European Union

The Icelandic government plans to submit a bill to parliament on a referendum regarding the resumption of EU membership negotiations. The vote will take place in late September 2026, driven by the rising cost of living and changes in Europe's security architecture.

President Zelenskyy held a meeting with the Cabinet of Ministers, the Verkhovna Rada, and the Office regarding the results of the government's work and tasks for spring-summer. They discussed energy restoration, Ukraine's defense, the state of roads, relations with the EU, and pension indexation.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Naftogaz CEO Serhiy Koretskyy stated that restoring the Druzhba oil pipeline to its previous form makes no sense. The reason is the damage to the main pumping station in Brody and the unwillingness to transport Russian oil.

The European Union will appeal to international partners for additional funding for Ukraine to cover a €30 billion deficit. Hungary is blocking a €90 billion EU aid package due to a dispute over oil supplies.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is ready to meet with Zelenskyy after talks with Ursula von der Leyen. He demands that Ukraine allow inspection and resume transit of Russian oil.

Vladimir Putin has instructed the government to consider the possibility of immediately stopping gas supplies to Europe. This is due to the EU's plans to limit the import of Russian gas.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Ukraine's readiness to help stabilize the situation in the Middle East. He instructed the Minister of Foreign Affairs and other agencies to develop options for support without compromising Ukraine's defense.

Ukraine is preparing a decision on a strategic fuel reserve. The law provides for the creation of minimum stocks of oil and petroleum products, which will be stored in Ukraine and the EU.

The centrist Tisza party leads Orbán's Fidesz ahead of the April 12 elections, while the far-right Mi Hazánk (Our Homeland) is gaining support. Polls show many voters are still undecided.

Russia has provided Iran with NtechLab facial recognition software, enabling the identification of dissidents. The technology analyzes messages, calls, and social media data.

Two Greek F-16 fighter jets based in Cyprus were scrambled after a drone was detected near Lebanese airspace. The airspace over Larnaca airport was temporarily closed.

11 countries and the EU have decided to boycott the opening of the Paralympic Games in Italy due to the admission of Russian and Belarusian athletes with their flags and anthems.

European officials are concerned that a US operation against Iran will divert attention from the war in Ukraine. This could lead to a decrease in US arms supplies and a weakening of support for Kyiv.

Ukraine's desire for accelerated accession to the European Union has met with resistance from EU governments unwilling to open a "Pandora's box" of problems. President Zelenskyy seeks accession by 2027 as part of a peace agreement, but member states express skepticism.

France will send a warship to Cyprus to strengthen air defense after a drone attack on a British base. Great Britain is considering sending the destroyer HMS Duncan to protect the Akrotiri airbase.

From the end of 2026, Ukrainians traveling to the EU will have to undergo a paid electronic ETIAS authorization costing 20 euros. This system does not cancel the visa-free regime, but requires prior permission for short-term trips.

Ukraine is under pressure from the EU to allow inspection of the damaged Druzhba pipeline, which supplies Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia. Kyiv claims significant damage from a Russian airstrike, but Hungary and Slovakia accuse Ukraine of deliberately blocking it.

Iranian drones and missiles flew over the Middle East, reaching Cyprus. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha expressed solidarity with the affected countries and condemned Iran's destabilizing role.

Ukraine has agreed to help Great Britain counter Iranian drones, which has not only a military but also a political dimension. Expert Stanislav Zhelikhovsky explained how this will strengthen Ukraine's position and affect global security.

President Zelenskyy announced Ukraine's technical readiness to open all six negotiation clusters for EU accession. He emphasized that the political readiness of some EU leaders remains questionable due to the aggressor's influence.

Zelenskyy stated that the issue of changing European legislation to confiscate oil from detained vessels of Russia's "shadow fleet" is being discussed.

Mutual trade between the European Union and Russia has decreased by 5. 4 times compared to the period before the full-scale invasion. Russia has lost its status as a key partner of Europe, and its share in European imports has fallen to 1.0%.

The Belgian Federal Prosecutor's Office is investigating the detention of the tanker Ethera, suspected of sailing under a false flag and using forged documents. The vessel was arrested in the port of Zeebrugge due to possible circumvention of EU sanctions against Russia's "shadow fleet."

The Ukrainian leader urged Europe to change legislation so that such vessels are not only stopped but also seized, with Russian oil redirected to security needs.

The Swedish Ministry of Defense has revealed details of an incident involving a Russian drone that was tracking the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle. The apparatus was launched from the Russian reconnaissance ship "Zhigulevsk," but Swedish forces neutralized the espionage equipment.

Kaja Kallas will hold an extraordinary meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council due to Iran. She condemns the attacks by the Iranian regime, which threaten a wider war in the Middle East.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps told ships that passage through the Strait of Hormuz is not permitted. The Strait of Hormuz is the world's most important oil export route.

Arkady Volozh, co-founder of the Yandex search engine, officially renounced his Russian citizenship. The reason was EU sanctions imposed on the company in 2022.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban escalated the conflict with Ukraine ahead of the elections to boost his ratings. He called the suspension of oil transit an attack on the country.

Ukraine is assessing significant damage after Russian drone attacks on a key facility of the Druzhba oil pipeline, which could complicate the issue of EU aid to Kyiv and sanctions against Moscow. Hungary and Slovakia accuse Ukraine of withholding supplies, blocking EU aid.