Cyprus
EU countries intend to reach an agreement within a few weeks on the next package of sanctions against Russia, targeting Moscow's “shadow fleet” of oil tankers, banning the re-export of Russian liquefied gas and imposing individual sanctions on more than 100 people involved in the deportation of Ukrainians and arms production.
The European Union plans to provide Ukraine with broad security commitments, including political, military, economic, and reconstruction assistance, by early July, but excluding direct EU military involvement in combat operations against Russia.
Ukraine will insist on full territorial integration without any restrictions in the EU membership agreement, citing the precedent of Cyprus and demanding guarantees of inclusion of Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
The second semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 took place on May 9 in Malmö, where 10 more countries - Latvia, Austria, the Netherlands, Norway, Israel, Greece, Estonia, Switzerland, Georgia and Armenia - advanced to the grand final on May 11, joining the 10 countries that had qualified from the first semi-final.
Wealthy Russians are trying to return their assets to Russia or friendly countries such as the UAE because of the sanctions, but fear the potential nationalization of their businesses in Russia, leaving them in a state of uncertainty.
90% of the frozen Russian assets worth about €192 billion held in the Belgian securities depository Euroclear will be used to support Ukraine, while the remaining 10% will go to the EU, leaving a significant portion of the total €220 billion of frozen Russian assets in the EU financial system unused.
Poles are outraged by the behavior of Ukrainian singer Jerry Heil, who recorded a video wearing a sweater with the inscription "Banderaciaga. Social media users have accused her of supporting Stepan Bandera and are urging her not to vote for Ukraine at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2024.
The United States has completed the construction of a floating pier off the coast of the Gaza Strip to receive humanitarian aid, but bad weather has delayed its final deployment.
Ukrainian singers Alyona Alyona and Jerry Heil have reached the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 along with artists from Serbia, Portugal, Slovenia, Lithuania, Finland, Cyprus, Croatia, Ireland, and Luxembourg.
During his inaugural speech, Putin said that Moscow “does not refuse to engage in dialogue with Western countries” and spoke about the Russian Federation.
Brussels is considering allowing neutral EU countries to opt out of using frozen Russian assets to purchase weapons for Ukraine, while G7 members such as Germany, France and Italy remain cautious due to legal and financial risks.
Some members of the European Parliament earn extra money by working part-time for private companies, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest and influence on EU policy-making.
President Andrzej Duda proposes to organize two summits - with the United States and Ukraine - during Poland's EU presidency in 2025 to emphasize the importance of Ukraine's recovery and accession to the EU.
In May 2024, Ukrainians will celebrate several important Orthodox church holidays, including Easter, Radonitsa, and the Day of the Holy Myrrh-Bearing Women.
The American fund Argentem Creek Partners, which is suing for a grain terminal in Odesa, is financing the business of Russians close to Rosneft, foreign media reports.
EU agriculture ministers plan to increase the maximum amount of minimum state aid to €50,000 per farm for three years to support the agricultural sector amid ongoing market turmoil.
The Shevchenkivsky District Court of Kyiv has extended the detention of businessman Ihor Kolomoisky until June 2, 2024, with the possibility of bail in the amount of UAH 1. 96 billion.
Russia's Su-27SM3, Su-30SM, Su-34, Su-35S, and Su-57 fighters contain more than 2,000 foreign-made electronic components from the United States, Japan, and other countries that are used in navigation, guidance, and communication systems, despite the sanctions.
The United States has added 10 individuals and 12 legal entities to the sanctions list against Belarus. The restrictions include 10 individuals and 12 legal entities. The blacklist includes citizens of Belarus, Lebanon, Syria, Slovakia, and Sweden.
The United Kingdom is deploying naval forces and establishing a maritime corridor from Cyprus to increase aid delivery to Gaza, including a temporary pier, a Royal Navy ship to transport aid, logistical support and £9. 7 million in funding.
44 countries support the creation of a special tribunal to investigate and prosecute the crime of Russian aggression against Ukraine, and the Netherlands has offered to host it.
Israel will open a situation center to coordinate aid distribution in Gaza with the World Central Kitchen following a deadly strike that killed seven aid workers.
The United States is negotiating to increase purchases of explosives from Turkey to increase the production of artillery shells for Ukraine.
Samsung Pay will stop supporting russian Mir payment cards from April 2024, automatically removing all previously added Mir cards from the service.
Russia is believed to have jammed the GPS signal of a British Air Force plane carrying the country's defense minister for 30 minutes.
Ukraine's U-17 national football team won its group in the elite qualifying round, securing a ticket to the 2024 European Championships, which will be held in Cyprus from May 20 to June 5 with 16 participating teams.
Israel is working on building an alternative port in Larnaca, Cyprus, to prepare for a potential war with Hezbollah, which could close the port of Haifa.
The USS Frank S. Besson is transporting equipment to set up a temporary dock near Gaza to deliver vital humanitarian aid as part of the US initiative to help provide relief to the region.
Biden announced plans to build a temporary floating dock on the Gaza coast within 60 days to speed up humanitarian aid operations amid the ongoing Israeli military campaign and imminent famine in the region.
Archaeologists have discovered traces of a 3,600-year-old Bronze Age ship carrying copper ingots that sank off the coast of Turkey in the 16th century BC.