Europe

The draw ceremony for the 2024 Olympic football tournaments, in which the Ukrainian national team is a participant in the men's competition, will take place on March 20 at 9:00 PM Kyiv time in Saint-Denis, Paris.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba emphasized to U. S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken the need and urgency for continued U.S. and international support for Ukraine, including air defense and artillery munitions, warning that the lack of such support would undermine U.S. leadership and jeopardize U.S. national security.

G7 countries threaten to ban Iran Air from flying to Europe if Iran supplies ballistic missiles or related technologies to Russia.

US President Joe Biden urged Congress to immediately pass a bipartisan national security bill that includes aid for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and humanitarian aid for Gaza, calling on every member of Congress to stand up to Vladimir Putin.

The leaders of Germany, France and Poland met in Berlin, expressing joint support for Ukraine, pledging to increase arms and financial aid, and reaffirming that Europe's security is at stake in Ukraine, marking "a new and good beginning for the Weimar Triangle. "

By the end of 2025, the European Union plans to catch up with Russia in the production of large-caliber artillery shells, including 155-mm shells, to meet Ukraine's needs.

German MPs call on Chancellor Scholz to resolve differences with French President Macron and strengthen Franco-German relations "given the difficult security situation.

Latvian Prime Minister Ewika Silina supports the deployment of NATO troops to Ukraine to train the Ukrainian Armed Forces, provided that a consensus is reached among alliance partners.

Ukraine offers lucrative opportunities for energy investors due to reduced bureaucracy, lower costs, and quicker permitting for new projects such as high-voltage lines, wind and solar power plants, transforming it from an aid recipient to a potential exporter feeding European power grids.

Josep Borrell called for continued support for Ukraine, warning of serious risks to the security of Europe and the United States.

Iran has used European ports in Belgium, Spain, and Italy to smuggle weapons, including missiles and bombs, to Hezbollah in Lebanon via Syria to avoid Israeli air strikes on Iranian weapons shipments.

Macron said that Europe should prepare for war if it wants peace, as a Russian victory in Ukraine would reduce Europe's credibility to zero, and the war could spread across Europe, which would put Russia in charge.

The outcome of Russia's war against Ukraine will be decided in the spring and summer of this year, according to EU diplomat Josep Borrell, who called for continued assistance to Ukraine in its fight against the Russian occupiers.

French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized France's commitment to peace, while recognizing the need for determination and courage to prevent Russia from winning the war in Ukraine, as its victory would undermine European security and confidence.

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.

The Speaker of the U. S. House of Representatives warned Republican senators that the House would prepare its own draft aid package for Ukraine, which would differ significantly from the one passed by the Senate.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine condemns the "elections" of the Russian president in the occupied Ukrainian territories as illegal, urges citizens not to participate in them and calls on the international community not to recognize the results of this Kremlin farce that violates democratic principles and Ukraine's sovereignty.

Ukraine's Defense Ministry thanked the EU for approving an additional 5 billion euros in military aid to Ukraine.

Geert Wilders, the leader of the Dutch populist Freedom Party (PVV), which received the most votes in the 2023 elections, withdrew his candidacy for prime minister due to the lack of support from other parties necessary to form a coalition government.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo wants to ban Russian athletes from the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris because of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Putin's dictatorial regime.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda supports discussions about sending Western troops to Ukraine to train Ukrainian soldiers and calls on the West to stop "drawing red lines" out of fear of Russia's reaction.

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.

Estonia has proposed a plan to finance Ukraine for 120 billion euros annually, using funds raised through Eurobonds or national budgets.

Ukraine will receive the first batches of shells under the Czech ammunition initiative in the foreseeable future, which will allow Ukrainian forces at the front to experience an increase in supplies in the near future.

Today, on March 13, all jewelry lovers can join the celebration of Jewelry Day. The event was launched in the United States and quickly became popular in many countries around the world.

French lawmakers overwhelmingly supported a 10-year security agreement with Ukraine, pledging to provide Ukraine with military aid, weapons and training, despite opposition from far-right and far-left parties.

French President Emmanuel Macron's upcoming visit to Ukraine is expected to result in the signing of new agreements aimed at strengthening cooperation and security between the two countries, building on the bilateral security agreement signed in Paris in February.

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis announces his candidacy for NATO Secretary General, citing Romania's commitment to NATO values and the need for strong leadership amid the Russian threat in Europe.

The U. S. Treasury Department demands that Austrian bank Raiffeisen Bank International leave the russian market. The bank is trying to stall for time, hoping to dispose of its assets profitably.

Without additional military assistance from the United States, Ukraine will face new challenges on the battlefield and will gradually lose more and more territory to Russia, according to senior U. S. intelligence officials.