European Union

The government plans to adopt a bill to increase excise taxes on tobacco products, which should come into effect on July 1, 2024, and gradually increase to the EU minimum level by 2028.

The European Commission has agreed to exempt farmers from the mandatory fallowing of 4 percent of their land, as announced by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk after talks with the European Commission President.

Chinese Ambassador to the EU Fu Kong is leaving Brussels for a new post at the UN in New York after less than 18 months, amid deteriorating relations between China and the EU over issues such as the war in Ukraine and alleged unfair Chinese subsidies.

By the end of 2025, the European Union plans to catch up with Russia in the production of large-caliber artillery shells, including 155-mm shells, to meet Ukraine's needs.

European Council President Charles Michel arrives in Berlin to meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on the sidelines of the Weimar Triangle leaders' meeting to discuss further support and assistance to Ukraine.

German MPs call on Chancellor Scholz to resolve differences with French President Macron and strengthen Franco-German relations "given the difficult security situation.

Josep Borrell called for continued support for Ukraine, warning of serious risks to the security of Europe and the United States.

The outcome of Russia's war against Ukraine will be decided in the spring and summer of this year, according to EU diplomat Josep Borrell, who called for continued assistance to Ukraine in its fight against the Russian occupiers.

Ukraine has started negotiations with Latvia on a bilateral security agreement, defining its content, key elements and thematic blocks.

President Zelenskyy welcomed the European Commission's approval of the draft negotiation framework for Ukraine's accession to the EU and called on EU member states to respond quickly.

The European Commission plans to propose confiscating 15-20 billion euros in profits from russian sovereign assets frozen in Europe by 2027 to support Ukraine, but details of how the funds will be used are still being discussed.

In 2022, Ukraine signed about 180 contracts for the purchase of ammunition, which is almost twice as many as the 90 contracts signed in 2023, for a total of more than 640 contracts for the purchase of weapons and ammunition during 2022-2023, of which about 300 were completed as of March 6, 2024.

President Zelenskyy signs a law amending the Tax Code to digitalize certain tax services, allowing taxpayers to interact with the State Tax Service via video conference and improving online communications.

Ukraine's Defense Ministry thanked the EU for approving an additional 5 billion euros in military aid to Ukraine.

The leaders of France, Germany, and Poland will meet in Berlin on March 15 to discuss providing more support to Ukraine in its war against Russian aggression.

Geert Wilders, the leader of the Dutch populist Freedom Party (PVV), which received the most votes in the 2023 elections, withdrew his candidacy for prime minister due to the lack of support from other parties necessary to form a coalition government.

The Moldovan government says that Russia is violating the law by printing ballots in the Transnistrian region ahead of its presidential "elections.

The First Vice Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine met with the Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Moldova to discuss European integration, bilateral relations, and Ukraine's expectations regarding the participation of the President of Moldova in the Global Peace Summit.

Ukraine has a clear procedure on its way to EU membership and is systematically following it, and President Zelenskyy hopes to start negotiations in the first half of this year after the European Commission approves the framework for negotiations.

The European Parliament has adopted a resolution proposing to consider Armenia's membership in the European Union if it continues to implement sustainable reforms aimed at strengthening democracy.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister thanked the EU for agreeing to increase the European Peace Fund by €5 billion in 2024 to provide military assistance to protect Ukraine from Russian invasion, calling it a powerful demonstration of European unity and resolve.

The European Parliament has approved the extension of the suspension of import duties and quotas on exports of Ukrainian agricultural products to the EU for another year until June 5, 2025, and extended the suspension of all duties on imports from Moldova until July 24, 2025.

Negotiations between the Polish and Ukrainian governments will take several weeks to resolve the issue of Polish farmers blocking the border with Ukraine to protect certain agricultural sectors.

EU ambassadors agree to increase the European Peace Fund by €5 billion in 2024 to provide military assistance to Ukraine for its defense.

The EU has adopted the world's first comprehensive law regulating artificial intelligence, including restrictions on real-time biometric surveillance in public places and requirements for transparency and compliance with EU laws for high-risk artificial intelligence systems.

Estonia has proposed a plan to finance Ukraine for 120 billion euros annually, using funds raised through Eurobonds or national budgets.

In Odesa, law enforcement officers detained a group of four criminals, including an organizer and a co-organizer, who were selling cannabis, amphetamine, PVP and crack throughout Ukraine, seizing over 4 kg of various drugs and psychotropics.

The EU insists on strengthening measures to return Ukrainian children forcibly deported to Russia or resettled in Belarus.

Moldova sees Russia's attempts to destabilize the country by using political puppets, oligarchs and financing protests ahead of the presidential elections in Russia.

Polish farmers are planning to block traffic at the Swieczko border crossing with Germany from Sunday to Wednesday, protesting the government's inaction to meet their demands.