Ukraine War Escalates, Global Repercussionsactive

Ukrainian president says he hopes for ‘results’ as he sits down with negotiators later today Meanwhile, Ukrainian drone manufacturers are meeting Romanian defence ministry and army officials in Bucharest this week to discuss potential joint production under a new European Union rearmament funding mechanism, the ministry said in a statement quoted by Reuters. Romania, an EU and Nato state, shares a 650-km land border with Ukraine and has had drones breach its airspace and fragments fall on its territory repeatedly since Russia began attacking Kyiv’s ports located across the Danube from Romania. Continue reading...

From Ploce in the south to Rijeka and Krk in the north, Croatia is redefining its role in Europe’s supply chains.

Listen on Spotify Apple Music Amazon Music An energy shock that once felt distant is starting to look very real as the war in Iran spirals … and the EU is considering a Covid-style crisis response. From emergency meetings to talk of jointly purchasing energy — host Zoya Sheftalovich and Senior EU Politics Editor Ian Wishart explain how some of the strategies being floated are straight out of the pandemic-era playbook. Also on the pod, Péter Magyar is ahead in the polls in the lead-up to the Hungarian general election, but it’s by no means a slam dunk. According to some experts, years of  gerrymandering and media capture by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party mean the opposition leader still faces an uphill challenge. Finally, if you’re looking to buy a ticket to the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, you might be disappointed: Prices are soaring. In fact, MEPs have asked the Commission to look into FIFA’s opaque ticket-sale tactics. If you have questions or comments, you can reach us on our WhatsApp by clicking here or dialing +32 491 05 06 29.

The official says that Vladimir Zelensky, according to his statement, has no plans to withdraw troops from Donbass

In the first half of the 20th century, Germany terrorized Europe, but now its European neighbors are welcoming the resurgence of German military power.

BUDAPEST — Hungarians will go to the polls on April 12 for what is likely to be the country's most consequential elections since the fall of Communism, but they will not be voting in a fair contest. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has ensured this, having heavily tilted the electoral playing field in his favor through a gradual process of state capture over his years in power. His tactics are not as blatant as those used by Russian President Vladimir Putin in managed elections; Orbán does not ban serious opponents from running. However, his rivals say that he has still engineered a massively unfair advantage for his Fidesz party through gerrymandered constituencies, a controlled media landscape, and vote-buying. Despite independent pollsters reporting for months that the opposition figure Péter Magyar's center-right Tisza party is running well ahead of Fidesz, actually defeating Orbán on election day will be very difficult. The reality of how a Hungarian election works is very different from the trends identified in polls. In his 16 years in power, Orbán has maintained complete control over the rules governing elections, refining them as political circumstances dictated and the nature of the opposition changed, all to give his party a systemic advantage. This reflects "his will to win at any price," said Zsuzsanna Szelényi, a former Fidesz lawmaker who broke with Orbán when he shifted the party from liberalism to illiberalism. We have seen this drama unfold...

The EU foreign policy chief admitted that she had no good news on 90 mln euros in military funding to Ukraine

A 76-year-old man who sustained severe injuries during the enemy attack on March 28 has died at a hospital in Odesa.

"The initiative has not been clearly formulated," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

Citing the first amendment, judge says president’s executive order is unlawful and unenforceable Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inbox Citing the first amendment, a federal judge on Tuesday agreed to permanently block the Trump administration from implementing a presidential directive to end federal funding for National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), two media entities that the White House has said are counterproductive to American priorities. The operational impact of US district judge Randolph Moss’s decision was not immediately clear – both because it will probably be appealed and because too much damage to the public-broadcasting system has already been done, both by the president and Congress. Continue reading...

The Trump administration will move the headquarters for the U. S. Forest Service from Washington, D. C., to Salt Lake City, it announced Tuesday. In a press release, the Department of Agriculture said the move will also be accompanied by a “sweeping restructuring” at the agency. A department spokesperson told The Hill that 260 positions will move…

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Tuesday that reports from Eastern European media outlets that he passed "strategic information" to Russia were "foreign interference". In one leaked phone call Szijjarto is alleged to have told Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov that he was "at his service".

The European Union should examine the close contacts between Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó and the foreign minister of the aggressor state, Sergey Lavrov, and give them a proper assessment, as they undermine trust and the security of internal discussions within the EU.

