All articles tagged with #eu
The EU summoned Moscow’s chargé d’affaires in Brussels after Russia advised foreign diplomats to leave Kyiv, calling the step an unacceptable escalation and demanding a ceasefire. EU officials said they will not abandon Kyiv, while Russia warned of missile strikes. Germany later summoned Russia’s ambassador to explain the threat as Kyiv remained the scene of ongoing attacks that have injured dozens.
Russia pressed the US to evacuate Kyiv staff and threatened systematic strikes on the capital, while the EU pledged to remain in Kyiv; civilians continued to go about daily life amid attacks as Belarus’ opposition leader Tsikhanouskaya visited, Ukraine tightened security on its Belarus border and targeted Russian infrastructure, and Zelenskyy said progress on expanding anti-missile defenses with the US is limited and he expects new diplomatic steps.
EU member states are pressing for sanctions on Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir after a video showing him taunting flotilla activists detained during the Gaza blockade. Italy, Spain, Poland, Sweden and Germany voiced support for action, and 29 MEPs urged EU sanctions, but the Czech Republic blocked moves and legal pathways remain murky. Ben-Gvir has previously faced sanctions from non-EU allies, while Netanyahu distanced himself from the incident.
EU leaders condemn Russia’s threats against the Baltic states as completely unacceptable and warn that a threat to one member is a threat to the entire Union, with Ursula von der Leyen pledging unity and stronger defence on Europe’s eastern flank; the live roundup also covers Lithuania’s drone alert and bunker drills, Finland’s sanctions-related truck exports to Russia, and broader Europe-wide security, sanctions and energy developments including UK/Russia oil sanctions and Hungary–Ukraine talks.
EU leaders, led by Ursula von der Leyen, pledge a united response to a string of drone incursions blamed on Russia, as Vilnius shuts its airport and top Lithuanian leaders are evacuated. The month has seen six drone incursions in Baltic and Finnish airspace, with some drones possibly Ukrainian in origin but diverted by Russia; Baltic MEPs urged condemnation, Poland’s PM called the events a provocation, and NATO praised allied jet responses while EU officials push for higher defense spending and stronger support for the Eastern Flank and Ukraine.
Armenia’s prime minister Nikol Pashinyan steers the country toward Europe ahead of June elections, skipping Vladimir Putin’s Victory Day parade and hosting EU leaders, signaling Moscow’s waning influence in the South Caucasus. Russian officials respond with belligerence and propaganda, but Armenia’s closer ties to Europe and Ukraine, along with Azerbaijan’s distance from Moscow over Nagorno-Karabakh, illustrate that Putin’s project to rebuild a Russian-led empire is unraveling as Western realignments accelerate Moscow’s decline.
The European Commission is preparing a bloc-wide plan to restrict minors’ access to social media as early as this summer, spurred by member states pressing for stronger protections. An independent expert panel on online child safety is evaluating options, including a minimum age and an EU-wide age-verification system modeled on the Digital COVID Certificate. The move could outpace France’s national ban for under-15s, but technical and privacy hurdles remain. The EU is also scrutinizing platforms under the Digital Services Act and considering further steps in the Digital Fairness Act; Australia and Indonesia have already enacted similar measures.
The European Union approved asset freezes and travel bans on violent Israeli settlers in the West Bank and on Hamas members, a move enabled by Hungary’s new government backing. The sanctions come amid criticism of settlement expansion and escalating violence, with the EU also weighing broader steps such as a possible settlement-product ban, though achieving unanimity among member states remains a challenge.
Ukraine says its front lines have stabilized after a tough winter, with air defenses now intercepting up to 90% of Russian drones (roughly 9 of 10 targets). Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha credited sustained Western support and effective long-range sanctions for the gains and emphasized continued collaboration with the US and Europe on peace and security, as Kyiv pursues a just and comprehensive settlement ahead of EU talks.
The EU dismissed Vladimir Putin's suggestion that former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder could mediate Ukraine peace talks, citing his past work with Russian state-owned companies as compromising neutrality; Kyiv's involvement remains essential and a diplomatic breakthrough in talks appears unlikely for now.
Péter Magyar was sworn in as Hungary's prime minister after his center-right Tisza party won a two-thirds majority, ending Viktor Orbán's 16-year rule. Magyar vows to restore democratic checks and balances, crack down on corruption, recover public funds, reform state media, and steer Hungary back toward the EU, with aims to unlock about $20 billion in EU funds and reassert Western alignment.
The European Commission says airlines cannot retroactively raise ticket prices with fuel surcharges after a sale, insisting the final price shown to passengers must include all taxes and charges. Volotea has added surcharges up to €14 post-purchase under its Fair Travel Promise. Passengers affected by cancellations retain rights to reimbursement, rerouting, or assistance, while high fuel costs are not considered extraordinary circumstances and airlines must manage price volatility themselves.
Trump set a July 4 deadline for the EU to ratify the U.S.-EU trade deal, warning tariffs would rise sharply—potentially to 25% on autos—if Brussels misses the deadline, while von der Leyen says progress is being made toward tariff reductions; negotiators are due to meet again on May 10, as a separate U.S. court ruling found Trump’s 10% global tariffs unjustified.
Trump warned he would raise EU tariffs to much higher levels by July 4 unless the bloc drops its levies to zero, tying the move to the US–EU trade deal that envisions tariff reductions (and had previously floated threats up to 30% on some goods and a 15% tariff under the agreement). The deal still needs approval from EU lawmakers and all 27 member states. Separately, a US trade court ruled Trump’s 10% global tariffs were not justified under US trade law, though the ruling does not automatically block them; negotiations were ongoing with another round planned.
President Donald Trump told the European Union it must approve a trade pact by July 4, while hosting UFC fighters in the Oval Office, signaling a firm deadline in ongoing negotiations between the United States and the EU.