Eastern Escalation, Balkan Shift, Digital Securityactive

The overnight strike is the second to damage the strategic oil export hub in less than a week.

Vladimir Zelensky and his entourage liked "this unlimited power," Alexey Goncharenko noted

With about 130 out of 240 seats in Parliament, Rumen Radev has secured an outright majority in a country marked by deep political fragmentation in recent years. He will become the new prime minister, a position more powerful than president in Bulgaria.

The number of people killed in the shooting in the Holosiivskyi district of Kyiv on April 18 has increased to seven.

Following the victory of Rumen Radev in Bulgaria's general election, Alison Sargent is pleased to welcome Dr. Petia Gueorguieva, Lecturer in the Department of Political Science at the New Bulgarian University in Sofia. According to Dr. Petia Gueorguieva, there are broader implications for Bulgaria’s domestic stability and geopolitical positioning. She argues that this result is a response to political instability, economic pressures, and shifting international dynamics. Radev successfully consolidated a highly heterogeneous electorate, uniting pro-reform citizens with more Eurosceptic and economically vulnerable groups. This coalition reflects both a desire for institutional reform and a deeper ambivalence toward European integration following Bulgaria’s recent adoption of the euro. While Bulgaria’s strategic trajectory remains anchored within the European Union and NATO, she suggests that we may observe a more pragmatic foreign policy approach, one that prioritises Bulgarian interests, including ties to Russia, while maintaining formal commitments to European structures.

The Echo system automatically tracks and analyzes information in both indexed and non-indexed sources, helping organizations quickly respond to threats and mitigate risks

The drones were shot down over the Astrakhan, Bryansk, Voronezh, Kaluga, Kursk and Krasnodar Regions, Crimea, as well as over the waters of the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea

Rumen Radev, Bulgaria's former president who opposes sanctions on Russia and military aid for Ukraine, scored the nation's most overwhelming election victory this century on Sunday and pledged to turn the page on years of political gridlock and corruption. Bloomberg's Oliver Crook reports. (Source: Bloomberg)

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a new age-verification app to strengthen online child protection. 90 per cent of EU citizens back increased action. How has Europe addressed minors’ online safety so far? Ask the Euronews chatbot.

Is the EU just one pebble, one more noose lapel-pin worn by an Israeli MK, away from a political avalanche?

There is no US-led conspiracy or a ‘Christian genocide’. There is an insurgency that has adapted.

The United Nations Security Council is set to meet on Monday to discuss the latest Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities.

Listen on Spotify Apple Music Amazon Music This week’s agenda is brimming with high-level summits and meetings on foreign affairs. The EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, kicks it all off by focusing minds on Gaza. Today Kallas hosts back-to-back events to promote a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinian territories. Ian and Nick discuss how the EU is using the occasion to position itself as an authority on the future of Gaza and present an alternative worldview to Donald Trump’s. Plus, they explain how Viktor Orbán’s defeat in the recent Hungarian election could impact EU-Israel relations. Later, we unpack the key issues to be discussed at this week’s summit of EU leaders in Cyprus, and the potential knock-on effect it could have on the beleaguered tourism industry. Last, the EU is celebrating its birthday on the wrong day, according to some. Nick sets the record straight. Does your country have a culinary delicacy whose name resembles that of one of our hosts? If so, contact us on WhatsApp here or at +32 491 05 06 29.

The soaring level of US government debt; how AI is increasing the speed and depth of cyber attacks; and geopolitical shocks have highlighted the need for diversity in cloud providers

New internet-based guidance system allows operation of unmanned aerial vehicles far from battlefield

A fire broke out at the seaport following the drone attack

The Irish government is preparing special payments for Ukrainians who return to their home country and is planning to scale back its accommodation program, Irish Migration Minister Colm Brophy has said.

Russian Foreign Ministry Ambassador-at-Large Rodion Miroshnik pointed out that the Kiev regime led by Vladimir Zelensky "does not comply with its social obligations pledged to the population"