The source reported that the US asked Poland to supply Patriot air defense systems, but Polish National Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz stated that Warsaw does not intend to transfer its weapons to the US side

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot has condemned the removal of EU flags from town halls by far-right mayors, calling it a “betrayal.” Several newly elected mayors from the anti-immigration, EU-skeptic National Rally party have taken down EU flags from government buildings in recent days following last week’s municipal elections, in which the far right won 55 new municipal mandates. Barrot responded on X on Tuesday: “This is a betrayal of who we are. The European Union is something France wanted. It’s us — to ensure peace, to preserve our independence in the face of growing pressure from empires, and to assert our own vision of the world.” He added: “There is no dissolution of national identity in European identity, any more than our local identities fade behind our national identity.” In Carcassonne in southern France, National Rally Mayor Christophe Barthès on Sunday filmed himself removing the EU flag from the balcony of the town hall and posted it on his X account. “Out with European flags at town hall! In with French flags,” he wrote. Bryan Masson, the newly elected mayor of Cagnes-sur-Mer, also in southern France, posted a photo of his office displaying a dozen French flags but no EU flag. And Carla Muti, mayor of Canohès, also posted a video of herself taking down an EU flag. Removing or replacing EU flags has become an established procedure among Euroskeptic leaders. When Poland’s right-wing Prime Minister Beata Szydło took office in 2015, she removed the EU flag from the backdrop of her government’s press room.

Hungarian Foreign Affairs Minister Péter Szijjártó, in a conversation with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, stated that Budapest and Bratislava would assist in removing Russians from the EU sanctions list. Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also lobbied Robert Fico in a letter on behalf of a Russian oligarch.

As Andrey Rudenko noted, "many countries need oil right now"

Pollster Nate Silver said President Trump has "profound problems" as the president's job approval rating took a significant hit in recent surveys. Silver posted a series of posts on the social platform X about the downward trend, after Trump's average approval rating fell below 40 percentage points last week. Two separate surveys released last week by…

Sibur, the petrochemical company that owns the plant, said the explosion was likely caused by an “equipment malfunction.”

This lawsuit defends the rights of Europeans and the national sovereignty of the U. S.

Dmitry Peskov also said that Vladimir Zelensky’s Easter ceasefire proposal did not actually represent a clear initiative

Poland has no plans to relocate its Patriot air defense systems to the Middle East, Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said Tuesday after reports that the U. S. had informally requested a transfer. “Our Patriot batteries and their armaments are used to protect Polish airspace and NATO’s eastern flank. Nothing is changing in this regard, and we have no plans to move them anywhere!” Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz wrote on X on Tuesday. “Our allies are well aware of and understand the importance of our tasks here. Poland’s security is an absolute priority,” he added. The remarks follow a report from Polish daily Rzeczpospolita earlier Tuesday alleging U. S. officials had asked Warsaw to shift one of its Patriot batteries to the Middle East as Iran’s retaliatory drone strikes on U. S. Gulf allies put a growing strain on air defense stockpiles. However, a senior defense official from a NATO country who spoke on condition of anonymity said that Poland had not been singled out by Washington. The U. S. has approached all its NATO allies with two questions on air defense: It is looking for batteries for Ukraine and also for the Middle East, but not the Gulf, to protect NATO installations, the official said. “There was no special pressure on Poland,” they said. “This was a question that was sent to all allies.” Even the pro-Donald Trump opposition Law and Justice party is balking at the idea of transferring a Patriot battery. Mariusz Błaszczak, a former defense minister, on Tuesday told reporters: “Poland should not grant approval for such matters.” The U. S. military and Gulf states used 1,285 PAC-3 Patriot missiles in the first 16 days of the war Trump launched against Iran. Poland currently has two Patriot batteries, each with 16 launchers, and has received most of the 200 specialized missiles it ordered from the U. S. in 2019. This article has been updated.

According to Alexander Stepanov, the Black Sea could serve as a primary testing ground for such systems, "with the subsequent implementation of this sabotage tactic against both the fleet and underwater infrastructure"

The General Prosecutor’s Office claimed that the university “radicalizes” Russians by eroding their trust in the government and military.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaia Kallas believes the EU needs to “move on” on a complete ban on Russian oil, despite the sharp rise in energy prices.

