France

Ukraine signed a 10-year agreement on security cooperation and long-term support with Finland, which contains powerful provisions on sanctions, compensation and bringing the aggressor to justice, and Finland announced an aid package of €188 million, bringing its total military support to almost €2 billion.

In 2023, more than 7,000 departure orders were issued to Russian citizens, 34% more than in 2022, with Germany expelling the most Russians - 2,000.

U. S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that U.S. troops will not be deployed in Ukraine to avoid a direct conflict with Russia, which is not in the interests of NATO allies.

Several groups of Ukrainian pilots are being trained in different countries to fly the F-16. Two advanced groups in Denmark and the United States are already honing their skills on F-16s.

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.

China's manufacturing activity grew at the fastest pace in 13 months, driven by an increase in new orders from domestic and foreign customers, which helped boost business confidence to an 11-month high.

A former NATO commander warns that russia may be stirring up tensions in the Balkans to distract Western attention from its invasion of Ukraine.

Indonesia has ordered two Scorpene-class attack submarines from the French naval group Naval Group as part of a defense cooperation agreement signed with Paris in 2021, strengthening its maritime sovereignty and regional naval superiority.

The French Interior Minister confirmed that the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris will not undergo any changes despite the increased terrorist threats: 45,000 police officers will provide extraordinary security for the event.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry stated that China and the European Union are strategic partners whose common interests far outweigh their differences. The Chinese foreign minister also emphasized Beijing's readiness to cooperate with the EU in the economic, trade, scientific, and supply chain spheres in order to contribute to the global economic recovery.

China promises to import more high-quality goods and services from France amid ongoing trade tensions over the export of Chinese electric vehicles to Europe.

The Philippines has ordered a maritime security beef-up to counter the challenges of territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea amid escalating tensions and mutual accusations.

France expects China to send very clear signals to Russia in connection with the war in Ukraine.

Netflix's crime drama series Ripley, based on the novels by Patricia Highsmith and starring Andrew Scott, Johnny Flynn, Dakota Fanning, and Elliot Sumner, tells the story of the charismatic con man Tom Ripley in the 1950s and 60s! You can find other long-awaited series premieres in April in the review by UNN.

The head of the French National Assembly, Yaelle Bron-Pivet, visited Odesa to inspect the seaport, discuss security challenges, emphasize the restoration of port infrastructure, strengthen air defense, and condemn Russia's aggression against Ukraine.

Prime Minister Shmyhal and the French delegation discussed increasing aid to Ukraine, defense cooperation, reconstruction, and the confiscation of Russian assets for Ukraine's needs.

Russian strikes damaged energy facilities in many regions of Ukraine, which France condemned as potential war crimes, while praising Ukraine's resilience and reaffirming its support.

France is inviting military, police and civilian personnel from 45 foreign countries to join the security of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Poland will send troops, including dog handlers, to Paris to help ensure security and detect explosives during the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Putin can be invited to the G20 summit in Brazil in November only if all participating countries agree, French President Emmanuel Macron said.

NATO Allies reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening Ukraine's defense against Russia's escalating air strikes at a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council.

Macron and Lula celebrated the launching of the third submarine built in Brazil with French assistance, emphasizing their defense partnership, which includes plans to build another submarine.

The German government wants to strengthen international measures to combat Russian disinformation networks by establishing an early warning and response system between Germany, France, and Poland for information manipulation and foreign influence.

Stefanchuk discussed with the President of the French National Assembly Ukraine's defense needs, including air defense systems, long-range missiles and air support, as well as the freezing of Russian assets to compensate for Ukraine's losses.

UNESCO has approved an emergency assistance program to monitor and address the environmental damage caused by Russia's destruction of the Kakhovka Dam in Ukraine, mobilizing more than $66 million to restore Ukraine's cultural heritage, education and science affected by Russian aggression.

The lower house of the French parliament has approved a bill proposed by President Emmanuel Macron aimed at combating foreign interference, which allows for a four-year trial period to use surveillance methods that are currently used exclusively against terrorism.

EU ambassadors approved the extension of autonomous trade measures (trade visa-free travel) for Ukraine for another year, but with a compromise that will result in Ukraine losing about €331 million in revenue compared to 2023.

The United States is negotiating to increase purchases of explosives from Turkey to increase the production of artillery shells for Ukraine.

The EU postponed the decision to continue trade liberalization with Ukraine until the evening after talks on possible restrictions on imports of certain agricultural products.

Ukraine will lose millions in potential profits due to new EU restrictions on duty-free imports of agricultural products from Ukraine, which take into account the reduced imports from the second half of 2021.