Brussels

March 25 marks the International Day of Waffles, a popular delicacy with more than 100 varieties around the world, from fluffy American waffles to crispy Belgian Liège waffles.

EU leaders have agreed to use money from frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine buy weapons, with the first €1 billion to be disbursed by July 1, reflecting the growing need due to the war in Ukraine.

The European Commission is preparing to impose tariffs on grain products from Belarus and Russia to prevent Russian grain from destabilizing the European market, stop Russia from profiting from exports to the EU, and ensure that illegally exported stolen Ukrainian grain does not enter the EU market.

During a meeting with the President of the European Council, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal emphasized the importance of adopting the draft negotiation framework for Ukraine's accession to the EU as soon as possible.

Ukraine has submitted to the European Commission a government-approved plan for a 4-year, €50 billion EU support program, awaiting approval and full launch, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said during his visit to Brussels.

Ukraine received €4. 5 billion in transitional funding from the EU's Ukraine Fund, which strengthened its economic and financial stability.

The European Commission has allocated 4. 5 billion euros from a 50-billion-euro fund for Ukraine.

A meeting of the EU-Ukraine Association Council will be held in Brussels on March 20 to discuss Russia's war against Ukraine, its consequences, Ukraine's integration into the EU, and bilateral relations.

Chinese Ambassador to the EU Fu Kong is leaving Brussels for a new post at the UN in New York after less than 18 months, amid deteriorating relations between China and the EU over issues such as the war in Ukraine and alleged unfair Chinese subsidies.

The European Commission plans to propose confiscating 15-20 billion euros in profits from russian sovereign assets frozen in Europe by 2027 to support Ukraine, but details of how the funds will be used are still being discussed.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that Russia's attempts to organize any elections in the occupied territories of Ukraine are absolutely illegal and violate international law.

The EU has adopted the world's first comprehensive law regulating artificial intelligence, including restrictions on real-time biometric surveillance in public places and requirements for transparency and compliance with EU laws for high-risk artificial intelligence systems.

The EU finance ministers unanimously supported the candidacy of Kristalina Georgieva for a second five-year term as head of the International Monetary Fund.

A new book by British-Ukrainian writer Anna Shevchenko, which contains 20 real-life stories about ordinary Ukrainians during the war, was presented in London.

Sweden, as a new member of NATO, has no plans to deploy the alliance's nuclear weapons on its territory in peacetime, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg have said.

This week, the European Commission will approve a draft negotiation framework for Ukraine's accession to the EU after Ukraine implements four additional recommendations.

Sweden has officially joined NATO as the 32nd member state after abandoning its non-aligned policy due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The flag-raising ceremony took place at NATO Headquarters in Brussels with the participation of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and NATO officials.

Hungary received €75 million of previously blocked EU funds to be spent on an environmental and energy efficiency program.

Pornhub, Xvideos, and Stripchat have sued the EU to challenge new content moderation obligations under the Digital Services Act, which classifies them as "very large online platforms" requiring stricter rules to combat illegal and harmful content.

Since the beginning of the invasion, Ukrainian courts have handed down 81 war crimes verdicts against Russians, with 17 defendants convicted in person.

Poland announces that the European Commission has agreed to revise the transportation agreement with Ukraine to meet the demands of Polish truckers.

Ukraine is asking 10 EU member states for permission to extradite war criminals and people accused of large-scale corruption.

The EU discussed Russia's war against Ukraine with China's special representative Li Hui and expressed concern over the export of dual-use goods from China to Russia, calling on Beijing to counteract it.

The European Commission may submit a proposal to use the profits from frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine's defense industry.

Russian intelligence is using a Serbian agent to infiltrate EU institutions and spread pro-Kremlin theories about the invasion of Ukraine.

Belgian police have arrested four teenagers suspected of preparing a jihadist attack after they exchanged messages about attack plans.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban will meet with former US President Donald Trump in Florida on March 8.

China sees negotiations as the only way to end the fighting in Ukraine, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said after talks in Moscow between China's special representative for Ukraine and Russia's deputy foreign minister.

The EU is preparing to completely cut off Russian gas supplies through Ukraine by the end of the year, as it has already sharply reduced its imports of Russian gas, oil, and coal over the past two years.

Sweden's accession to NATO may be delayed until next week because Hungary's newly elected president has not yet taken office to sign the ratification.