BRUSSELS — A debate over how far OLAF can go in searching the European Parliament is putting the reputation of both institutions on the line, the head of the EU anti-fraud body has warned. Petr Klement, OLAF’s new director general, said the watchdog is still struggling to get the access it needs to properly investigate alleged wrongdoing in the institution, and called for greater clarity over the powers of investigators. “This is subject to an ongoing legal debate — the extent to which OLAF can perform searches in the European Parliament,” Klement said in an interview with POLITICO in his Brussels office. “For the sake of the reputation of both institutions, OLAF — and especially the European Parliament — I think we should conclude the debate.” Klement’s push for clarity over the scope of OLAF’s access comes ahead of an anticipated EU review later this year of rules governing the watchdog’s work, part of a broader revamp aimed at improving fraud prevention in Europe. It comes amid wider scrutiny of how EU institutions handle allegations of corruption and misconduct. The issue came into sharp focus during the 2022 corruption scandal known as Qatargate, a Belgian probe into alleged attempts by Qatar and Morocco to influence decision-making in the Parliament. OLAF investigators complained at the time of being blocked from accessing lawmakers’ offices and laptops. EU institutions have a “moral obligation” to “embrace transparency,” Klement wrote in OLAF’s annual report for 2025, released Monday. The body concluded eight cases last year involving Parliament staff members, the report said. “We don’t have any problems with most of [the EU institutions]. With most of them we cooperate without any issues,” Klement told POLITICO. But it’s debatable whether the agreements OLAF has with certain institutions are “enough as a legal basis for the cooperation,” he added. Under current rules, OLAF — an administrative body without the power to bring criminal prosecutions — must request permission to access the premises of the Parliament 48 hours in advance, except in “exceptional” cases where giving such notice would undermine an investigation. A 2013 cooperation agreement between OLAF and the Parliament is supposed to facilitate access to the legislature’s premises, building on an agreement signed in 1999 that says the Parliament’s security office “shall assist [OLAF] in the practical conduct of investigations.” But OLAF’s scrutiny board said in a 2024 report that the Parliament remained reluctant to let investigators conduct searches. “Parliament appeared to consider that the entity best placed to investigate such allegations is not OLAF but Parliament itself, and that accordingly, OLAF should refrain from any parallel investigations,” the board wrote. “OLAF was encountering certain difficulties in investigating alleged cases of serious misconduct by MEPs,” it added. Klement, who took up the role in February, said he “completely agrees” with that assessment. Petr Klement’s predecessor, Ville Itälä, is among those who have long argued that the immunity MEPs enjoy can allow them to block or slow OLAF investigators in ways that those working in other institutions can’t. | Thierry Monasse/Getty Images Many Brussels accountability watchers — including Klement’s predecessor, Ville Itälä — have long argued that the immunity MEPs enjoy can allow them to block or slow OLAF investigators in ways that those working in other institutions can’t. Klement said the upcoming review of OLAF legislation, expected as part of the European Commission’s broader overhaul of the EU’s “antifraud architecture” — the rules governing the bodies that handle fraud, crime and corruption within the EU — is a “perfect opportunity” to settle the issue. Yet the Czech official, who previously served as deputy to the chief prosecutor at the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, said OLAF is not seeking stronger powers. “I do not call for more competences, we do not need more powers, we are not ‘after’ anyone,” he said. “But we want clarity on what we can and we cannot do.” “I can see a lot of effort to share information, to resolve the situation. It must be painful for the [Parliament] itself,” he said, when asked whether he saw any lessons learned by the institution after Qatargate. The Parliament revised its code of conduct and rules of procedure in 2023, introducing several new obligations for MEPs, including tougher requirements on declaring private interests and a ban on lobbying activities. A Parliament spokesperson declined to comment.

FC Basel and Polish stadium stop US rapper’s upcoming shows, after similar cancellations in France and UK over antisemitic comments Kanye West’s upcoming concerts in Poland and Switzerland have been cancelled, as a growing number of European countries have stopped or postponed the US rapper’s performances amid a furore over his past antisemitic comments. Swiss football club FC Basel, which is responsible for concerts and events that take place at its St Jakob-Park ground, told Reuters on Saturday that after reviewing a request for West to perform there in June, it decided against it. Continue reading...

SOFIA, Bulgaria – The pro-Russian former president, Rumen Radev, is poised for a landslide victory in the Bulgarian elections, and could even secure a parliamentary majority, according to exit polls, which could potentially end years of weak coalition governments and reshape the foreign policy of the European Union's (EU) poorest country. An updated exit poll conducted by the Sofia-based research firm Alpha Research showed Radev's Bulgaria Progressive party with 44%, significantly ahead of the historically dominant center-right, pro-European GERB party, led by former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, with 12.5%. If confirmed, this performance, which exceeded pre-election polls, would mark one of the most decisive results achieved by a single party in a generation, potentially sidelining a force that has intermittently governed for decades and could bring an end to the instability that has led to eight elections in five years. However, despite the significant gap between the two parties, the projected percentage may not be enough for Radev to form a single-party government, leaving him with the difficult task of seeking partners to govern. "Bulgaria Progressive won decisively. This is a victory of hope over distrust, a victory of freedom over fear, and, if you will, a victory of morality," Radev said about the election results.