A Kremlin-backed fintech company is linked to massive trade in dual-use goods.

VPNs are a common tool that Russians have increasingly turned to in recent years to get around internet surveillance and censorship.

Budapest insists it is dependent on Russian crude oil, but analysts suggest this could be the result of economic and political decisions, as well as technical constraints.

Exclusive: Reform UK will be ‘steering well clear’ of CPAC event in July, says a source, as will senior Tories Nigel Farage will snub a major conference of US conservatives that is being brought to the UK by Liz Truss. The short-lived former prime minister, who was accused of crashing the economy, was chosen by the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) to lead a version of the event in the UK in July. Continue reading...

The SVR accused what it called "an ambitious schismatic from Constantinople" of being power-hungry, citing unnamed clerics as sources.

As the Kremlin spends heavily on censorship technology, Russians are scrambling to find new ways to circumvent the limits.

With new outages and blockages, President Vladimir V. Putin is taking his boldest steps yet to control Russians’ communications.

Our international correspondent Valerie Hopkins walks us through how she connects to the internet in Russia as the Kremlin clamps down and Moscow experiences major internet blackouts.

The National Police and the Security Service of Ukraine have thwarted a series of contract killings organized by Russian agents.

According to the source, the primary advantage for Ukrainian forces lies in the terrain and the strength of their fortifications within the urban area

Peter Slezkine said a bipartisan House delegation may pay a reciprocal visit to Moscow before July

The Ukrainian side is reluctant to accept the terms of the plan, as they are perceived as a defeat, Svetlana Zhurova, first deputy chair of the State Duma international committee, said

The components for the UAV were created in the UK, Turkey, and several other NATO countries

Arina Klepanova, spokesperson for the regional Federal Security Service Directorate, emphasized that most of the drones launched over the region were produced in NATO countries

According to Svetlana Zhurova, the New START topic was raised at the meeting between Russian and US legislators but not in great detail

EU diplomats dismissed Kyiv's attempts to block an inspection as "not smart" and "unclear."

Tune in to Europe Today, Euronews' flagship morning programme at 8 am Brussels time. In just 20 minutes, we bring you up to speed on the biggest news of the day.

Hungary's opposition to the €90bn package for Ukraine is the latest of 48 vetoed European Council decisions. EU leaders are increasingly worried about whether they can solve the EU’s very own unanimity trap.

Listen on Spotify Apple Music Amazon Music Europe is facing another potential energy shock — and this time, Brussels is starting to float something politically tricky: using less fuel. Host Zoya Sheftalovich is joined by POLITICO’s senior EU politics editor Ian Wishart to break down a warning from Brussels that points to a possible need to cut fuel use, as fears grow of a prolonged disruption linked to the war in Iran. They also zoom in on Kyiv, where EU foreign ministers are marking the anniversary of the Bucha massacre of March 2022 while pushing forward plans for a special tribunal to prosecute Russia’s war of aggression. And back in Brussels, a €3.6 million plan from the Committee of the Regions is raising eyebrows — and prompting questions about priorities. If you have questions or comments, you can reach us on our WhatsApp at +32 491 05 06 29.

