Macron, Starmer to meet in France for talks on Ukraine, European solidarity
The two leaders are expected to discuss Ukraine in private talks after participating in Armistice Day memorial ceremonies with French and British veterans.
Europe
Russian artillery production to outmatch all of EU by 30% next year, Ukrainian intelligence says
An ammunition shortage has long been a cause for concern in Ukraine but has escalated this year.
Von der Leyen suggests replacing Russian LNG with US supplies in phone call with Trump
"We still get a whole lot of LNG via Russia, from Russia," she said in a phone call with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. "And why not replace it with American LNG, which is cheaper, and brings down our energy prices?"
Peace cannot be bought by weakness, Zelensky says at Budapest summit
"Peace is a reward only for the strong," President Zelensky said.
Zelensky arrives in Hungary for European Political Community Summit
The fifth meeting of the European Political Community will focus on Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the ongoing escalation in the Middle East, among other things.
Warsaw to host international conference on rebuilding Ukraine's energy infrastructure
The ReBuild Ukraine 4.0 conference will convene on November 13-14, 2024, in Warsaw, Poland, Odesa Journal reported on Nov. 6.
‘Trump wants to do everything he can to help Putin,’ McCain Institute head says
Evelyn Farkas, head of the McCain Institute — a U.S.-based think tank named after the late Republican Senator John McCain — fears the return of Donald Trump as president of the U.S. would be the worst-case scenario for Ukraine. The best-case scenario for Ukraine would be a full sweep
Russia's Foreign Ministry renames Europe branch to Department of European Problems
"Changes in geopolitical realities," such as "the obvious degradation of multilateral cooperation structures in Europe," led to the renaming, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova told Russian pro-state news agency RBK.
Harris or Trump — Ukraine braces for best, worst-case scenarios as US elects new president
As Americans head to the polls on Nov. 5, Ukraine is nervously watching the elections being held by its top Western ally as the outcome could determine the country’s fate in its fight against Russia’s almost three-year-old full-scale invasion. The two candidates' pre-election positions on continuing to support
Finland closes world's last Lenin museum outside Russia
A new political museum at the same site will open on Feb. 15, 2025, Finnish authorities announced. The museum will reportedly focus on Finnish-Russian relations, including developments in the 21st century.
Europe, Azerbaijan not close to deal on gas route via Ukraine, Slovakia's SPP says
"We regularly discuss the topic with our partners, but the information about the upcoming conclusion of a gas supply contract with the participation of SPP is not true," Slovakian state-run gas importer SPP said.
Sweden to allocate over $68 million in military aid to Ukraine
About $46.5 million will go towards initiatives supporting Ukraine's Armed Forces, the Swedish government said. Another $21.6 million will support the development of the Ukrainian defense industry.
Opinion: Ukraine’s war is the reckoning with empire Europe can no longer avoid
Thirty years ago, in a Ukrainian churchyard where my Russian ancestors are buried, I knelt beside a very old woman leaning on a stick, her hair covered in a black kerchief. Behind us stood the Russian church that my great-grandfather built on his estate and where he lies buried. The
NATO to rethink alliance's relationship with Russia for first time in decades
"It's time to now craft a new strategy in terms of (the allies') specific positions," a senior U.S. official said. Defense ministers from NATO member nations will convene in Brussels Oct. 17-18 to discuss the matter.
NATO to expand military forces and air defense due to increased threats, Die Welt reports
NATO has been advised to significantly bolster its defense capabilities, as outlined in a report by German media channel Welt.
Opinion: As Russia circumvents sanctions, Europe faces a strategic crossroads
Returning from their summer recess, European Union leaders have a packed agenda. At the top of the list are strengthening the bloc’s readiness for conflict and bolstering its economic competitiveness. For decades, the EU relied on economic influence as a substitute for hard power. But in an era of
Relations with Russia should be reconsidered after war in Ukraine, Macron says
"We will have to think about a new form of organization of Europe and rethink our relations with Russia after the war in Ukraine," Macron said.
Danish F-16s 'working in Ukraine,' PM Mette Frederiksen confirms
In response to a question from the Kyiv Independent, Frederiksen said she was "extremely proud" the aircraft were in use, adding she had wanted to send them "from the beginning of the war."
Serbia signs $3 billion deal for French fighter jets in shift away from Moscow
"The European Union needs a strong and democratic Serbia at its side and Serbia needs a strong, sovereign Europe to defend its interests," French President Emmanuel Macron said on Aug. 29.
EU considers Kyiv's request to train soldiers inside Ukraine, media reports
Some EU member nations fear that trainings on Ukrainian soil will lead to escalated conflict with Russia, according to a document obtained by Politico.
Even if Ukraine was behind blowing up Nord Stream, it was a legitimate target, Pavel says
Czech President Petr Pavel said that he had no verified information on whether Kyiv was involved in the operation to blow up the gas pipelines.
Russia prepares disinformation campaigns targeting Ukrainian refugees in Europe, military intelligence says
The goal of Russia's new operations is to convince people who left Ukraine because of the war not to return, according to Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR).
3 Ukrainians suspected of port arson in Croatia
Croatian police are searching for three Ukrainian citizens suspected of setting multiple ships on fire at the Medulin port on the Istrian peninsula. The May 14 fire reportedly destroyed 22 vessels and caused over $2 million in damage.
Germany must be ready for war with Russia in 5 years, commander says
Captain Michael Giss, commander of the Hamburg State Command of the German Armed Forces, said Germany must prepare to withstand "a conventional attack by Russia within five years."
Russia involved in spying in Ireland, Irish official says
"What we're particularly concerned about is a handful of states who are engaged in spying activities on sovereign soil with malign intent," said Michael McElgunn, assistant commissioner of Ireland's national police force.
Orban accuses US of blowing up Nord Stream pipelines amid anti-Western tirade
Russia blamed the U.S. and U.K. for blowing up the Nord Stream pipelines connecting Russia and Germany in September 2022. Investigations have so far failed to find conclusive evidence, and both Denmark and Sweden dropped the case in February 2024. The German investigation is still ongoing.
Belarus sentences German man to death by firing squad for 'terrorism'
A German man has been sentenced to death by a court in Belarus after being accused of committing crimes including "terrorism," and "mercenary activity," a human rights group said on July 19.
'A very big Russia problem' – NATO commander warns of post-Ukraine war threat to US and Europe
Speaking at the Aspen Security Forum in Aspen, Colorado, U.S. General Christopher Cavoli said even a Ukrainian victory would only be the beginning of Western attempts to contain Russian aggression.
Starmer addresses concerns over Europe's ability to support Ukraine ahead of US election
"I'm not going to preempt what may happen in the elections later this year, other than to say that industrial strategy is a very important component of the package that we need to put together," Keir Starmer said.
Zelensky meets Britain's King Charles
President Volodomyr Zelensky met with Britain's King Charles on July 18, and in a post on social media thanked the U.K. for being "one of Ukraine's closest and most important allies."
Zelensky: Lifting ban on strikes on Russian territory did not lead to escalation
“The fewer restrictions we have on the use of effective weapons, the more Russia will seek peace,” Zelensky said, addressing the Fourth European Political Community summit in the U.K. on July 18.
Zelensky warns European leaders that Putin may use blackmail to undermine unity
Russian President Vladimir Putin may approach individual European leaders to "tempt, pressure, or blackmail" them so that one "betrays the rest," President Volodymyr Zelensky said at the European Political Community Summit, attended by a Kyiv Independent reporter.
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