I've spent years working on vaccination policy in Europe, and if there's one thing we still underestimate, it's this: the value of immunization does not begin and end with preventing acute infections in childhood. That is yesterday's framing. In today's Europe, immunization must be recognized not as a narrow public health tool, but as a strategic pillar of resilience. Sibilia Quilici, executive director, Vaccines Europe – via Vaccines Europe Europe faces overlapping pressures: aging populations, chronic diseases, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), climate-sensitive health threats, workforce shortages, and constrained public finances. In this context, immunization is not just about preventing illness; it's about protecting resilience across health systems, economies, and societies. The first policy shift is therefore conceptual but essential: immunization must be recognized and governed as a strategic investment in resilience. At the center of this is the recognition that infection is a cascade. Infections weaken the immune system and increase vulnerability to further disease. Viral infections are often followed by bacterial ones, leading to antibiotic use and misuse, and contributing to AMR. Some infections are directly linked to c…

Executive Vice-President of the European Commission Teresa Ribera stated that the election defeat of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is a warning for conservative European leaders who may be tempted to pursue closer cooperation with U. S. President Donald Trump and Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin.

Andrey Kurkov is Ukraine's most prominent living novelist and one of the country's leading public intellectuals. Since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, he has remained in Kyiv and published three volumes of war diaries (Diary of an Invasion, The Year of the Locust, and Three Years on Fire). Speaking to Jean-Emile Jammine, he describes what it means to be a writer living under the bombs.

Kestutis Budrys hopes that one day Lithuania and Belarus will have perfect relations, after all the issues will be settled

They were taken to a hospital

Former President Rumen Radev, who opposes sanctions against Russia and military aid for Ukraine, claimed an overwhelming victory in Bulgaria’s election and pledged to turn the page on years of political gridlock and corruption.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced that Ukraine is preparing new security cooperation agreements with international partners next week.

Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna recalled that a similar precedent occurred in 2025.

According to Robert Fico, that country must comply with the requirements for candidates for the EU membership

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Ukraine must revise police response protocols, recruitment, and training procedures following the April 18 terrorist attack in Kyiv's Holosiivskyi district.

The Black Sea country is holding its eighth election in five years, with Bulgarians yearning for the kind of prosperous life enjoyed by other Europeans.

An inquiry was opened after a video showed officers fleeing in panic from Saturday’s shooting, which left six dead and many injured. The patrol police chief has resigned.

The man behind the deadly terrorist attack in Kyiv on April 18 was a former serviceman who had served in the Ukrainian Armed Forces since 1992, primarily in logistics units in the Odesa region, before retiring in 2005.

Exit polls put Rumen Radev's new, left-leaning, pro-Russian party far ahead following Bulgaria's eighth election in five years. Radev, a former fighter pilot, stepped down as Bulgaria's president in January.

Ukraine sees Turkey as a key strategic partner capable of helping balance Russia's naval dominance in the Black Sea, according to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.

Former President Rumen Radev, who opposes sanctions against Russia and military aid for Ukraine, is on track to win Bulgaria’s eighth general election since 2021 and may have a chance to end years of political deadlock, an exit poll showed.

Just days after Viktor Orban's defeat in Hungary, Matteo Salvini, Italy's deputy prime minister, hosted a far-right rally under the banner 'Without Fear: In Europe We Are Masters in Our Own House.'

Hungary’s outgoing Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Sunday signaled readiness to lift his veto over a €90 billion EU loan to Ukraine before leaving office — if Kyiv restores the flow of oil to Hungary. In an unexpected development, Orbán said that he will approve the much-needed loan to Ukraine if Kyiv repairs the Druzhba pipeline — which might happen as early as Monday. This could provide immediate relief for Ukraine’s war-battered economy as it seeks to defend itself from Russia’s full-scale invasion. “Once oil deliveries are restored, we will no longer stand in the way of approving the loan,” Orbán wrote on X Sunday afternoon. Approving the financial lifeline to Kyiv could be among his last actions as Hungarian prime minister — a surprising turnaround for a leader who has weaponized anti-Ukraine sentiment for years. Orbán is set to step down in mid-May after losing last Sunday’s election to opposition leader Péter Magyar. The Druzhba pipeline carrying Russian oil through Ukraine to Hungary and Slovakia has been at the center of a diplomatic quagmire between the EU and Hungary. In February, Orbán vetoed the EU’s €90 billion loan after Ukraine seemed to refuse to repair the infrastructure that was damaged by Russian strikes. But in a sudden turnaround, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy promised to repair the Druzhba infrastructure by the end of April shortly after Magyar won the election last weekend. There are high hopes in Kyiv that Hun…