BUDAPEST — Tensions are escalating dramatically in the final stretch of Hungary’s election race as political rivals trade accusations of vote-buying in rural constituencies, illegal wiretapping and interference from Moscow and Kyiv. Polls suggest that Péter Magyar and his opposition center-right Tisza party could end Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s 16-year rule in the April 12 election, dethroning the EU leader closest to the Kremlin, who has repeatedly blocked EU attempts to support Ukraine. The campaign has been characterized by bitter allegations from the two camps, and election watchdogs are concerned about the fairness of the contest thanks to Orbán’s grip on state institutions such as the media. There is little sign the animosity will ease in the final days of the race. Instead, Orbán is doubling down on attempts to cast Magyar as pro-Ukrainian, warning that an opposition victory would drag Hungary into a war with Russia and divert funds to a profoundly corrupt Kyiv, while simultaneously accusing Ukraine of trying to unseat him. “Ukraine has interfered in Hungary’s elections with money, pressure and agents. We understand their interests, but we will never accept foreign interference in Hungary’s future,” Orbán said on Sunday. Péter Magyar delivers a speech at a demonstration during commemorations of the 178th anniversary of the 1948/49 Hungarian Revolution in Budapest on March 15. | Janos Kummer/Getty Images Magyar, by contrast, accuses Orbán’s government of “outright treason” for its snug relations with President Vladimir Putin’s Russia, which he says a new administration will investigate. Meanwhile, alternative pro-government observer missions are being deployed alongside those of mainstream international organizations, setting the stage for a clash of narratives before and after election day. Kyiv dominates campaign Ukraine is front and center in the race, with Orbán pushing hard to seize on popular antipathy toward Hungary’s giant neighbor. The government claims Kyiv is trying to destabilize the economy by halting Russian oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline, while Ukraine insists the pipeline is not operational owing to Russian drone strikes. Hungarian authorities also seized a convoy transporting cash and gold from a bank in Austria to a Ukrainian bank in Kyiv, with senior Hungarian government officials suggesting the funds could have been used to finance the opposition’s campaign against Orbán. Ukraine maintains the seizure by Hungarian authorities is illegal and that the cash is part of regular transfers to its State Savings Bank. Two weeks ago, the authorities raided the homes of two IT specialists working for Tisza, accusing them of acting as spies on behalf of Ukraine. Magyar, who denies all the allegations, says Orbán — with the help of Russia — has used the power of the state to undermine Tisza from within, amid international and local reports that Moscow has deployed resources to influence the campaign to keep the incumbent government in office. An election poster using an image of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Budapest on March 18. | Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images “We have reason to believe that the Hungarian intelligence services, in cooperation with Eastern powers, deployed … originally military-grade spyware on TISZA’s systems and network,” he wrote on X March 26. Orbán’s international spokesman, Zoltán Kovács, dismissed Magyar’s accusations, saying the government’s contacts with Russia were routine diplomacy. In an interview with POLITICO on Monday, he insisted the investigation into alleged Ukrainian infiltration of Tisza was ongoing and free from political pressure. “Their ongoing job is to protect Hungarian national interests,” Kovács said of the investigators. He did not rule out new revelations before the election. Rival observers Against this bilious backdrop, independent media and election observers have warned the election won’t take place on an even playing field. A documentary by independent journalists called “The Price of a Vote”, aired March 26, alleged widespread vote-buying and pressure on voting in rural communities. Eyewitnesses claim Fidesz is offering cash in exchange for votes. Kovács, Orbán’s international spokesperson, dismissed the allegations and called the documentary “an anti-Fidesz political weapon.” “I can tell you that if there’s a misuse or any kind of fraud going on in the background, all local authorities and national authorities have the chance actually to investigate it,” Kovács said. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s electoral observation mission on Friday published a report flagging concerns that Hungary’s media landscape is fueling pro-government messaging, given that its ownership is concentrated in few hands. “Independent and critical outlets operate alongside a much larger pro-government media sector,” the report read. Kovács dismissed the OSCE’s concerns, calling its warnings of government influence over the media a “political opinion” and casting doubt on the credibility of its findings. As the campaign intensifies and polls continue to suggest that the opposition Tisza Party could win, analysts warn that both Tisza and the ruling Fidesz may clash after election night and challenge the result. Veteran election observer Péter Kramer, who has over 16 years of experience observing elections on behalf of the EU, warned the growing presence of parallel missions could muddy the waters. “I wouldn’t be surprised if there were disingenuous observers,” he said, noting that politically aligned groups increasingly deploy missions to shape the narrative after the vote. “It’s an international trend.” An organization closely linked to Fidesz, the Civic Cooperation Forum, has called on U. S. President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, which promotes global conflict resolution, to deploy an election observation mission ahead of the April 12 vote. Meanwhile, a conservative Polish think tank on Monday announced a coalition of 100 international observers from 10 EU and non-EU countries under the banner “Liberty Coalition for a Free and Fair Election.” The coalition is co-led by the president of the Edmund Burke Foundation, which regularly organizes National Conservatism Conferences in Brussels and Washington. Previous guests of those summits include U. K. right-wing political leader Nigel Farage, French far-right essayist and politician Éric Zemmour, American conservative political activist Tucker Carlson — and Viktor Orbán himself. Orbán’s political director, Balázs Orbán, welcomed the new mission. “Independent eyes help ensure the outcome speaks for itself,” he said.

