukraine and the EU have signed a framework agreement on financing under the Ukraine Facility program in the amount of 50 billion euros.

Representatives of Ukraine and Latvia discussed increasing the volume of transportation through the Baltic ports, rail and road transportation, and increasing the export of Ukrainian products. Latvia has pledged to allocate 6 million euros in 2024 to support the development of Ukraine's infrastructure.

The European Union has approved new sanctions against Russia for human rights violations, unofficially named after Alexey Navalny, adding 19 individuals and 1 organization to the list that are primarily responsible for his death.

Ukraine has adopted a law allowing Ukrainians to use national mobile tariffs without additional roaming charges when traveling to EU countries.

In the online markets of Ukraine, a dubious food supplement is sold, which is positioned as a popular drug for weight loss "Alli".

Several EU countries are pushing for sanctions against Georgia, including the suspension of visa-free travel, in response to Georgia's attempts to introduce a law on "foreign agents" similar to russian law, despite EU warnings and mass protests.

Norway officially recognizes Palestine as a state, the Norwegian prime minister said.

EU countries Belgium, Germany and France have asked the European Commission to assess the potential economic damage caused by restricting Russian gas imports amid discussions on a new package of sanctions against Russia.

Annalena Berbock was awarded the Order of Yaroslav the wise, third class, which the president of Ukraine awarded her at the end of last year by decree.

During the meeting, Zelensky and Berbok separately discussed Ukraine's movement towards EU membership and the organization of the International Conference on the restoration of Ukraine (URC 2024), which will be held in Berlin in June, and coordinated steps to fill it with specific projects.