Germany

The draw for the semi-finals of the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 has determined that Ukraine will perform in the first part of the first semi-final on May 7.

At a summit on February 1, EU leaders will reaffirm their commitment to continue providing military support to Ukraine and emphasize the urgent need to speed up the supply of ammunition and missiles, according to a draft document obtained by Reuters.

Dutch authorities have arrested three people as part of an investigation into a smuggling network that circumvented sanctions against Russia. This was the result of cooperation between Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise of Ukraine and international journalists.

Maryna Vroda's film about an elderly man and his mother's last days impressed the jury with its melancholic depiction of life in a country that is disappearing.

Ukraine and Germany held the second round of negotiations on a bilateral agreement on security commitments. The parties discussed terminology and legal formalities, and agreed to continue communication to finalize the agreement.

The Federal Ministry of the Interior estimates that more than a thousand members of Italian mafia groups live in Germany. Mafia involvement is noted in the catering, food and automotive industries.

A 22-year-old Ukrainian man from Kryvyi Rih was detained by border guards while trying to illegally cross from Ukraine to Romania through the Carpathians. He hid his passport in a food container so that he could pretend to be a lost tourist in case of detention.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has disqualified russian figure skater Kamila Valiyeva for four years and stripped her of all her awards from December 25, 2021, due to a positive doping test.

Rheinmetall is building a new ammunition plant in Germany to ensure stable supplies to Ukraine. The plant will be built in record time over the next few months.

In preparation for a possible russian attack on NATO countries, European militaries are calling for simplified bureaucratic procedures to allow for the rapid movement of troops and equipment between allies.

Ukraine and Germany have made progress in discussions on a security guarantee agreement. President Zelenskyy believes that a "powerful agreement" will be signed soon.

On January 29, 1918, about 300 young Ukrainian defenders were killed near Kruty, stopping the Bolshevik offensive on Kyiv. Their sacrifice halted the offensive, allowing the Ukrainian government to sign the Brest Peace Treaty, which recognized Ukrainian statehood.

In 2024, Germany will spend more than 7 billion euros ($7. 6 billion) to help Ukraine. European allies should step up their support for Kyiv.

The French Prime Minister has promised additional measures to protect French farmers from unfair competition. This comes after farmers complained about income problems, regulation and environmental standards that put them at a disadvantage compared to foreign competitors.

A 66-year-old Ukrainian pensioner was detained at Munich airport with €455,000 in cash hidden in his luggage. The money was confiscated by authorities investigating possible money laundering.

Germany supports Ukraine's position on the suspension of russian and belarusian athletes from international sports competitions, including the Olympic Games.

An armed man has taken four people hostage in a Starbucks cafe in Ulm, Germany. Police detained the man as he tried to leave the cafe with the hostages, using a firearm. None of the hostages were injured.

German Chancellor Scholz will visit Washington in early February to meet with President Biden and discuss additional assistance to Ukraine. The U.S. has exhausted existing congressional authorizations for Ukraine aid and is seeking to join forces with Germany, Kyiv's main arms and aid supplier, to increase support.

Since the invasion, Taiwan has become the largest supplier of metalworking machines to Russia, delivering $29 million worth of equipment through Turkey, despite Taiwan's pro-Ukrainian stance. These machines are vital to Russia's military industry for the production of precision weapons, but sanctions do not restrict the export of most Taiwanese machines.