The payout, drawn from a pool of 10 billion euros ($11.3 billion) in cash frozen under EU sanctions since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, comes in response to Russia's confiscation of billions in Western-held assets over the past year.
"Vladimir Putin's Russia has made no effort, has sent no sign that it is ready for the ceasefire or the peace that President Donald Trump aspires to, and that the Europeans and, of course, the Ukrainians aspire to," French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said.
* Kremlin says Russia ready for mass mobilization like in WWII 'at any moment' * '5 explosions' — Ukrainian drones strike Russian military plant in Murom, source claims * EU will not recognize Crimea as part of Russia, Kallas says * 600 North Korean troops killed fighting for Russia against Ukraine, South Korea says * Zelensky
EU’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas said the EU is also drawing up a “plan B” to maintain economic sanctions on Russia in case the Trump administration pulls out of Ukraine peace negotiations and moves to restore ties with Moscow.
Which European countries have the highest demand for goods and services from Ukrainian producers? How can the integration of Ukrainian business into the EU Single Market be accelerated, and what is the role of business associations and clusters in this process? For the first time in Ukraine, a comprehensive analysis
"Russia could stop the killing and the bombing at any time, so there's absolutely no need to wait until the 8th of May," European Commission spokesperson Anita Hipper said.
The EU does not rule out "decoupling" Moldova's accession process from that of Ukraine due to Hungary's opposition to Kyiv's entry, European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said in an interview with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty on April 28.
Russian businessman Albert Avdolyan is one of at least seven individuals who bought Maltese passports before later being sanctioned by the United States, the EU, or Ukraine for links to Russia’s invasion.
Key developments on April 26-27: * Ukraine, Europe's ceasefire proposal includes US security guarantees, no recognition of Crimea, Reuters reports. * Next week could be critical in deciding future US involvement in Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations, Rubio says. * 'He's just tapping me along' — Trump admits Putin may not be interested in ending war
"You can count on our support at the negotiating table to achieve a just and lasting peace," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.
European Commission President Von der Leyen emphasized that the roadmap, set to be announced in two weeks, will lay out concrete steps to eliminate the bloc’s reliance on energy supplies from Russia.
An unnamed senior European official told the FT that the Trump administration had already been informed that European capitals would not recognize Crimea as Russian.
The European Commission is exploring options to legally prohibit EU companies from signing new contracts for the supply of Russian fossil fuels, Reuters reported on April 22, citing an unnamed senior EU official.
Editor’s note: This is issue 22 of Ukrainian lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak’s weekly "Ukraine Reforms Tracker" covering events from April 14–20, 2025. The digest highlights steps taken in the Ukrainian parliament related to business, economics, and international financial programs. The Kyiv Independent is republishing with permission. Benchmarks and
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban voted on April 22 in a national poll opposing Ukraine’s accession to the EU, publicly sharing photos of himself marking “against” on the ballot.
"Crimea is Ukraine. It means a lot for the ones who are occupied that others don't recognize this as Russian."
"As long as Belarus behaves this way towards (Poland), I do not see any possibility that anything will change in this area," Polish Interior Minister Tomasz Semoniak said.
Lithuania will upgrade and fortify a second route through the Suwałki Gap, a strategically critical stretch of land along the Polish border viewed as one of the most likely targets for a future Russian attack on NATO.
The EU has shelved the idea of banning Russian liquified natural gas (LNG) imports due to opposition from some members and uncertainty about alternative supplies, Reuters reported on April 16, citing undisclosed official sources.
European Union officials have warned on April 15 that Serbia could be blocked from joining the EU if its president travels to Moscow for Russian President Vladimir Putin's May 9 Victory Parade.
The European Union is considering sending "military advisors" to Ukraine to organize training for the Ukrainian military, European Commission spokesperson Anitta Hipper said on April 16 at a press briefing in Brussels.
"I am going to Moscow on May 9 ... No one can tell me where I should or should not travel," Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said on April 15.
Editor's note: We asked members of the Kyiv Independent community to share the questions they have about the war. Here's what they asked and how we answered. Join our community to ask a question in the next round. Question: Is Ukraine formulating a plan to receive and house refugees from
The EU sanctions consist of two documents adopted one after another: a decision and a regulation. While a regulation must by extended by all 27 members every six months, a decision remains in force until a qualified majority repeals it, RFE/RL reported.
The proposal calls for limiting Russian diplomats to their consular districts, a restriction already implemented in Poland.
Poland’s Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski criticized Hungary on April 14 for being the only EU member state lacking "moral clarity" on Russia’s war against Ukraine.
"What was also discussed very clearly, and said by different member states, is that any participation in the 9th May parades or celebrations in Moscow will not be taken lightly on the European side," the European Union’s top diplomat said on April 14.
Following the outbreak of the full-scale war in 2022, the European Union has restricted energy imports from Russia, profits from which fuelled Moscow's ability to wage the war against Ukraine.
Ukraine has invited top European Union officials to visit Kyiv on May 9 in a symbolic move to counter Russian President Vladimir Putin’s annual Victory Day parade in Moscow, Politico reported on April 14, citing Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.
"I'm happy to see we already have two-thirds of my ammunition initiative together," Kaja Kallas told reporters ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg, referring to an initiative to provide Ukraine with 2 million high-caliber rounds worth 5 billion euros ($5.7 billion).
Moldovan President Maia Sandu said on April 13 that she hopes her country can wrap up EU accession talks by the end of 2027, warning that upcoming parliamentary elections will be critical in preserving Moldova’s pro-European trajectory.
Hungary's opposition leader, Peter Magyar, has positioned himself in contrast to Prime Minister Viktor Orban's policies, promising to reset Hungary's foreign relations and end what he calls the government's isolation from the West.
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