Regarding the high-level discussions on the peace plan between Russia and Ukraine, which were suspended due to the situation in Iran, a senior official from the Kremlin expressed hope that the United States would act as a mediator, respecting Russia's position.

Rights group also reports at least 30 injured in Gran Grif raid on Artibonite farming region and almost 6,000 displaced At least 70 people have been killed and 30 injured during an attack in Haiti’s breadbasket Artibonite region, significantly more than official estimates, a human rights group has said. Police initially reported 16 dead and 10 injured, while a preliminary report from civil protection authorities suggested 17 had died and 19 were wounded. Continue reading...

Keep our news free from ads and paywalls by making a donation to support our work! Notes from Poland is run by a small editorial team and is published by an independent, non-profit foundation that is funded through donations from our readers. We cannot do what we do without your support. Poland’s defence ministry and the city of Chełm have signed an agreement to establish a new museum that will be the first dedicated to the massacres of ethnic Poles by Ukrainian nationalists during World War Two. The Volhynia massacres, in which around 100,000 Poles were killed, have long been a source of tension between Poland and Ukraine. However, Chelm’s mayor, Jakub Banaszek, says the museum will be a place of reconciliation, as well as commemoration. Zbrodnia Wołyńska to nie zamknięty rozdział historii. Przywrócenie tej pamięci to nasz obowiązek i każdego kolejnego pokolenia. Dlatego powstanie Muzeum Pamięci Ofiar Rzezi Wołyńskiej w Chełmie. Właśnie podpisaliśmy list intencyjny z prezydentem miasta w tej sprawie. To będzie… pic.twitter.com/EvqOwz241x — Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz (@KosiniakKamysz) March 26, 2026 Last week, Banaszek and defence minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz signed a letter of intent to establish the Volhynia Massacre Victims Memorial Museum. It will be a branch of the Warsaw-based Polish Army Museum, which is under the oversight of the defence ministry. “This is an incredibly important moment for all those for whom remembrance and identity are fundamental, even sacred,” said Kosiniak-Kamysz. “For the first time, [we have] an opportunity for a dignified commemoration of our compatriots who were brutally murdered….at the hands of Ukrainian nationalists.” The news was also welcomed by President Karol Nawrocki, who is normally an opponent of the government but praised Kosiniak-Kamysz for supporting the project. Nawrocki had been a supporter of establishing the museum in his previous role as head of the state Institute of National Remembrance (IPN). Click here to help us continue providing news free from paywalls and ads The massacres were part of an ethnic cleansing operation by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) between 1943 and 1945 in the territories of Volhynia and Eastern Galicia, which had been part of Poland before the war but were then under Nazi-German occupation. The UPA’s aim was to create an ethnically homogeneous Ukrainian territory. Today, the areas in which the massacres took place are located mainly in Ukraine, following postwar border shifts. Around 100,000 ethnic Poles, mostly women and children, were killed, many with exceptional brutality. However, precise figures are impossible to ascertain because of a lack of documentation and because most victims were buried in mass, unmarked graves. Ukraine for a long time banned the exhumation of those remains on its territory. However, in a diplomatic breakthrough last year, it allowed the search for victims to resume. Polish victims of massacres committed by Ukrainian nationalists in WWII have been reburied in Ukraine at a ceremony attended by officials from both countries. Their remains were exhumed this year following a diplomatic breakthrough between Kyiv and Warsaw https://t.co/FQwhjXOZDb — Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) September 6, 2025 Nevertheless, the massacres remain a source of