"Through Brussels, Budepest has received an indication from Ukraine that they are ready to restore oil deliveries via the Druzhba pipeline as early as Monday, provided that Hungary lifts its blockade of the €90 billion EU loan," said Viktor Orban.

Hungary's future prime minister, Péter Magyar, after technical meetings with representatives of the European Commission, announced that his government would cooperate with Brussels to unblock frozen funds for Hungary.

The head of the Patrol Police Department, Yevhenii Zhukov, has submitted his resignation following the terrorist attack in Kyiv's Holosiivskyi district that occurred on Saturday.

Law enforcement authorities have launched a criminal case regarding the improper performance of official duties by police officers during the terrorist act in Kyiv on April 18.

Trump appears to have crossed a line with his Christian supporters. Will it come back to bite him in the midterms? Donald Trump’s depiction of himself as Jesus Christ and recent spat with Pope Leo XIV could come back to bite him and the Republican party in the midterm elections, according to experts, with some newly aggrieved Christian groups set to play an outsized role in key races across the US. The president’s Trump-as-the-Messiah Truth Social post sparked immediate criticism among some Christians, including some on the right. Trump, 79, said he thought the AI image of him administering an ethereal light to a stricken man’s head as translucent figures descended from the heavens represented him as a doctor. Continue reading...

Hungary’s incoming Prime Minister Peter Magyar presented the first steps he plans to take to regain access to European Union funding frozen due to corruption and rule of law concerns related to his predecessor’s policies.

In Plato's allegory of the cave, the shadows offer a lesson for politics, applicable in all times and places, because what is presented is not always what is actually happening, nor what we can expect in the near future. Often, after an election, enthusiasm and good intentions outweigh objective data. In my opinion, this might be what is happening in Hungary today with Viktor Orbán's resounding defeat, which brought an end to 16 consecutive years in power as prime minister (2010-2026), and twenty years if one includes his previous term (1998-2002). Even more so than in Budapest, there was joy abroad at this eloquent result, because he was not just any leader, but the embodiment of what was called "illiberal democracy." This term, despite being proudly coined and used by Orbán himself, is an oxymoron, combining two words or concepts with opposing meanings. Democracy does not have adjectives; when it does, it is simply not democracy, but something else, such as the "popular democracies" that were applied to the Cuban dictatorship. Its enthusiastic supporters, who almost always live outside the island, define it as a "different" kind of democracy. Furthermore, it is difficult to find other opportunities where so many people from the left, liberals, and even those from the "woke" movement...

Eight people injured in a shooting in Kyiv’s Holosiivskyi district on Saturday, April 18, are currently being treated in hospitals in the capital.

In 2016, Florent Montaclair stepped into the spotlight when he received the Gold Medal of Philology, a sort of Nobel Prize for the discipline. In fact, the award was created by Montaclair himself. It took an investigation by Romanian journalists to uncover this hoax, which is now the subject of a judicial inquiry in France.

Hungary’s Tisza party increased its parliamentary majority by three seats after the final votes were counted in last Sunday’s election. The latest results strengthen Hungarian Prime Minister-elect Péter Magyar’s mandate to dismantle changes made by outgoing leader Viktor Orbán during 16 years in power. The final tally gives Tisza 141 seats out of 199 in the Hungarian national assembly, up from 138 in previous projections. This result places the party well above the two-thirds special majority that is required to pass constitutional reforms. Orbán’s Fidesz party came in a distant second with only 52 seats in the parliament. “Here are the results of the 2026 parliamentary election: an unprecedented majority, an unprecedented mandate — and, at the same time, an unprecedented responsibility,” Magyar wrote in an X post on Saturday. He added that he could be officially sworn in as prime minister in mid-May. Magyar’s supermajority could facilitate the swift approval of democratic reforms necessary to unlock €17 billion of EU funds that were frozen over rule-of-law shortcomings under Orbán’s tenure. Under the current rules, the Hungarian government has to fulfill 27 EU-mandated conditions — officially known as “super milestones” — that will reform the country’s procurement rules, and increase judicial independence and academic freedom as a precondition to claim any funding. Over the weekend, Magyar and his future ministers held talks in Budapest with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s chief of staff, Bjoern Seibert, and several director-generals. The goal was to outline a roadmap to release the money and discuss a €90 billion loan to Ukraine that was vetoed by Orbán. “The meetings were an early opportunity for practical discussions on how to move forward and make real progress to unlock EU funds earmarked for Hungary, that are frozen due to corruption and rule-of-law concerns. This necessary work will continue,” the Commission wrote in a statement on Sunday. Time is of the essence as €10 billion in funding allocated to Hungary under the EU’s post-Covid recovery is set to expire after an Aug. 31 deadline. Meanwhile, the Commission signaled that it could release the first EU loan payment to Kyiv at the end of May, provided Magyar follows through on his pledge to lift the veto.

