European Union

The Minister for European Affairs of Poland, Adam Szłapka, assessed the progress at the EU summit regarding the sanctions package against Russia and defense funding. Slovakia and Hungary oppose new sanctions, while Sweden hopes for agreements.

Slovakia will not support the new EU sanctions package against Russia due to unresolved gas supply issues after 2027. Prime Minister Robert Fico demands a postponement of the vote, which could lead to a deficit and losses of up to 20 billion euros.

Russia bypasses sanctions by obtaining Western aircraft spare parts through Turkey, China, and the UAE. One billion euros worth of parts entered the Russian Federation between February 2022 and September 2024 through a network of intermediaries.

The European Union summit starts today in Brussels, where key topics include the war in Ukraine, strengthening defense capabilities, and competitiveness. EU leaders will discuss further support for Ukraine, its path to EU membership, pressure on Russia, and efforts to achieve peace.

The Hungarian government held a consultative vote on Ukraine's accession to the EU, where 95% of participants allegedly opposed it. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry called it disinformation.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen faces a vote of no confidence over "Pfizergate" and other accusations. Far-right MEPs are trying to initiate a vote, but the chances of success are low due to the need for majority support.

The Kremlin continues to use Dmitry Medvedev's aggressive rhetoric to undermine Western support for Ukraine. Medvedev expresses threats regarding Ukraine's accession to the EU and accuses the European Union of "Russophobia" and militarization.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has stated that Canada has no intention of joining the European Union. The country is focused on close partnership and cooperation with the bloc, rather than membership.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called for increased economic pressure on Moscow, including through sanctions, to force Russia back to the negotiating table. The EU will approve the 18th package of sanctions tomorrow, but Merz emphasizes the need for broader US participation, although US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated that Washington is not planning new sanctions yet.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated that the country will achieve new NATO targets for defense spending through a flexible approach and without redirecting funds from other budget priorities. Italy, which currently spends 1.5% of GDP on defense, plans to gradually increase this figure.

The European Commission has presented the EU Space Law, aimed at improving the competitiveness of the European space sector, its security and sustainable development. The document unifies space regulations and aims to reduce bureaucracy.

Ukraine's prospects of joining NATO are diminishing, but the Alliance is considering increasing investment in the arms industry. So far, the US has not committed to providing further weapons, but European countries are financing the production of Ukrainian combat drones.

President Zelenskyy and Danish Prime Minister Frederiksen discussed joint weapons production at the NATO summit. Denmark will be the first to cooperate with Ukraine in the defense sector.

The US will not impose new sanctions against Russia in order to preserve the possibility for peace talks. President Trump is ignoring requests from Europe to tighten restrictions.

New Tesla car sales in Europe fell by 27. 9% in May, while overall electric car sales in the region rose by 27.2%. The decline is attributed to competition from cheaper Chinese electric vehicles and protests against Elon Musk's policies.

Kaja Kallas stated that Ukraine is the main priority for Europe. She emphasized the importance of helping Kyiv and increasing pressure on Russia to achieve peace.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán stated that there is no place for Ukraine in NATO, and Zelenskyy's presence only at an informal dinner in The Hague marks "the end of an era. " Orbán believes that Ukraine's entry into any integration community does not correspond to Hungary's national interests.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine accuses the Hungarian government of anti-Ukrainian hysteria and manipulation regarding Ukraine's membership in the EU, calling the "VOKS2025" campaign disinformation. Kyiv is convinced that Ukraine's accession to the EU is in Hungary's interests, despite the aggressive rhetoric of the Hungarian authorities.

The head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Andriy Sybiha, and the High Representative of the EU, Kaja Kallas, discussed the strengthening of sanctions against Russia and Ukraine's accession to the EU. Sybiha emphasized Ukraine's fulfillment of all requirements for negotiations on EU membership.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with EU and NATO leaders to coordinate efforts. Issues of strengthening Ukraine, defense cooperation, negotiations on EU membership, and new sanctions against the Russian Federation were discussed.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the Dutch parliament for assistance that saves lives in Ukraine, including air defense systems and investments in defense. He also coordinated steps with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte regarding the NATO summit and strengthening air defense.

Since July 1, Yale University's humanitarian research laboratory, which documented Russian war crimes, including the abduction of Ukrainian children, has ceased operations. This happened due to the cessation of funding from the Trump administration, which could lead to the disappearance of most data on abducted children and the abducted children themselves.

Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko canceled the Regulation on the procedure for selecting candidates for the personnel reserve, as the pilot project proved ineffective. He emphasized the need for a transparent and effective selection mechanism, which will be developed with the involvement of international experts.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine called the Hungarian "national consultations" VOKS2025 regarding Ukraine's accession to the EU propagandistic and manipulative. Kyiv believes that the true purpose of the campaign is to divert attention from the failures of the Orbán government and is convinced that Ukraine's accession to the EU is in Hungary's strategic interests.

The Dutch government is allocating 175 million euros to support Ukraine, with most of the funds going to the purchase of new drones and radar systems. This assistance is crucial for repelling attacks by Russian drones and missiles.

Small pharmacies warn they cannot dispense medicines under the "Affordable Medicines" program due to new regulations and reduced markups, threatening them with license revocation. This causes outrage among representatives of small pharmacy businesses, who declare the destruction of the industry and rising drug prices.

According to Bloomberg Economics, a full-scale Russian war against Europe could reduce global GDP by $1. 5 trillion. Russia is actively increasing arms production, and the Baltic states are considered a potential target for aggression.

At the NATO summit in The Hague, an increase in defense spending to 5% of GDP is being discussed, causing controversy among member states. Ukraine remains on the periphery, and its Euro-Atlantic integration is effectively frozen due to the position of Trump and Germany.

Russia uses escalatory rhetoric to persuade NATO countries not to increase defense spending. Putin and his associates declare "global militarization" by NATO and threaten "preventive measures" in response.

Adviser to the Head of the Presidential Office Mykhailo Podolyak stated that the situation in the Middle East is not a catastrophe for Ukraine. He emphasized that the West has the capacity to simultaneously assist Israel and Ukraine, and that rising oil prices benefit Russia.