European Union

Former European Commissioner Ilva Johansson will become the new EU special envoy for Ukrainian affairs. She will oversee the European Commission's strategy on Ukrainian refugees.

Sybiha met with his EU counterpart Kaja Kallas in Rome. They discussed news from the war front, peace efforts of Ukraine and the West, as well as Kyiv's urgent needs against the background of a full-scale war. Ukraine thanked the EU for its continued support.

The President of Ukraine emphasized the importance of sanctions against Russia, which should precede its adaptation. He stressed the need for restrictions against oil, banks and individuals.

Ukraine is forced to use Soviet equipment, but sanctions block the import of spare parts. Who is to blame and what to do to avoid undermining the country's defense capability?

Dozens of the largest Russian companies, including Gazprom, have lost foreign assets due to sanctions and the termination of partnerships. This negatively affects the Russian budget due to a reduction in foreign exchange earnings.

Andriy Sybiga stressed the importance of pressure on Russia for a truce, which will open the way to negotiations. He called for increased economic and military pressure on the aggressor.

Italy seeks a ceasefire in Ukraine to start peace negotiations. The country also advocates for increased defense spending within the framework of the European partnership.

The EU Council has approved new duties on imports from Russia and Belarus to reduce dependence on their agricultural products. Fertilizers and 15% of agricultural exports will be subject to restrictions.

The EU Council has recognized the equivalence of Ukrainian and Moldovan seeds to EU requirements. This will allow exporting sunflower, soybean, beet and fodder crop seeds to the EU market.

According to a survey by KIIS, most Ukrainians consider the EU a reliable ally, while the US is perceived as a country that is tired of the war and puts pressure on Ukraine to make concessions.

An international conference "Weimar+" dedicated to the security of the EU and the war in Ukraine will be held in Rome. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Sybiha, will participate in the meeting with colleagues.

The European Union has proposed sanctions against two small Chinese banks that are helping Russia circumvent trade restrictions. EU financial institutions will be prohibited from any transactions with these banks.

The Energy Efficiency Fund will receive 18 million euros from the EU and Germany to expand programs in the residential sector. The funds will allow to resume accepting applications and reach more families throughout Ukraine.

Zelenskyy held a meeting with Vučić, thanked him for supporting Ukraine, and invited Serbia to rebuild the country. Vučić assured of support for Ukraine's sovereignty.

Participants of the "Ukraine-South-Eastern Europe" summit condemned the aggression of the Russian Federation and supported the European integration of Ukraine. They emphasized the importance of strengthening sanctions and restoring the country.

Ukraine, Moldova and Romania are deepening cooperation in the field of security, energy and economy. Special attention is paid to supporting Moldova and countering Russian threats.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced a project to connect three ports, promoting Ukraine's integration with the EU. The route may receive funding from the European Union, strengthening economic ties.

The UK and the EU have reached an agreement on Gibraltar, which will avoid burdensome border controls. The agreement supports Gibraltar's economy and protects UK sovereignty.

The President of Moldova stated that the country is facing a hybrid war from russia. Sandu called for regional cooperation to counter security threats.

The European Union has added Monaco to the list of countries with a high risk of money laundering and terrorist financing. Russia was again not included in the updated list.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that a price ceiling of $45 per barrel of oil is better than $60, but real peace will come at $30 per barrel. He emphasized that this will change the course of thinking in Moscow.

The Polish Sejm expressed confidence in the Council of Ministers. 243 deputies voted "for", 210 – against.

Ukraine managed to influence the content of the new, 18th package of anti-Russian sanctions of the EU, which includes restrictions on the import of petroleum products and increased pressure on the "shadow fleet". It may become the strongest in a year, but it is still not effective enough to bleed the aggressor country.

In the conditions of war, Ukraine solves problems with equipment repair, looking for spare parts abroad and developing import substitution. The lives of military personnel depend on the serviceability of the equipment.

Nicușor Dan will participate in the summit in Odesa, where he will confirm support for Ukraine and discuss security in the Black Sea. A trilateral meeting with Moldova is also planned.

Polish Prime Minister Tusk initiated a vote of confidence after losing the election. This is happening against the backdrop of a possible confrontation with newly elected President Nawrocki, who may block government initiatives.

France may block X, Bluesky and Reddit if they do not strengthen age verification to protect children from pornography and radicalization. Violators face fines and blocking.

Slovakia will not support the 18th package of sanctions against Russia without addressing the problems caused by the cessation of gas, oil, and nuclear fuel supplies. The EU may vote on the sanctions on June 20.

The French President has stated his readiness to ban access to social networks for children under 15 if the EU does not pass laws. The reason was cases of violence among young people.

Draft law No. 13356 has been registered in the Verkhovna Rada, allowing the National Bank to include virtual assets in the gold and foreign exchange reserves of Ukraine. This will contribute to integration into global financial innovations.