Hungary ended 16 years of Viktor Orban’s rule, Pope Leo XIV began his first African tour with a historic first papal visit to Algeria and US President Donald Trump shared an AI-generated image depicting himself as Jesus. Here is a look back at some of the week’s most striking images.

Almost 15 ammunition shells were fired at the region

Ursula von der Leyen's right-hand man sent to Budapest to begin work for the release of €10 billion as Magyar races to unfreeze the cash in exchange of reforms. According to sources involved in the negotiations, the release of funds is not connected to Ukraine.

The Ukrainian president did not mention the United States, but President Donald Trump's administration on Friday issued a month-long sanctions waiver allowing the sale of Russian oil and petroleum products that are at sea.

The Germany-based HiPP had recalled the jars, suggesting they were tampered with. The contaminated jars were also found in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

The Belarusian leader reminded us that Minsk and Moscow are legally bound together

The Russian President's assistant noted that the total number of Soviet citizens who died during the war was also calculated using the same formula

Siemens and Nvidia said the successful test advances their push to build factories where AI-powered machines can adapt and work with human staff

IMF projections show significant increases in GDP per capita in euro terms across Europe by 2030, but the rankings do not change significantly in terms of purchasing power.

The Black Sea country is holding its eighth election in five years, with Bulgarians yearning for the kind of prosperous life enjoyed by other Europeans.

World’s biggest asset manager had been more bullish on the region at start of year but says stocks are no longer cheap

The systematic destruction of culture, memory, and identity is another manifestation of Moscow's policy of intolerance and genocide against Ukrainians.

The perpetrator was killed by security forces inside the supermarket where he had barricaded himself. He was born in Moscow and had lived in the Donbass region.

The mass shooting, in a busy central district of the Ukrainian capital, left 14 others wounded, officials said.

The leader of the 5S movement spoke at a training event for activists in preparation for the May event. "Negotiations first, then we will buy Russian gas."

On the 18th, a shooting incident occurred in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, resulting in the deaths of six people. The suspect was shot and killed by police who responded to the scene. The suspect is reportedly from Russia, and investigative authorities are treating the incident as a potential act of terrorism.

The gunman, who killed six people in Kyiv before police shot him dead, was a Ukrainian citizen born in Moscow Ukrainian investigators are examining whether a terrorist attack in Kyiv was directed by Moscow after a man shot dead six people on Saturday before he was killed by police. The gunman, 58, opened fire on passersby before barricading himself in a supermarket and taking hostages. Detectives sealed off the area in the Holosiivskyi district and tried to negotiate with him. He refused and was killed after a 40-minute standoff. Continue reading...

Investigators from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) have classified the mass shooting of civilians and hostage-taking in Kyiv's Holosiivskyi District as a terrorist attack, with a pre-trial investigation ongoing.

Ukraine is calling on the United States administration to reinstate sanctions restricting trade in Russian oil.

Four civilians were injured in Russian attacks in the Sumy region on April 18, regional governor Oleh Hryhorov said.

The attacker has been identified as a "58-year-old Moscow man", but no motive has been established.

At least 10 people were hospitalized with wounds and trauma after the shooting, which took place in a residential district.

This refers to revanchism, "which assumes that they now want to carry out that very revenge that will allow them to still win in this very division of the world, the redrawing of the world’s resources for themselves," Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman added

The gunman who opened fire in Kyiv, killing and injuring multiple people, was a native of Moscow.

