Belgium
NATO allies practiced hunting Russian submarines near Iceland without American ships and aircraft. European and Canadian forces took part in the maneuvers.
The Finance Minister forecasts a budget deficit of up to $32. 6 billion and a possible postponement of non-military payments. He called on the EU to use Russian assets.
Belgium opposed using €200 billion in frozen Russian assets for Ukraine. Sweden, Poland, the Netherlands and Spain supported the scheme.
Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot warned U. S. Ambassador Bill White of the risk of escalation over attacks on social media. This is already the diplomat’s second reprimand this year.
Belgium’s Defense Minister said that the country would not support the use of frozen Russian assets. The EU plans to discuss the issue next week.
EU gas storage facilities are 63% full, compared with an average of 80% at the end of August. Germany has about half of the reserves, increasing the risk of shortages.
Flash floods have claimed the lives of at least 359 people, while more than 1,400 are missing. They include citizens of more than 30 countries.
Sweden, the Netherlands, Spain and Poland, among others, are calling on the European Commission to resume work on using more than €200 billion in Russian assets. Belgium fears legal and financial risks.
This summer, heat claimed at least 35,000 lives in Europe. The highest number of deaths was recorded in Germany, France and Spain.
Poland has concluded an agreement for several thousand Piorun systems and hundreds of launchers for itself, Lithuania, Latvia and Norway. Deliveries will continue until 2030.
On Ukraine’s Independence Day, iconic structures in six countries around the world were illuminated in blue and yellow. The displays became a symbol of solidarity.
Alina Bushma won bronze at the European Squash Championship in Budapest. It is Ukraine’s first medal in the history of the continental championship.
On August 19, World Humanitarian Day and World Photography Day are observed around the world. On this day, people also honor the memory of Saint Andrew Stratelates according to the old calendar.
Belgium is battling the largest forest fire in the history of recorded observations, which has engulfed 3,000 hectares of the High Fens nature reserve. Authorities evacuated residents of two villages, while the EU sent aircraft to help.
Since the beginning of summer, 474 people suspected of intentional or accidental arson have been detained in France. Fires have also affected Croatia, Germany, Greece, and Spain.
France, Germany and Britain are coordinating efforts to ensure Europe’s participation in future negotiations. They are concerned about possible exclusion from the dialogue by the Trump administration.
A forest fire in Croatia has engulfed the coast, claiming one life and injuring around 40 people. More than 1,200 people have been evacuated, and 10 are in intensive care.
A 42-year-old Kyiv resident is suspected of sexually abusing his own 3-year-old daughter and forcing her to participate in the creation of child pornography. The court imposed bail as a preventive measure, and the prosecutor's office is appealing the decision.
German authorities evacuated around 1,800 people from the village of Geich because of a forest fire that approached the border with Belgium. The fire engulfed 25 hectares, and the B399 road was closed.
As of the end of June, more than 4. 4 million Ukrainians were under temporary protection in the EU, 24,000 more than in May. The largest numbers of such people are in Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic.
On August 6, Kyiv's Dynamo will face Azerbaijan's Qarabağ in the third qualifying round of the Conference League. Bookmakers consider the Ukrainian team the favorite, with odds of 2.16.
In July, Belgium imported 0. 4 million tons of LNG from Russia, becoming completely dependent on it. This complicates the EU's energy policy, which plans a full ban on Russian gas next year.
Fire Point CEO Iryna Terekh stated that European bureaucracy poses a greater threat to Europe's defense than the Russians. She called for simplifying procedures for implementing joint projects, in particular the Freyja anti-ballistic shield.
Kyiv Dynamo lost to PAOK with a score of 2:0 in the second qualifying round of the Europa League. The team will continue its performances in the third round of the Conference League.
On July 29, Polissia will play against Copenhagen in the Conference League, and on July 30, Dynamo will face PAOK in the Europa League, and LNZ will face Gent.
The President of Ukraine and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom visited the minesweeping vessel "Cherkasy", received from Britain in 2023. The leaders were also shown drones and unmanned vehicles.
The Royal Belgian Football Association has announced the appointment of Dutchman Mark van Bommel as head coach of the national team. He will prepare the team for the 2028 European Championship.
Cherkasy LNZ failed to beat Belgian Gent in the first match of the 2nd qualifying round of the Conference League, playing a 0-0 draw. The return match will take place in a week in Belgium.
The residents of Zhytomyr will face "Copenhagen", and the residents of Cherkasy will play against "Gent" in the second qualifying round of the Conference League.
Kyiv's "Dynamo" signed a three-year contract with 25-year-old defender Oleksii Sych. According to Transfermarkt, the transfer fee from Lviv's "Karpaty" amounted to 1 million euros.