European Union

More than 200 European traders are already using Ukraine's gas transportation infrastructure, which has become part of the EU system despite the ongoing hostilities, and the number of traders continues to grow.

France plans to significantly cut public services, such as medical transportation and subsidies, to reduce its budget deficit of 5. 5% of GDP.

After an intergovernmental meeting between Ukraine and Poland, the situation at the border crossing points has not changed: three directions remain blocked and three are unblocked, said Andriy Demchenko, spokesman for the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.

The EU Court of Justice has lifted sanctions against Russian oligarchs Petr Aven and Mikhail Fridman, satisfying their lawsuit and lifting the restrictive measures imposed on them after the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The EU should provide Ukraine with 7 Patriot batteries out of the 100 available in Western armies to help defend against Russian missiles and bombs, EU diplomat Josep Borrell said.

The UCAB named potential losses for the economy as the EU agreed on new terms of trade liberalization with Ukraine.

Russia is to withdraw its troops from the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant after repeated drone attacks increased the risk of a dangerous nuclear accident.

The EU has sent 167 power generators to Ukraine as emergency aid after Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure severely damaged its power supply.

Border guards rescued a 42-year-old man who had been wandering in the Carpathians for six days trying to illegally cross the border into the European Union.

Moscow is trying to destabilize Moldovan democracy and society by using pro-Russian figures, such as Gagauzia's governor, Evgenia Gutsul, to create conditions for potential Russian aggression against Moldova.

The EU has agreed to extend the suspension of import duties and quotas on Ukrainian exports to the EU until June 5, 2025, while strengthening safeguards for sensitive agricultural products such as poultry, eggs, sugar, oats, corn, cereals, and honey.

March 2023 was the tenth consecutive month with record-high global temperatures, continuing the trend of extreme heat around the world, according to the EU Climate Monitoring Service.

Iran opens a new consulate in Damascus to replace the one destroyed by an Israeli air strike that killed Iranian soldiers.

The EU has temporarily agreed to duty-free trade for Ukraine until June 2025, but with the possibility of imposing restrictions on sensitive agricultural products such as poultry, eggs, sugar, oats, cereals, corn, and honey if imports exceed the average level from July 2021 to December 2023.

Russian occupants filmed the loading of Ukrainian grain onto ships in the port of Mariupol, and at least three dry cargo ships were identified, as well as several grain trading companies involved in the export of stolen grain from Ukrainian territories.

Moldova's ambassador to the EU expects Chisinau to start accession talks with the EU by the end of June 2024, moving faster than the Western Balkan countries in the accession process.

The IT Coalition formed expert subgroups within the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, and Estonia and Luxembourg announced new financial contributions to support Ukraine's IT, communications and cybersecurity capabilities.

As of February 2024, 4. 2 million Ukrainians, accounting for 98% of all recipients, have been granted temporary protection in the EU since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion.

Lukashenko claims that the Western-backed opposition is seeking to seize part of Belarus in order to invite foreign troops and provoke an armed confrontation.

European defense contractors warn that dependence on Chinese cotton lint threatens the expansion of ammunition production, which is needed to replenish stocks and support Ukraine in its war against Russia.

U. S. officials warn that China is providing significant assistance to Russia's military-industrial complex, which threatens Ukraine and global security.

Ukraine proposes to ban air transit to Russia and Belarus to prevent Russian businesses and tourists from using EU airspace and to increase sanctions pressure on the aggressor.

Polish farmers have partially unblocked the Hrebenne-Rava-Ruska border crossing, allowing 15 empty trucks to enter Poland daily.

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron will visit the United States next week to urge lawmakers to approve a $60 billion military and financial aid package for Ukraine that has been stalled in Congress for months.

Trade between Turkey and Russia has been shrinking due to Western sanctions, and Turkish exporters of engineering products are facing a potential $1 billion drop in sales to Russia this year as sanctions lists are rapidly expanding to target goods that could be used for military purposes.

An international special tribunal to prosecute war crimes in Ukraine could be established by the end of 2024, with options for its creation based on a multilateral or bilateral agreement being considered, European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders has said.

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal met with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda to discuss continued defense cooperation, sanctions and confiscation of Russian assets, humanitarian aid, and Ukraine's integration into the EU and NATO.

Portugal's new government, led by Prime Minister Luiz Montenegro, supports Ukraine's accession to the European Union, having put aside previous hesitations.

President Zelenskyy signs a decree imposing sanctions against 86 legal entities and 7 individuals, including foreign nationals, for a period of 3 to 10 years.

Lithuania will allocate 15 million euros for rehabilitation programs for wounded Ukrainian soldiers and purchase 3,000 drones for Ukraine.