European Union

The National Bank of Ukraine is expanding the publication of external sector statistics in euros and hryvnia on its website, bringing it in line with EU practices as Ukraine moves forward on its path to European integration and EU membership.

Ukraine has received a $1. 5 billion loan from Japan and the United Kingdom through the World Bank to support key state budget priorities in the face of full-scale Russian aggression.

Any increase in fiscal pressure on business is unjustified and harmful, as it will impose significant costs on business, while additional revenues to the state budget will be minimal, said the president of the All-Ukrainian Professional Association of Entrepreneurs.

The eChezhda service for trucks has added new features, including marking of vehicles carrying humanitarian aid, a new list showing trucks that have entered the checkpoint based on registration, and displaying license plates, booking dates, times and serial numbers for trucks in different queues, with license plates hidden for security reasons for special trips.

On March 31, Ukraine switches to daylight saving time, setting the clocks forward one hour in accordance with a 1996 government decree and international practice.

The US and UK are investigating more than $20 billion in cryptocurrency transfers to Russia through the Russian exchange Garantex using Tether, suspected of facilitating financial crimes and illegal transfers.

Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson announces ongoing talks with Ukraine on the potential transfer of Swedish Gripen fighter jets after joining NATO.

Telegram may be under the influence of Russian special services and should be regulated by Ukrainian law, says the head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy.

A Russian propaganda network paid some EU lawmakers to spread Russian propaganda, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Kroo said.

President Zelenskyy met with a delegation from the European Parliament's Renewal of Europe group to discuss military assistance, countering Russian propaganda, and Ukraine's integration into the EU, emphasizing the need to start accession talks during Belgium's EU presidency.

Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal met with President of Poland Andrzej Duda in Warsaw to discuss further support for Ukraine, including the provision of weapons, Ukraine's integration into NATO and the EU, and increased cooperation to defeat Russian aggression.

DTEK's subsidiary DRI has signed an agreement to acquire shares in Polish company Columbus Energy, which will allow it to build 133 MW of electricity storage in southern Poland, an important step towards integrating the energy systems of Ukraine and the EU.

Ukraine and Poland are making progress in lifting the blockade on their border, but the unblocking plan is not being implemented as quickly as we would like, although there are positive trends that need to be maintained and developed.

The German government wants to strengthen international measures to combat Russian disinformation networks by establishing an early warning and response system between Germany, France, and Poland for information manipulation and foreign influence.

Poland will work to convene the first intergovernmental conference between the EU and Ukraine no later than June 2024, which will mark the start of negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU.

The EU law on critical raw materials is aimed at diversifying sources of supply of critical raw materials, not at confronting China, according to a European official.

Ukraine and Poland held governmental consultations in Warsaw to resolve issues such as the situation at the border and agricultural trade and to find mutually beneficial solutions through dialogue and compromise.

Stefanchuk discussed with the President of the French National Assembly Ukraine's defense needs, including air defense systems, long-range missiles and air support, as well as the freezing of Russian assets to compensate for Ukraine's losses.

Intergovernmental Ukrainian-Polish consultations in Warsaw discussed cooperation in the areas of freight liberalization, border crossing points, railroad communication, regional development, decentralization, and implementation of international agreements between communities.

Armenia's exports to russia have risen sharply since the imposition of sanctions, raising Western concerns about possible sanctions circumvention.

The protesters have temporarily stopped blocking the Uhryniv-Dolhobyczów checkpoint on the border with Poland, but plan to resume the blockade on April 2.

Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Yuriy Dzhyhyr met with the European Parliament delegation and discussed Ukraine's urgent defense needs, including air defense systems, long-range missiles, artillery and ammunition, and thanked the EU for its support in the face of russian aggression.

Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal arrived in Warsaw for a joint meeting of the governments of Ukraine and Poland to discuss various issues, including arms, economy, agriculture, military support, Ukraine's accession to the EU, and resolving historical issues between the two countries.

The Ukrainian company Auto-Region is introducing new quality standards in the production of school buses.

Marine Le Pen and 26 other people will be tried for embezzling millions of euros from EU funds by creating a system of remuneration for MEPs' assistants between 2004 and 2016.

Estonian journalist Svetlana Burtseva, who wrote for Russian state media under EU sanctions, was arrested in Estonia on suspicion of violating international sanctions and relations against the Republic of Estonia.

EU ambassadors approved the extension of autonomous trade measures (trade visa-free travel) for Ukraine for another year, but with a compromise that will result in Ukraine losing about €331 million in revenue compared to 2023.

The United States is negotiating to increase purchases of explosives from Turkey to increase the production of artillery shells for Ukraine.

Poland's Agriculture Minister Czeslaw Sekerski says negotiations with Ukraine on food imports were difficult, but a deal could be reached after meetings on Wednesday and Thursday devoted to farmers' protests against Ukrainian grain imports.

The EU postponed the decision to continue trade liberalization with Ukraine until the evening after talks on possible restrictions on imports of certain agricultural products.