Brussels
The US opposes the EU's plan to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine, citing risks to market stability. This move is a setback for the EU, which has been trying to persuade G7 countries to join its initiative.
The European Union is considering using frozen Russian state assets worth 140 billion euros to provide a loan to Ukraine. The European Commission also seeks to raise 25 billion euros from private bank accounts for this initiative.
Canada and the United Kingdom will join the EU's plan to use nearly $300 billion in Russian Central Bank assets to support Ukraine. This mechanism provides for the provision of loans for weapons and economic support without direct confiscation of funds.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that Ukraine is a world leader in drone technology and combating them. NATO uses Ukraine's knowledge and will take additional measures to combat Russian drones.
Germany will deploy Eurofighter jets to the Polish military airbase in Malbork. This decision was made to protect NATO's eastern flank, as stated by German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.
The European Commission aims to launch a "drone wall" by the end of 2026, with full functionality expected by the end of 2027. This initiative is part of a roadmap aimed at preparing the bloc for a potential attack from Moscow.
The European Union plans to launch joint drone and air defense projects. The plan envisages a complete overhaul of EU military planning and procurement, with the aim of jointly carrying out 40% of defense procurement by the end of 2027.
The European Commission will propose rules for short-term rentals through platforms like Airbnb to counter the social crisis of affordable housing. The EU's first housing commissioner, Dan Jørgensen, noted that this issue is within the EU's competence.
Hungarian conservative politician, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, criticized the EU's energy policy at a conference in Moscow, noting that "contracts" with Russia "have always been honored. "
Estonia will contribute $12 million to the fourth PURL package, which it calls the Baltic Nordic package, to finance American weapons for Ukraine. Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur expects contributions from other allies, as the share of US contributions has significantly decreased.
The Netherlands has pledged to provide Ukraine with 90 million euros for drones. The Dutch Minister of Defense emphasized the need to develop more effective methods of destroying drones than using F-35 fighters.
Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson said that the country is ready to make new contributions to the PURL initiative on armaments. He called on other countries to increase aid to Ukraine, as its support is declining.
Finland has joined NATO's PURL project, which involves purchasing weapons for Ukraine from the United States. Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen emphasized the critical importance of long-range missiles for Ukraine.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that the supply of long-range missiles to Ukraine is not a topic for discussion today, as it is a bilateral issue. He also noted that support for Ukraine has not diminished.
Great Britain has invested £600 million to accelerate the supply of drones to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, delivering 85,000 military drones. British aircraft will continue to protect Polish airspace until the end of the year after Russian drone incursions.
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth in Brussels emphasized the principle of "peace through strength. " He noted that allies' commitments will soon turn into capabilities, including the PURL initiative.
The European Commission intends to expand the "drone wall" initiative – a defense project initially aimed at protecting the EU's eastern border – to cover the whole of Europe.
The European Union is considering using about 200 billion euros of frozen Russian central bank assets as the only way to sustainably finance Ukraine. EU leaders aim to reach a political agreement on this at next week's summit, after which work on a legal proposal will begin.
The European Commission is investigating allegations of Hungarian espionage against European institutions. An international journalistic investigation uncovered a network of secret agents operating through Hungary's Permanent Representation to the EU.
Austria has suspended the adoption of the 19th package of EU sanctions against Russia, demanding the unfreezing of Rasperia Trading assets to compensate Raiffeisen Bank. The bank seeks to recover 2.1 billion euros it lost due to a Russian court decision.
An investigation by SPIEGEL, De Tijd, and Direkt36 revealed that Hungarian intelligence appears to have been spying on EU institutions in Brussels for years, attempting to recruit European officials. One agent, operating under diplomatic cover, according to the investigation, offered money to a European Commission employee.
Belgium is facing increasing pressure to allow the use of frozen Russian assets for a “reparation loan” to Ukraine. This comes after a shift in position by Berlin and other Western capitals, which now support the idea.
The European Union is developing a new "AI Application" strategy to promote its own artificial intelligence tools. This will reduce dependence on China and improve the use of AI in healthcare, defense, and manufacturing.
Thousands of protesters in European cities took to the streets after Israel intercepted a humanitarian flotilla. In Barcelona, shop windows were smashed, and in Italy, universities were blockaded, drawing criticism from the Minister of Defense.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Council President António Costa held a trilateral discussion. Ukraine and pan-European defense capabilities were discussed.
The European Commission is urging EU countries to provide tax incentives for investment accounts to attract 10 trillion euros of Europeans' savings. This is part of an effort to deepen capital markets and provide companies with opportunities for growth.
The European Union is preparing to begin technical work on the accession of Ukraine and Moldova, despite Hungary's ongoing blocking of accession negotiations. The European Commission has proposed adjusting the rules to circumvent Hungary's veto, by starting technical work in several "clusters" even without an official decision.
Senior EU officials have endorsed Trump's 20-point plan for resolving the situation in Gaza, stating that it offers a chance to end the war. They are urging Hamas to accept it without delay, starting with the immediate release of hostages.
Brussels welcomed the plan by European Council President António Costa, which involves bypassing Hungary's veto to advance Ukraine's and Moldova's applications for EU membership. The proposal would allow voting on the opening of negotiation clusters by a qualified majority of member states.
The European Union is planning new restrictions on the travel of Russian diplomats within EU countries to minimize the risks of subversive activities. Russian diplomats must now notify their travel plans in advance and provide route details.