Ukraine ready to help Slovakia achieve energy stability, Zelensky says
"We are ready to help the Slovak people in ensuring their energy stability and security," Volodymyr Zelensky said.
European Union
Belarus Weekly: Belarus to host over 13,000 Russian troops for Zapad-2025 joint military drills
OSCE observers not invited to monitor upcoming presidential election in Belarus. Belarus to host over 13,000 Russian troops for Zapad-2025 joint military drills with Russia. Belarus sentences EU diplomatic staffer to four years in prison. Subscribe to the Newsletter Belarus Weekly Join us Irregular crossings into EU from eastern
Netherlands announces $27 million in aid for Ukraine following Dutch Foreign Minister's visit to Kyiv
Following his visit to Kyiv, Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp announced 27 million euros ($27.8 million) in new aid for Ukraine on Jan. 16.
Fico may meet with Zelensky in 'next few days'
"We are looking for another date, which should be in the next few days," Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said.
Ukraine hopes to open all 6 negotiating clusters on EU accession in 2025, Zelensky says
Ukraine aims to potentially open all six EU accession negotiation clusters in 2025, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Jan. 15.
Ahead of Trump’s inauguration, Ukraine’s European partners can’t afford to watch and wait for Washington’s next move
Just days out from the return of Donald Trump to the White House, the future of Russia’s war against Ukraine is dominated by a great unknown: whether the incoming president will manage to push Moscow to stop its advance on the battlefield, or whether he will disengage and perhaps
NATO defense budget could surpass Russia’s tenfold if Europe matches Poland’s spending, Tusk says
"No one but Europe will solve its defense problems," Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Jan. 15.
Ukraine Reforms Tracker Weekly — Issue 9
Editor’s note: This is issue 9 of Ukrainian lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak’s weekly "Ukraine Reforms Tracker" covering events from Jan. 6–12, 2025. This newsletter was until recently titled “Ukrainian Economy in Brief." The digest highlights steps taken in the Ukrainian parliament related to business, economics, and international financial
EU considering ban on Russian LNG, aluminum, Bloomberg reports
The phase-out of LNG could be enacted as a sanction or part of a road map presented by the European Commission next month. Restrictions on aluminum would be gradual, with a time frame yet to be determined, officials said.
Slovak opposition announces no-confidence vote against PM
Slovakia's pro-Western opposition parties announced plans to initiate a vote of no confidence in Prime Minister Robert Fico's government, citing concerns over his governance and foreign policy direction, TASR news agency reported on Jan. 14.
Will Transnistria's gas crisis lead to its collapse and reintegration into Moldova?
By halting natural gas supplies to Moldova on Jan. 1, Russia created an unprecedented economic crisis in the Russian-occupied part of the country — Transnistria. The crisis prompted a question: will the breakaway region, occupied by Russia since 1992, survive without Russian gas? Free-of-charge Russian gas had been the backbone of
EU announces additional $143 million in humanitarian aid for Ukraine
The European Union is allocating an additional 140 million euros ($143 million) in humanitarian assistance for Ukraine, the European Commission said in a statement on Jan. 13.
EU's Nordic, Baltic members reportedly urge lowering of Russian oil price cap
The countries argue that a lower cap would further restrict Russia's ability to finance its war against Ukraine while avoiding significant disruptions to global oil markets.
EU provides Ukraine with $3 billion, first tranche of loans from bloc backed by Russian frozen assets
"This is the first tranche of funds from the European Union, secured through income from frozen Russian assets," Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said.
EU issues new alert for planes flying in Russian airspace
The move comes after the downing of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane last month.
Kyiv calls Polish presidential candidate 'manipulative' for comments on Ukraine's EU, NATO accession
"Such statements indicate that the Polish politician prioritizes short-term political considerations over the strategic security interests of his own country," Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said.
