European Union

Zelenskyy met with Czech President Pavel in Vilnius. The two leaders discussed defense support for Ukraine, strengthening cooperation in the defense industry, integration into the EU and NATO, and the conclusion of a bilateral security agreement.

Zelenskyy met with Lithuanian President Nausėda on the eve of the Three Seas summit, discussing the consequences of Russian strikes, Ukraine's urgent need for air defense, and the situation on the battlefield.

Latvia will provide Ukraine with annual military aid of 0. 25% of GDP, as well as support in cyber defense, demining, and drones for 10 years, while unconditionally supporting Ukraine's EU and NATO membership applications.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb called on European countries to focus on immediate assistance to Ukraine and training of their armed forces, rather than speculation about potential Russian aggression outside Ukraine.

Ukraine and the EU are working at all levels to strengthen Ukraine's air defense by seeking additional Patriot air defense systems for Ukraine.

Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal discussed with the G7 ambassadors the urgent need to increase air defense systems to protect lives and critical infrastructure from Russian shelling.

The Prime Minister of Spain called on the EU to increase defense investments to strengthen the deterrence potential and bring the sector's industry in line with the European economy in the face of Russian aggression.

Switzerland will host a two-day high-level peace conference on Ukraine on June 15-16, aimed at creating "a framework conducive to achieving a comprehensive and lasting peace in Ukraine.

The relevant committee has approved for the second reading a draft law that will regulate the market of road transport services in Ukraine in accordance with EU standards and requirements.

In 2024, Ukraine received $10. 2 billion in external financing from international partners, including the US, EU, Japan, Canada, IMF, UK, and Norway.

The European Commission has launched an official screening of Ukrainian legislation on the freedom of movement of capital, analyzing its compliance with EU laws.

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.