tension. Poland regards them as a genocide and has officially recognised them as such. But Ukraine rejects the use of that term and seeks to contextualise the massacres by pointing to Polish persecution of Ukrainians. Meanwhile, Ukraine continues to venerate some historical nationalist leaders associated with the massacres, prompting diplomatic protests by Warsaw. Kyiv last year criticised Poland for establishing a new national day of remembrance for “victims of the genocide”. Such disputes are not just symbolic. In 2024, Kosiniak-Kamysz declared that Poland would not let “Ukraine join the European Union if the Volhynia issue is not resolved”. Last year, Nawrocki issued a similar warning while campaigning for the presidency. Poland's state historical institute has criticised remarks by the head of its Ukrainian counterpart about massacres of Poles by Ukrainians in WWII. He said they are regarded in Ukraine as a "local episode" and suggested they do not constitute a genocide https://t.co/MAi6RhpRDL — Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) February 11, 2026 In May 2023, Chełm city council unanimously approved a resolution on establishing a Volhynia massacre museum on land the authorities had acquired for the purpose a year earlier. It aimed to complete work by 2027. “Establishing such an institution in Chełm is natural due to its geographic location, history, and multicultural identity,” said a spokesman for city hall, quoted by Radio Lublin. “Chełm is a gateway to the east. A witness to history…Witnesses to the massacre also live here.” The city, which has a population of around 60,000, is located in the very east of Poland, around 20 kilometres (12.4 miles) from the border with Ukraine. Unveiling an artist’s impression of the museum later that year, Banaszek noted that, as well as honouring those who were killed, the complex would also include a “centre for truth and reconciliation” and a square “commemorating the righteous Ukrainians” who risked their lives to help Poles during the massacres.  In October 2023, Chełm signed a letter of intent with the culture ministry to jointly develop the museum. However, days later, parliamentary elections were held that resulted in the then-ruling national-conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party, with which Banaszek is aligned, losing power. Nevertheless, on PiS’s last day in office, culture minister Piotr Gliński signed a funding agreement for the museum, pledging that the government would contribute 162 million zloty (€38 million), with Chełm providing 20 million zloty. However, after a new, more liberal government led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk came to power the following month, the culture ministry terminated the agreement with Chelm, arguing that it had been signed “prematurely” and “without adequate funding” in place. It also said that the organisers of the project had “failed to indicate the participation of researchers, experts, academic and research entities, and those working in the field of memory policy on both sides”, meaning it “would not fulfil the idea of ​​reconciliation”, reported the Rzeczpospolita daily. https://twitter.com.com/notesfrompoland/status/1930627539673710853 That prompted Chełm to launch legal action against the government. That case is going through the courts, but the dispute now appears to have been resolved, with the defence ministry taking responsibility for the museum. Speaking at last week’s signing ceremony with Kosiniak-Kamysz, Banaszek said that he was pleased that they had reached an agreement “across political lines and with a sense of responsibility for the victims”. Media reports suggest that the city still aims for the museum to open in 2027. Any revisions to funding for the project now that it has moved from the culture ministry to the defence ministry have not yet been announced. ​ Notes from Poland is run by a small editorial team and published by an independent, non-profit foundation that is funded through donations from our readers. We cannot do what we do without your support. Main image credit: Miasto Chełm (under CC BY-SA 4.0)