Armenia's government backs bill on launching EU accession process
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stressed that even if the bill is passed, the accession process can start only if the Armenian people support it in a referendum
Ukraine denies Slovakia's accusation of refusing gas transit talks
Ukraine initiated the meeting to address Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico's threats to halt electricity exports to Ukraine and cut support for Ukrainian refugees, Ukraine's envoy to the EU said.
Russia ‘delusional’ about its ability to sustain Ukraine war, says Latvian foreign minister
As Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine nears its fourth year, a worsening battlefield situation and the election of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency signal that the war could soon be entering a volatile and unpredictable endgame. In anticipation of a potential Trump-negotiated ceasefire, Kyiv is looking to
Hungary's FM criticizes Ukraine for gas transit halt, claims 20% rise in gas prices
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto accused Ukraine of exacerbating Europe's economic challenges by halting Russian gas transit, leading to a 20% rise in natural gas prices on the European market.
Europe cannot fill void left by US in Ukraine’s defense
Since the election of Donald Trump as president of the United States, the question on everyone's mind is whether Europe, including the U.K., can replace the military assistance the U.S. is giving Ukraine. The short answer is no. The reasons for this are a mix of politics and
‘Putin is afraid of Trump’s administration’ – Estonian foreign minister on potential Russia-Ukraine negotiations
As Ukraine and Europe enter 2025 with a worsening situation on the battlefield and the incoming Trump administration hoping to quickly reach some kind of peace in Russia’s all-out war, the first months of the year look to be fundamental in deciding the outcome of the war. While much
End of Ukraine gas transit has no effect on EU energy market stability, European Commission says
When asked about whether such a move caused any kind of emergency in Slovakia, European Commission spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen said that the Gas Coordination Group held talks last week and concluded that "there are no security supplies issues or concerns for the European Union following the end of the transit."
Georgian businesses and employees to carry out nationwide strike demanding new elections
Georgian citizens are being urged to participate in a nationwide strike on Jan. 15 to demand the release of detained protestors and to call for new elections, Protest 24 posted on Facebook.
EU chief von der Leyen ill with 'severe' pneumonia, cancels engagements
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has canceled engagements for the first half of January due to a case of "severe pneumonia," a commission spokesperson said.
'We are not Russia' — Thousands protest Fico's pro-Kremlin agenda in Bratislava
Approximately 4,000 people assembled in Bratislava on Jan. 3 to protest Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico's pro-Russian policies, according to local media.
Polish farmers to protest Ukrainian imports, EU policies, in Warsaw on Jan. 3
The protest follows a series of demonstrations by Polish farmers against Ukrainian agricultural imports since the start of the full-scale war.
Hungary loses out on about $1 billion in EU aid
The aid package was conditional on Hungary implementing reforms to bring the country into compliance with EU standards by the end of 2024. Budapest failed to meet the requirements, a European Commission spokesperson said.
'One of Moscow's biggest defeats' — Zelensky on stopping Russian gas transit via Ukraine
"Turning energy into a weapon and cynical energy blackmail of partners is what deprived Russia of its most attractive and geographically accessible market," President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Jan. 1.
Poland assumes presidency of EU Council, calls security 'top priority'
"We will do everything to ensure that Europe's security is a reality, not just an aspiration. I hope Poland will lead efforts that result in peace," Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said.
Ukraine’s exports grew 13% in 2024 amid stabilized port activity, Economy Ministry says
Preliminary data shows that Ukraine’s exports grew by more than 13% over the past year, primarily due to stabilizing the functioning of Ukrainian seaports, Economy Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko said on Dec. 30.
Nordic, Baltic countries voice concerns about elections in Georgia, call for investigations
The Nordic Baltic Eight countries have urged Georgia to hold new elections following disputed parliamentary elections in October and the inauguration of the new president, according to their statement published on Dec. 29.
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Ahead of Trump’s inauguration, Ukraine’s European partners can’t afford to watch and wait for Washington’s next move
Will Transnistria's gas crisis lead to its collapse and reintegration into Moldova?
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