European Union

The Prime Minister of Ukraine held a meeting on the mechanism for confiscating frozen Russian assets. Ukraine is strengthening its defense at the expense of profits from these assets.

The French Foreign Minister stated that sanctions against Russia are not enough. We need a package of measures that can "strangle" the Russian economy and force Putin to stop the war in Ukraine.

The EU court granted the NYT's request regarding the SMS correspondence between the head of the European Commission and Pfizer's management regarding the purchase of the COVID-19 vaccine. The EC could not explain why these messages do not contain important information.

The EU plans to introduce higher duties on Ukrainian imports, abolishing special trade measures. The new restrictions will affect, in particular, corn, sugar, honey and poultry.

The Ukrainian government has approved roadmaps for opening the first cluster of negotiations on accession to the EU. The negotiating position for the first cluster of negotiations has also been approved.

EU ambassadors have given the green light to the 17th package of sanctions against Russia. Additional sanctions have also been approved for human rights violations and the proliferation of chemical weapons.

Robert De Niro condemned Trump for cutting arts funding and imposing tariffs on films produced outside the United States. The Cannes Film Festival honored Ukraine with screenings of films about the war.

French President Macron called on the EU to increase pressure on Israel due to the humanitarian situation in Gaza. He stated that it is necessary to review the cooperation agreement with Israel.

Russia's economy is only outwardly stable due to the war and Western sanctions. Dependence on opaque financing makes it unviable in the long term.

Viktor Orbán announced an unprecedented intelligence operation by Ukrainian special services. He convened the Defense Council and accused Ukraine of a smear campaign.

George Simion called for voting for Karol Nawrocki at a rally in Zabrze. He emphasized the importance of fighting for freedom and protecting Christian values.

The President of France announced the EU's expectations for a ceasefire in Ukraine. He emphasized the readiness to strengthen sanctions against Russia in case of refusal to cease fire.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said that new negotiations between the US and Russia are planned. However, specific dates for the meeting are not yet known.

If Putin does not come to Turkey, there will be sanctions against the Russian Federation. Ukraine is ready for negotiations on a ceasefire, but Russia does not show readiness for de-escalation.

The EU expects Putin to be ready to meet with Zelensky on Thursday. Further sanctions are also being considered due to the lack of a ceasefire.

The European Union is discussing how to avoid Hungary blocking negotiations on Ukraine's accession. Brussels is looking for ways to circumvent the veto needed to open and conclude negotiations.

The Rada adopted a bill that will allow sanctions to be imposed on ships and aircraft operating for the Russian Federation. The SBU and intelligence will be able to detect the use of ships in activities against Ukraine.

The new package of EU sanctions, announced as "tough", reportedly does not go beyond the previous 16th. The package does not include controversial proposals amid fears of a veto by Hungary or Slovakia.

The adoption of draft law №12374-d on the reform of ARMA is necessary for European integration and receiving assistance from the EU. The head of ARMA Duma opposes it, but this is a systemic reform for transparency.

The 78th Cannes Film Festival will host a special screening of three films about the war in Ukraine. Among them are films about Zelensky, French volunteers and the war in Donbas.

The EU Council has extended sanctions for cyberattacks, which allow for the imposition of restrictions against individuals and institutions involved, until May 18, 2026, and the legal regime until 2028. Currently, sanctions are in place against 17 individuals and 4 institutions.

The European Commission is considering changes to sustainability rules to make it easier to attract private investment in the defense industry. This should stimulate arms production in Europe.

US President Donald Trump has stated that the European Union treats the US very unfairly and is worse than China. This happened after agreements between the US and China to reduce tariffs.

Andriy Yermak discussed with European partners Zelensky's readiness to meet with Putin in Turkey. Ukraine strives to establish a just peace.

The European Union plans to ban these vessels from entering EU ports and using European maritime services. Sanctions are also expected against captains, 54 companies and 14 individuals.

North Macedonia has joined the initiative to create a special tribunal in The Hague to punish the Russian leadership for war crimes in Ukraine. The country called for a ceasefire.

The President of the European Council, António Costa, announced the relaunch of the EU enlargement process in the Western Balkans. He confirmed the requirement for candidate countries to implement reforms to meet EU standards.

The meeting discussed the missile program, production and use of drones. They also paid attention to the protection of Ukrainian infrastructure.

The Ministry of Defense received confirmation from ESDC about the inclusion of 9 Ukrainian universities in the educational network. This will contribute to the integration of Euro-Atlantic standards into military education.

Andriy Sybiha discussed with partners Russia's ignoring of Ukraine's ceasefire proposal. He emphasized Zelensky's readiness to meet with Putin.