Ursula von der Leyen

May 9th is Magnetic Alphabet Day, which promotes creativity and learning. Also on this day, Europe Day is celebrated in Ukraine, symbolizing unity and European integration.

The development of the National Program for Harmonization of Ukrainian Legislation with the Law of the European Union has begun. The program will become Ukraine's "homework diary" on the way to EU membership.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed support for Ukraine and prospects for cooperation with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The German Chancellor assured of continued support.

The European Commission has begun consultations on countermeasures and is preparing for proceedings in the WTO because of US duties. American bourbon and wine, as well as steel scrap and chemical products from the EU, are under threat.

lavrov criticized EU countries for obstructing visits by European leaders to moscow on May 9. He also accused the EU of double standards regarding Ukraine and Serbia.

The European Commission stated that without China's support, Russia would not be able to wage war against Ukraine on such a scale. The EU-China summit, scheduled for July, is an opportunity to develop relations with Beijing.

The Strichka coordination platform has launched a campaign to collect signatures for a petition to the European Parliament on the accelerated accession of Ukraine to the EU. This is necessary to strengthen European security.

Ursula von der Leyen said that a bad deal with Russia could provoke it to new aggression. A just peace presupposes the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

Ursula von der Leyen called for speeding up Ukraine's accession to the EU, calling it a guarantee of peace. The EU is working to open the first cluster of accession negotiations in 2025.

Friedrich Merz has been elected Chancellor of Germany. The NATO Secretary General and EU leaders congratulated him, emphasizing the importance of leadership for European security and cooperation between countries.

The European Commission has presented the REPowerEU plan for complete energy independence from Russia. It is planned to gradually remove Russian oil, gas and nuclear energy from EU markets.

The head of the European Commission criticized Trump for suppressing science and urged scientists to choose Europe. She announced a program worth 500 million euros to attract foreign researchers.

Anthony Albanese has become Prime Minister of Australia again, his party has won a majority in parliament. Opposition leader Dutton has conceded defeat in the election.

On Tuesday, President von der Leyen will participate in a debate in the European Parliament on supporting a just and sustainable peace in Ukraine. This was announced by a spokeswoman for the European Commission.

A state of emergency has been declared in Spain due to a nationwide power outage. An emergency government meeting is addressing the situation, with millions of people without electricity.

The Spanish Central Bank reported that online payments in the country are available during the blackout, and the TARGET system is working. CaixaBank assured that their online services are working, but incidents occur in branches and ATMs.

Power outages in Spain and Portugal will be resolved faster. REN denied information about a week-long network restoration, promising a quick solution.

Ursula von der Leyen has announced the European Commission's readiness to help restore energy supplies to the Iberian Peninsula following a massive power outage. The Commission will coordinate recovery efforts.

Giorgia Meloni and Ursula von der Leyen discussed transatlantic priorities and resuming dialogue with Donald Trump. They also spoke about support for Ukraine and security.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin and discussed ways to achieve a just peace. He thanked for supporting Ukraine's right to self-defense.

Zelenskyy announced that he discussed the preparation of the 17th package of EU sanctions against Russia with von der Leyen. It should be aimed at key sectors of the Russian economy.

Ursula von der Leyen assured support for Ukraine on the path to peace and discussed with Volodymyr Zelenskyy steps to join the European family. Zelenskyy's meeting with Trump was also mentioned.

The head of the European Commission and the US President exchanged handshakes at the funeral of Pope Francis and agreed on a future meeting. The date of negotiations has not yet been announced.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in the Vatican. A meeting with Emmanuel Macron in Rome is also reported.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will meet with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky in Rome on Saturday afternoon. The meeting will take place as part of the funeral of Pope Francis.

EU member states are in no hurry to use the European Commission's proposal to increase defense spending. Many fear the risks to debt sustainability and market reaction.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will urge the Trump administration not to impose a peace agreement on Ukraine that would appease Putin. He will stress that this will increase the threat to Europe.

Countries are looking for reliable trading partners in Europe after Trump's trade war. Trust in the EU is growing, with support for membership reaching 74%, the highest level in 40 years.

The European Union is looking for ways to facilitate the import of American gas, while adhering to rules on methane emissions. This is done to avoid a trade war with the US and increase gas purchases.

Ursula von der Leyen stated that the usual perception of the "West" is irrelevant. Europe is the guarantor of Western values, is in demand for the organization of trade and is known for its reliability.