EU diplomacy chief Kaja Kallas stated that Ukraine is making concessions for peace. She emphasized the need for more pressure on Russia and for providing Ukraine with tangible security guarantees, in which the US should be involved.
The European Union is preparing to list Iran's IRGC as a terrorist group after a change in France's position. This decision will be a response to the brutal suppression of protests in Iran and will lead to the freezing of the organization's assets.
Friedrich Merz stated that Ukraine will not be able to join the EU by 2027, as the integration process requires compliance with strict standards. He emphasized the unreality of rapid accession.
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna called on the EU to accelerate the adoption of the 20th sanctions package against Russia. He emphasized the deteriorating state of the Russian economy and the decline in oil and gas revenues.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed concern over the falling dollar exchange rate, which puts pressure on European exporters. He called on the EU to increase competitiveness amid the weakening American currency.
As of this evening, 610,000 consumers in Kyiv remain without electricity. Ukraine is attracting international aid, having received 437 generators and expecting more than 500.
The European Union will exempt gas from the United States and Qatar from additional checks under the ban on Russian gas. This will accelerate the supply of alternative energy sources and support the EU's energy security.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved a new seven-member supervisory board for Energoatom, including four international experts. The new board is tasked with urgently appointing the company's management and analyzing its previous activities.
EU ambassadors have agreed on sanctions against 15 individuals and 6 organizations in Iran for suppressing protests. Sanctions have also been imposed against 4 individuals and 6 organizations for assisting Russia in the war against Ukraine.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine summoned Hungarian Ambassador Antal Heizer over false statements about Ukraine's interference in the elections. The Ukrainian side called on Hungary to stop anti-Ukrainian rhetoric.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has begun a visit to China to reset economic relations. This is the first visit of a British head of government to the PRC in eight years.
China provides Russia with machine tools and electronic components for the creation of nuclear hypersonic missiles, which are produced at the Votkinsk Plant. This allows Russia to circumvent Western sanctions and accelerate arms production.
Six communities in the Lviv region have implemented a project to introduce the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Four of them have already approved programs, and the level of awareness among participants has increased by 42%.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico denied a Politico report about his concerns over Donald Trump's condition. He called the article "a lie" and stated that he did not speak at the summit where he allegedly made such assessments.
The European Union has launched part of its €10. 6 billion secure satellite network to create an alternative to Starlink. Ukraine has already requested access to this system, which is expected to be fully operational by 2030.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó agreed with the words of his Ukrainian counterpart Andriy Sybiha that Hungary is the only obstacle to Ukraine's accession to the EU. Szijjártó stated that as long as they are in power, Ukraine will not become a member of the European Union.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico expressed concern about Donald Trump's "psychological state" after their meeting on January 17. Fico called Trump "dangerous," which shocked European diplomats.
A Spanish rescue vessel escorted the Chariot Tide tanker, which is under EU sanctions for carrying Russian oil, to the port of Tanger-Med in Morocco. The ship's engine had broken down, and it was drifting in international waters.
A new survey in 23 EU countries revealed growing skepticism about Brussels' migration policy. The majority of citizens demand that national governments independently guard their borders, which threatens the Schengen area.
The Hungarian government has launched a campaign to collect signatures against EU funding for Ukraine, arguing that it threatens to impoverish Hungarians. The campaign is unfolding ahead of elections where Orbán's party could lose its lead.
The volume of Russian crude oil on tankers at sea has increased by 60 million barrels since late August due to reduced purchases by India. Russia is seeking alternative markets and using storage in Southeast Asia.
A 35-year-old KGB spy from Belarus, who had been working for Belarusian special services since 2015, has been detained in Kyiv. She attempted to infiltrate one of the units of Ukrainian military intelligence.
The European Union and India have concluded negotiations on a comprehensive free trade agreement, which includes reducing tariffs on cars and wine from the EU. This agreement strengthens economic and political ties between the world's second and fourth largest economies and has mixed implications for Ukraine.
In December, electric vehicle sales in the European Union for the first time outpaced gasoline cars, despite proposals to relax emissions standards. Overall car sales are growing for the sixth consecutive month.
Russia is tightening control over internal political processes in Belarus through the Union State, aiming to minimize the risks of regime change. Economic cooperation is taking on a military character, integrating Belarusian enterprises into Russia's military production.
The French National Assembly has approved a bill banning social media use for children under 15. This decision is driven by concerns about online bullying and mental health risks.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed the energy situation and international support with Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker. Ukraine expects to join the European Union in 2027.
At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized European leaders for their indecisiveness and lack of strategic unity. He stated that Europe must become an independent global power, not a "salad of small and medium-sized states."
The European Union and India have reached a free trade agreement that provides for a significant reduction in tariffs on cars and wine from the EU. This agreement is called the "mother of all deals."
The restoration of Ukraine's economy through EU integration is important, but it does not replace reliable security guarantees from the US and the Coalition of the Willing. The Kremlin is trying to blame Ukraine for delaying the peace process, despite its own unwillingness to compromise.
