Melkonyants was arrested in August 2023 in connection with the activities of the European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations (ENEMO), which was co-founded by Golos's legal predecessor, the Golos association.
Ukraine's underground storage facilities are currently using 19.4% of their capacity. Almost 32%, or 2.79 bcm, less gas is available in the storages than in the previous year, according to the estimates.
The majority of Ukrainians, 71%, do not support holding elections before a full peace deal, even in the case of a ceasefire and security guarantees, according to a poll published by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) on May 14.
"He'd like me to be there, and that's a possibility. ... I don't know that he would be there if I'm not there. We're going to find out," U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One while traveling to Qatar, Reuters reported.
Trump has long demanded that NATO allies increase their military spending, previously calling for the alliance to raise its benchmark from 2% to 5% of GDP.
More than 1,000 Russian government entities and 1,200 private companies are involved in the economy of occupied Mariupol, a major southeastern city occupied by Russia after it invaded Ukraine in 2022, according to a research paper published on May 14.
The measures target almost 200 ships of Russia's "shadow fleet," 30 companies involved in sanctions evasion, 75 sanctions on entities and individuals linked to the Russian military-industrial complex, and more.
The government has approved "reform roadmaps in the rule of law, public administration, and democratic institutions, as well as Ukraine’s negotiation position," Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said.
The statement did not name the ex-official by name, but details of the case indicate it relates to Oleh Hladkovsky, a former deputy secretary of Ukraine's top security body who has been wanted since mid-April.
Brazilian President Lula da Silva claimed that Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha had appealed to his Brazilian counterpart, Mauro Vieira, to ask Putin if he was willing to conclude a peace agreement.
Protesters light a giant European Union flag during a pro-Europe rally ahead of the parliamentary elections, which are seen as a crucial test for the country's democracy and its bid for EU membership, in Tbilisi on October 20, 2024. Tens of thousands of demonstrators, waving EU and Georgian flags and holding banners that read "Georgia chooses the European Union" gathered at Tbilisi's central Freedom Square after marching toward the venue from five different locations. (Photo by Vano SHLAMOV / AFP) (Photo by VANO SHLAMOV/AFP via Getty Images)
The European Union is launching the Ukraine2EU program worth 16.7 million euros ($18 million) to support Ukraine’s preparation for EU membership, officials announced on April 1.
This was stated during the "Ukraine's Accession to the EU: The Choice Has Been Made, It's a Matter of Time” conference.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budris emphasized that the initiative aims to help Ukraine navigate the complex accession process, especially during wartime, with a goal of EU membership by 2030.
“Ukraine's membership in the EU is crucial for the security and stability of Europe,” Budris said.
The three-year program, implemented by Lithuania’s Central Project Management Agency, will provide strategic support to Ukrainian institutions and civil society involved in European integration efforts.
Sweden and Denmark reaffirmed their commitment to Ukraine’s EU future and urged continued reforms, particularly in the fight against corruption.
“Moving along the European path still requires significant efforts from Ukraine, but it has already come a long way in extraordinary conditions,” Danish Minister for European Affairs Marie Bjerre stated. “The Ukrainian people can count on the support of their European friends in the process of gaining EU membership.”
EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarina Maternova added that Ukraine2EU is designed to build institutional capacity and ensure steady progress in Ukraine’s transformative journey toward EU membership.
Ukraine applied for EU membership at the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. The country has made quick progress, achieving candidate status within months, with the initial negotiations formally launching in June 2024.
There are six accession negotiation clusters, consisting of several individual chapters. Negotiations prepare a candidate country to become an EU member.
The EU’s Commissioner for Enlargement, Oliver Varhelyi, said that Ukraine could potentially join the bloc by 2029 if it successfully implements necessary reforms.
Sonya Bandouil is a North American news editor for The Kyiv Independent. She previously worked in the fields of cybersecurity and translating, and she also edited for various journals in NYC.
Sonya has a Master’s degree in Global Affairs from New York University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Music from the University of Houston, in Texas.
Martin Fornusek
