European Union

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski warned that escalation in the Middle East would lead to rising oil prices, affecting the war in Ukraine. He noted that Russia is intensifying attacks, taking advantage of the situation, and expressed hope for a new EU sanctions package.

Head of EU diplomacy Kaja Kallas announced that 80% of the European Union's initiative to provide Ukraine with two million artillery shells this year has already been secured by commitments. This initiative involves allocating 5 billion euros for the stated goal.

More than half of Slovaks rejected the idea of the country's neutrality, despite Prime Minister Robert Fico's statement. An AKO poll showed that 50.6% of respondents oppose Slovakia's withdrawal from NATO.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha will visit Brussels on June 23 to participate in the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting. He will brief on the situation on the battlefield, Ukraine's needs, and discuss sanctions against the aggressor.

Vice Prime Minister Oleksiy Chernyshov returns to work in the Cabinet of Ministers on June 23 after a foreign business trip. Earlier, rumors appeared about his possible “non-return to Ukraine” against the backdrop of NABU and SAPO's statement about their intention to announce their suspicion to him.

Ukraine is planning targeted strikes in response to Russia's aggression, noting the "intellectual regression" of the occupiers' leadership. Sanctions are inflicting "tangible damage" on the Russian economy, confirming the correctness of the chosen course of pressure.

According to Ukrainian Captain 1st Rank Andriy Ryzhenko, Russia's "shadow fleet" of tankers, which exports oil products bypassing sanctions, numbers between 600 and 1000 vessels. Most of them are outside sanctions, and their number and owners constantly change, which complicates tracking.

The US secretly coordinated with the Russian Federation a draft of its own resolution in the UN for the anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine. This draft did not include provisions on the territorial integrity of Ukraine, and the US itself did not support it during the vote.

President Zelenskyy instructed Ukrainian diplomacy to conduct a "month of pressure on Russia" to increase the cost of war and limit Russia's ability to produce means of terror. Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha emphasized that the diplomatic system is mobilizing efforts ahead of the EU and NATO summits, expecting determination from partners, particularly the US, regarding sanction pressure.

Hungarian opposition leader Péter Magyar declared Viktor Orbán's referendum on Ukraine's EU accession a "complete failure". The survey lasted from April to June 20, with no more than 600,000 people participating, which is the lowest turnout in the history of National Consultations.

The Syrian Ministry of Interior has detained Wasim al-Assad, a cousin of the overthrown president Bashar al-Assad, who is considered one of the biggest drug traffickers and war criminals. He is accused of involvement in drug trafficking and support for the regime, which led to sanctions from the US and EU.

Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, ahead of the NATO summit, expressed doubt about the feasibility of the continued existence of the North Atlantic Alliance, emphasizing the need to adapt to changed conditions. He believes that "times have changed" and called on NATO to cooperate with the Global South, and also noted the decreasing influence of the European Union.

EU-sanctioned Russian state broadcasters can still profit from Facebook ads, research shows. Meta says it is "taking action" against accounts linked to sanctioned entities.

European diplomats called on Iran to continue nuclear talks with the United States, despite Israeli strikes. They stressed that regional escalation is dangerous and Iran is not allowed to have nuclear weapons.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced Tehran's readiness to resume diplomatic discussions on the condition that Israeli aggression ceases and the aggressor is held accountable. This statement came after his talks in Geneva with European foreign ministers, where the possibility of a new nuclear deal was discussed.

The Swiss People's Party proposes to revoke the protection status S for Ukrainian refugees, arguing for the stability of some territories in Ukraine. More than 69,000 Ukrainians are in Switzerland with status S, two-thirds of whom depend on assistance.

On June 20, 2025, Switzerland lifted several economic sanctions against Syria, including restrictions on financial services and trade in precious metals. This decision follows the actions of the European Union on May 27, 2025.

European and Iranian foreign ministers met to assess Tehran's readiness for talks on a new, strengthened nuclear deal. This happened amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, with the United States expressing readiness for direct contacts with Iran.

Energy regulators of Greece and Moldova have simplified access to the Trans-Balkan Corridor, increasing the attractiveness of natural gas transportation to Ukraine. Greece has lifted restrictions on gas exports to Ukraine, and Moldova has introduced a new capacity product for gas transportation to Ukraine.

The European Union will not lower the price cap on Russian oil due to the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East. The proposal to lower the price from $60 to $45 per barrel has been postponed due to market instability.

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced that Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Chernyshov's business trip has been approved until the end of the week. This comes amidst a scandal involving the detention of Chernyshov's associates due to alleged corruption and his presence abroad during searches.

President Zelenskyy stated that Russia continues targeted terror, hitting Odesa and Kharkiv with over 20 drones. He called for a tangible response that would hit Russia's ability to finance the war.

Ministers of the Baltic states, Scandinavia and Poland have agreed on a ban on entry into the Schengen zone for Russian citizens who participated in the war against Ukraine. The restrictions will concern visas and residence permits and will remain in force even after the hostilities end.

EU countries have agreed to increase the European Investment Bank's annual lending limit to €100 billion and triple financing for the defense industry. The bank also plans to invest €70 billion in technological innovation and renewable energy sources.

Nearly 4. 3 million Ukrainians have received temporary protection in EU countries as of the end of January 2025. The largest number of Ukrainians are in Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic, where their numbers are increasing.

European officials are trying to bring Iran back to the negotiating table, and the United States is considering its decision on the conflict within two weeks. The situation remains dangerous, but there is a window for a diplomatic solution.

The European Union is making progress in trade negotiations with the United States on the eve of the deadline set by US President Donald Trump for the introduction of new customs duties on July 9. The bloc is ready to take measures to protect its economic interests in the absence of a mutually acceptable solution.

Apple and Meta will not face immediate sanctions for non-compliance with EU digital rules. Financial penalties will only be applied after prior analysis, not automatically, after a sixty-day grace period.

IMF warns Europe of stagnation risk without urgent measures. Slowing growth and barriers in the single market are holding back the economy. Deeper EU market and budget increase are proposed.

SIPRI report shows growing global tensions and regional conflicts. The nuclear stockpile has increased, and disarmament is becoming less attainable.