European Union

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal discussed with the European Parliament delegation financial and defense assistance to Ukraine, European integration, and the confiscation of Russian assets, emphasizing the importance of EU support.

Ukraine's Minister of Agrarian Policy warns that attempts by France and Poland to restrict imports of Ukrainian agricultural products could prolong the war, reducing Ukraine's revenues.

Law enforcers shut down an international drug supply channel to Europe, detaining a group of seven criminals in Kyiv and Zaporizzhia who were smuggling methadone from Ukraine to the EU.

The French Minister of the Armed Forces is ready to use his legal powers to speed up the production of weapons and ammunition needed by Ukraine, including requisitioning industrial facilities or identifying priority weapons manufacturers.

Hungary will not extend the ban on imports of honey from Ukraine, as the previous ban did not have a positive impact on prices in the local market and caused losses to companies exporting honey to the EU, said the country's Minister of Agriculture Istvan Nagy.

The European Business Association notes that the situation with the blocking of tax invoices by the State Tax Service has worsened since the end of February. The EBA suggests that instead of freezing business activities, the State Tax Service should conduct tax audits in case of questions about the activities of companies.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba calls on Western allies to provide Ukraine with Patriot air defense systems to shoot down modernized Russian air guided bombs that are causing Ukraine to lose ground on the frontline.

NATO is considering shooting down russian missiles flying toward its territory near the border with Ukraine with Kyiv's consent and taking into account international consequences, Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Andrzej Shejna said.

Marko Mikkelson, chairman of the Estonian parliamentary committee on foreign affairs, arrives in Kyiv.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba warned that the day may come when EU leaders will be forced to send Western combat troops to Ukraine, as Putin will not stop if Ukraine loses the war.

Japan has allocated $230 million to support Ukraine's agricultural sector as part of a project aimed at restoring agriculture and providing access to finance for farmers.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Umerov and Commander-in-Chief Syrsky met with a delegation from the European Parliament in Kyiv to discuss increased military aid, priority needs such as air defense systems and artillery, and continued training for Ukrainian troops. The EU reaffirmed its unwavering support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called on the EU to provide Ukraine with additional Patriot and other ballistic missile defense systems to protect it from Russia's daily missile attacks.

The US Treasury Department imposed sanctions against 13 russian entities and 2 individuals involved in the technology and financial services sectors in order to evade sanctions imposed by the US against russia.

Ukraine's Minister of Agrarian Policy Mykola Solsky met in Brussels with his Belgian counterpart David Clarenval to discuss the extension of the autonomous trade regime between Ukraine and the EU for another year.

The EU has condemned Russia's repeated attacks over the past week on civilians and Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

A draft law has been submitted to the Verkhovna Rada that would regulate the operation of social media such as Telegram in Ukraine, require disclosure of information about owners and sources of funding, and restrict the use of platforms with an opaque ownership structure.

The European Union rejected Russia's attempts to link Ukraine to the recent terrorist attack in Moscow, urging Russia not to use the attack as a pretext for escalating aggression against Ukraine or internal repression.

The Belgian presidency of the EU Council is working to find a compromise framework for renewing autonomous trade measures for Ukraine, with Italy proposing to extend the protection provisions until 2021 but exclude wheat, reducing the benefits for Ukraine from the original €2 billion to €1. 54 billion.

Soon, Ukrainians will be able to report damaged or destroyed housing as a result of russian aggression through the Diia app to the International Register of Damages.

Spain has begun training Ukrainian servicemen to operate NASAMS anti-aircraft missile systems, where Spanish army instructors are conducting a one-month course.

Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, the EU has provided Ukraine with €31 billion worth of military equipment and plans to increase support through a new €5 billion fund and the redirection of excess profits from immobilized Russian assets.

Russia will not stop if it wins the war in Ukraine. Therefore, Kyiv needs more support to defeat Russia, the US ambassador to the UK believes.

This week, Ukraine received significant financial and defense support packages from international partners, including €5 billion from the EU, a $900 million IMF tranche, and $2 billion in macro-financing from Canada, as well as new artillery, drones, and armored vehicles for defense.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that there is a clear international consensus that any ground attack on the city of Rafah in Gaza would lead to a humanitarian catastrophe and called for a humanitarian ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza.

Ukraine expects to start accession talks with the EU in June 2023 on the basis of a gentlemen's agreement with most EU countries.

Ukraine expects to start actual accession negotiations with the EU in the first half of 2024, with negotiations taking place simultaneously with sectoral integration and the expansion of the economic visa-free regime with the EU.

Vice Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna met with Admiral Robert Bauer, Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, to discuss NATO's increased support for Ukraine in building military capabilities, increasing defense production, and preparing for the upcoming NATO Summit, which will discuss further assistance to Ukraine.

9 Ukrainian children, including 4 children from orphanages aged 3 to 10 and a 12-year-old girl, were returned from Russia, where they had been forcibly taken and told that Ukraine did not exist.

The government approved a draft law to gradually increase excise tax rates on fuel and alcoholic beverages to the EU minimum levels, with an expected additional UAH 1. 6 billion per month from fuel sales and UAH 4.5 million per month from intermediate products in 2024, aimed at supporting the country's security and defense sector.