A gunman opened fire on people in Ukraine’s capital of Kyiv on Saturday, killing five and wounding several others, Ukrainian authorities said. The gunman was killed by police, the authorities said. “Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko has just reported that the attacker in Kyiv who opened fire on civilians has been eliminated. All the circumstances are being established,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a post on X. “At present, five people have been confirmed killed,” he said. “Ten people are currently hospitalized with injuries and trauma. All are receiving the necessary assistance.” Zelenskyy said the gunman had taken people as hostages and four of the hostages were successfully rescued. “We expect a swift investigation. Investigators of the National Police and the Security Service of Ukraine are working,” Zelenskyy added. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko city authorities had launched a “special operation” to apprehend the assailant, who he said entered a supermarket after the shooting.

The defeat of Hungary’s Viktor Orban is a warning conservative European leaders who may be tempted to align closely with Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, according to the European Commission’s most senior Social Democrat official.

Zelensky: "The investigation will be swift, and the authorities will make all information public."

In the Zaporizhzhia direction, fighters from the Department of Active Operations of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine (HUR) carried out a series of successful raids during which they destroyed and cleared Russian military positions.

Despite the war in Ukraine, the singer from Puglia has never broken his connection with his many Russian fans. However, every public statement he has made on the subject has always been met with controversy.

A gunman has shot dead "several" people and wounded others in the Ukrainian capital, authorities said. Police have launched a manhunt to find the suspect.

Russian forces carried out a missile strike on the center of Kharkiv.

The European Union continues to export pesticides that it has banned for health and environmental reasons – sending more than 122,000 tonnes abroad in 2024, as a promised EU law to stop the trade remains stalled.

Overall, the Russian Armed Forces have destroyed 671 Ukrainian combat aircraft, 284 helicopters, 135,370 unmanned aerial vehicles since the start of the special military operation, Russia’s Defense Ministry said

The Tisza party led by Hungarian prime minister-elect Peter Magyar further widened its parliamentary majority, a fresh tally showed Saturday, giving it an even stronger mandate for change after last weekend’s election.

Péter Magyar and his Tisza party are wasting no time preparing for the transfer of power after their dramatic landslide victory.

Rescuers in northern Germany are trying to save a sick humpback whale nicknamed 'Timmy', which has repeatedly become stranded off the Baltic Sea coast. Experts are using air cushions and tugboats to refloat the animal, amid debate over whether it can still be safely rescued.

Russian forces attacked a meat processing plant in the town of Bohodukhiv in the Kharkiv region using a Molniya-type drone, leaving three female employees with acute stress reactions.

Péter Magyar hopes building stronger relations with Poland will help restore ties with bloc after Orbán’s rule The Hungarian election winner, Péter Magyar, is eyeing a special relationship with Poland’s prime minister, Donald Tusk to draw on the neighbouring country’s experience of repairing relations with the EU after years of illiberal rule. Since 1989, the two countries have seemingly shared parallels in their paths. Now the two centre-right, pro-European leaders preside over the tricky task of restoring the rule of law and improving state institutions after years of democratic backsliding and clashes with the EU. Continue reading...

Ukraine is not conducting intergovernmental work with Germany to facilitate the return of Ukrainian men to the country, according to Minister of Social Policy, Family and Unity Denys Uliutin.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has outlined the priority areas of work for the A1 Defense AI Center.

The United States has issued a new license allowing the supply and sale of Russian-origin crude oil and petroleum products that were loaded onto vessels as of April 17.

Ukraine struck multiple Russian oil refineries with drones on Saturday while simultaneously repelling a 219-drone Russian assault on its own territory.

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry plans to contract 25,000 ground robotic systems in the first half of 2026, according to Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.

Our reporter Andrew Higgins describes why Hungary’s voters chose Peter Magyar over Viktor Orban in a landslide, ending Orban’s 16 years in power.

Analysts and former diplomats say they fear the Kremlin's involvement in Bulgaria's election on Sunday, as Moscow seeks to maintain its influence within the European Union.

Released Jeffrey Epstein files expose how associate Jean-Luc Brunel used Czech and Slovak modelling agencies to recruit and traffic underage girls. Brunel leveraged his industry prestige to lure victims into Epstein’s network, often using professional contracts as legal cover. He ultimately died by suicide in a Paris prison in 2022.

During the night, Russian troops attacked port and industrial infrastructure in the Odesa region using strike drones. Administrative buildings, warehouses, buses, and storage tanks were damaged, and one person was injured.

On April 17, there were 151 combat engagements between Ukraine’s Defense Forces and Russian troops along the front line.