European Union

The National Bank of Ukraine devalued the hryvnia by 20 kopecks, setting the official exchange rate at 39. 6702 UAH/USD.

The Verkhovna Rada plans to consider a draft law that would introduce an integrated system of environmental permits and requirements for the use of the best available technologies to prevent and control industrial pollution.

NATO countries have not provided Ukraine with the promised military aid in recent months, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has said.

A U. S. proposal to use future interest on $300 billion in frozen Russian assets to help rebuild Ukraine instead of confiscating them outright is gaining momentum among the G7 countries, and officials are seeking consensus on the plan at the upcoming summit in June.

Ukraine has received EUR 1. 5 billion from the EU under the Ukraine program, which will be used to finance the budget deficit. In total, by the end of the year, subject to fulfillment of obligations, the total amount of EU assistance will reach EUR 16 billion.

Ukraine's accession to the EU will not cause significant financial difficulties, requiring only a 20% increase in the EU budget or 0. 2% of European economic output, which is a worthy investment given Ukraine's huge economic potential, according to European Commissioner for Budgetary Affairs Johannes Hahn.

The russian foreign ministry said that russia is considering downgrading diplomatic relations with the United States if its frozen assets are confiscated.

The European Parliament voted overwhelmingly in favor of a resolution stating that EU accession talks with Georgia should not begin until the proposed law on foreign agents is part of Georgia's legal order.

The European Parliament adopted a resolution calling for sanctions against Russian media and those responsible for spreading disinformation and propaganda in the EU as part of efforts to counter Russian interference in the upcoming EU elections.

Due to Western sanctions, russia expects its liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports to stagnate at around 38. 6 million tons annually for about four years.

Germany assures that Ukrainian men will not be deprived of refugee status in the country, despite Ukraine's decision to temporarily suspend consular services for men aged 18-60 abroad.

The European Commission is expected to propose sanctions against ships delivering North Korean military equipment to Russia and tankers violating the G7 agreement on the price ceiling for Russian oil.

French President Macron is actively negotiating with EU leaders to find a new candidate to replace Ursula von der Leyen as president of the European Commission.

The Slovak government plans to replace the public broadcaster RTVS with a new body, STVR, which is sparking protests over concerns about media independence.

Poland is ready to help Ukraine return men of military age to participate in the war against russia.

The Verkhovna Rada adopted as a basis a draft law aimed at bringing Ukraine's customs legislation in line with the EU practice by introducing such concepts as customs representation, permits for certain customs regimes, and provisions on the movement and temporary storage of goods under customs control.

In response to the prosecutor's statement, the Ministry of Agriculture explained that Markiyan Dmytrasevych was on a business trip to Brussels from April 22 to 28 to participate in explanatory meetings between the European Commission and Ukraine as part of the negotiation process on Ukraine's accession to the EU.

The EU should provide Ukraine with the means for self-defense, as Putin understands only this language, said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

France has proposed new EU sanctions against Russian disinformation operations and election interference around the world.

The Verkhovna Rada adopted a bill that improves the participation of local governments in inter-territorial, cross-border and transnational cooperation, prohibits cooperation with the aggressor state and allows district councils and military administrations to initiate such cooperation.

Ukraine has received €1. 5 billion of the second tranche of funding from the EU and expects the third tranche of €1.89 billion to be disbursed soon.

The issue of excess profits from frozen Russian assets in the EU is not currently on the agenda of EU ambassadors this week, but there is a possibility that it could be approved within the next 1-2 weeks.

Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov, who was arrested in Russia for taking bribes on an especially large scale, faces up to 15 years in prison.

Presidential elections have begun in North Macedonia, with seven candidates running. It is expected that none of the candidates will overcome the 50 percent threshold in the first round, so the second round will tentatively take place on May 8.

The Verkhovna Rada passed in the first reading a draft law that supplements the Tax Code with provisions on combating bribery of foreign officials, obliging regulatory authorities to notify the NABU of signs of bribery found during taxpayer audits.

Georgia has extended the period of visa-free stay for Ukrainian citizens to three years, allowing them to enter and stay in the country without a visa for the full three years.

EU Diplomacy Chief Josep Borrell expects the EU Council to finalize the discussion on the use of funds from seized Russian assets for military support to Ukraine through the European Peace Fund, as the bloc believes it is legally justified.

Starting today, April 24, buses can choose the time of border crossing at 10 checkpoints with Moldova as part of the electronic queue service.

According to the IMF, trade disputes between Ukraine and its European neighbors have affected Ukraine's economic growth and budget revenues.

On April 19, the largest conference for small and medium-sized businesses took place in the Pochaina event hall.