Brussels

Despite efforts to cut off supplies of Russian fossil fuels, gas imports to Europe from Russia in May exceeded those from the United States.

On June 15, Peter Pellegrini was officially sworn in as the new president of Slovakia, making an ambiguous reference to the war in Ukraine and the Ukrainian refugees accepted by Slovakia in his first speech.

Canada will transfer to Ukraine about 2,000 decommissioned CRV7 rocket engines, 29 remote weapon systems and more than 130,000 rounds of ammunition.

U. S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin opened the 23rd meeting of the Ramstein Contact Group on Ukraine's Defense, which is taking place on June 13 in conjunction with the meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels.

The United States believes that Ukraine still has work to do to meet NATO membership criteria, but remains committed to helping Ukraine build a bridge to NATO membership and to helping cross that bridge when the time is right, the US Ambassador to NATO said.

The EU notes a rapidly emerging consensus on preferred names for top EU leadership positions: naming Ursula von der Leyen for a second term as president of the European Commission, António Costa as president of the European Council, Roberta Metsola as head of the European Parliament and Kaja Kallas as head of EU diplomacy.

Belgium seeks to reach a compromise on the 14th package of EU sanctions against Russia within 24 hours of the G7 summit, but faces challenges from Hungary, Germany and France on specific measures.

The next meeting of the Contact Group on defense of Ukraine in the Ramstein format will be held on June 13 in Brussels during a meeting of NATO defense ministers.

The cabinet of French President Emmanuel Macron is considering Estonian Prime Minister Kaya Kallas as a potential successor to Josep Borrell as head of EU diplomacy.

NATO plans to ask its allies to commit to providing at least 40 billion euros of annual military assistance to Ukraine, replacing the previous proposal for a five-year fund due to resistance from member countries.

French President Macron has warned against not attending the euro elections this weekend. According to his calculations, this will play into the hands of the growing ultra-right.

In the Netherlands, Geert Wilders' far-right Freedom Party has achieved significant success in the European Parliament elections, potentially winning seven seats, according to exit polls.

Diplomatic sources say Hungary is threatening to derail the opening of accession negotiations, the media write.

The European Commission has recommended that the EU start accession negotiations with Ukraine this month, as Ukraine has implemented all additional measures and continues its systematic efforts to join the EU amid the war on Russian aggression.

The European Commission will recommend starting EU accession talks with Ukraine in June, before Hungary takes over the bloc's presidency.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has announced plans to create a pro-Russian "peace coalition" in the future European Parliament, which will aim to support negotiations between Ukraine and Russia instead of confrontation with Russia.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said that Ukraine has the right to defend itself, and Danish weapons can be used for self-defense, and in international law there is also the right to be able to attack the territory of the attacking party, and here we are not talking about offensive attacks.

European security services suspect russia of organizing arson attacks and sabotage attacks on infrastructure across Europe in an attempt to destabilize the situation on the continent.

Ukraine has fulfilled all the requirements for starting EU accession negotiations, leaving only organizational issues related to the actual opening of negotiations.

In Brussels, investigators raided the home and office of an assistant to a member of the European Parliament suspected of playing a significant role in spreading Russian propaganda before the European Parliament elections.

Poland calls for allowing Ukraine to use Western weapons to hit targets in russia without restrictions.

Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna discussed Ukraine's urgent military needs, including air defense systems, F-16 aircraft, ammunition and long-range artillery with NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg.

Dutch Defense Minister Kees Ollongren said that the Netherlands does not rule out the use of weapons outside Ukraine, hoping that other countries will change their position as Ukraine fights for self-defense and territorial integrity.

Ukraine and Belgium signed a bilateral agreement on security cooperation and long-term support, under which Belgium pledged to provide Ukraine with at least €977 million in military aid and 30 F-16 fighter jets by 2028.

Belgium will supply Ukraine with 30 of its F-16 fighter jets by 2028, with the first aircraft to be delivered by the end of this year as part of a security agreement to be signed during President Zelenskyy's visit to Brussels.

EU defense ministers will discuss military aid to Ukraine and strengthening the European defense industry, but Hungary delays payments from the European Peace Fund.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visits Belgium to sign a security agreement with Prime Minister Alexander De Kroo and ask for more military assistance from Western allies in Ukraine's fight against Russian troops.

Poland criticizes Hungary primarily for not agreeing to increase the European Peace Fund, from which EU countries receive reimbursement for the cost of arming Ukraine.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will meet with Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna at a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council in Brussels to discuss Ukraine's aspirations for NATO membership and cooperation with the Alliance.

Poland's Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski says that negotiations on Ukraine's membership in the European Union should begin in the first half of the year before the EU presidency passes to Hungary in the second half, which could block the decision on Ukraine.