He stated that the premium on foreign drivers is due to the Kiev authorities' suspension of oil supplies through the Druzhba pipeline

Most independent polls show that more than 60% of voters under 30 support Péter Magyar's Tisza party while only 15% back Viktor Orbán's ruling Fidesz in April elections.

According to Anna Paulina Luna, this may be the greatest, most corrupt scandal in American history

Negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the European Union should not depend on the pace of integration of other candidate countries, and the position of individual member states, particularly Hungary, should not become an obstacle to Ukraine’s progress.

The strategic shift comes nearly a month after the Kulevi oil terminal on the Black Sea coast narrowly avoided being added to an EU list of sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

A French court has handed down a one-year prison sentence and issued an arrest warrant for the Chinese captain of a tanker suspected of being part of Russia’s so-called 'shadow fleet', in a case that highlights Europe’s growing efforts to enforce sanctions at sea.

So far, member states are acting individually with a mixture tax-cuts, price controls, targeted subsidies and market rules. The result is a medley of policies, some of which accelerate decarbonisation and renewables, while others risk driving emissions higher, even as supply shortages loom.

Ukraine and Bulgaria have discussed a range of joint initiatives in key sectors, including energy, defense, and transport, with a focus on developing alternative energy routes for Europe.

KYIV — Ukraine needs to look for alternatives to the U. S.-made PAC-3 anti-ballistic missiles, even though Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has demonstrated their superiority, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. “PAC-3 deficit in the world, in Ukraine in particular, has never ended. Unfortunately. You know that the total production is about 60 missiles per month,” Zelenskyy told journalists via WhatsApp chat on Monday, as he was on his way back to Kyiv from the Middle East, where Ukraine struck several long-term defense deals over the weekend with Gulf countries. “Of course, there are important steps on the territory of the European continent to increase production, but even this increase will not solve this issue,” he added. Kyiv has repeatedly asked for more PAC-3 missiles, which are used in Patriot air defense systems. The U. S. campaign against Iran has made matters worse for Ukraine, as some of Kyiv’s partners are prioritizing supplies to the Middle East, Zelenskyy said. “All anti-ballistic packages — we see how partners … where they are sending them … where it is very hot today. This is primarily the Middle East. Unfortunately, sometimes they forget about Ukraine, but we remind everyone and are grateful to the partners who hear us,” Zelenskyy said, not naming the partners. He added that Ukraine has already begun its search. “We are negotiating with two countries to have such an opportunity. But for now … When there is a result, then I will say more. Meanwhile, Ukrainian defense producers need to do everything possible for our defense industry … so that we have our own anti-ballistic systems.” Last week, POLITICO reported that U. S. officials had informed allies that a war with Iran could delay supplies for Ukraine. However, Ukraine received assurances that Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List, or PURL, supplies for Kyiv would not be redirected, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha told Ukrinform state news agency on Sunday. Zelenskyy had earlier suggested Kyiv could exchange its interceptors for PAC-3 ones.

Following the 2022-2023 coups in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, the junta regimes turned to Russia, China, and even the US. Now, the EU wants to invest more in West Africa's security and growth to forge closer ties.

Keep our news free from ads and paywalls by making a donation to support our work! Notes from Poland is run by a small editorial team and is published by an independent, non-profit foundation that is funded through donations from our readers. We cannot do what we do without your support. Polish state defence group PGZ has signed an agreement with Estonia’s Frankenburg Technologies to jointly establish a facility in Poland that will produce up to 10,000 low-cost anti-drone missiles a year. “Estonia is a leader in new technologies, so we want to capitalise on this,” said Polish defence minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz following a meeting with his Estonian counterpart Hanno Pevkur. “This is very important today in the face of threats from Russia.” 🇵🇱🤝🇪🇪 Współpraca @PGZ_pl i @FrankenburgTech będzie koncentrować się https://t.co/n8NRkOVDT6. na systemach obrony powietrznej bardzo krótkiego zasięgu, w tym na rozwoju i produkcji systemu rakietowego MARK I, przeznaczonego do zwalczania bezzałogowych statków powietrznych. 🚀 W… pic.twitter.com/NlqkMrm7jC — Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa🇵🇱 (@PGZ_pl) March 27, 2026 The two ministers attended the signing of a framework agreement on “long‑term cooperation in the development and production of modern defence solutions” between PGZ and Frankenburg, which specialises in anti-drone missile systems. A primary focus will be on very short-range air defence technologies, including developing Frankenburg’s Mark I missile system for countering unmanned aerial vehicles, which has a range of up to 2 km. They will also seek to develop a longer-range Mark II anti-drone system, with a range of 5-8 km. As part of their partnership, the two companies plan to “establish production capabilities…in Poland, including a facility with a planned capacity of up to 10,000 missiles per year”. Click here to help us continue providing news free from paywalls and ads “Lessons learned from the war in Ukraine clearly demonstrate that attacks carried out by dangerous yet inexpensive drones are widespread,” said PGZ’s CEO, Adam Leszkiewicz. “Countering them with advanced – and therefore more costly – air defence systems is operationally and economically unjustified.” “Cooperation with Frankenburg will enable us to jointly produce and offer the Polish armed forces and other customers the most economically advantageous effector to date for countering this specific category of drone threats,” he added. The urgency of developing such anti-drone systems was emphasised last September, when around 20 Russian drones entered Polish airspace in an unprecedented violation. Some were shot down using expensive air-to-air missiles, while others hit the ground without being intercepted. Frankenburg’s anti-drone systems are specifically designed to offer a less expensive and even more effective defence against such threats. Poland has signed an agreement for a new anti-drone system that it claims will be the first of its kind in Europe. The network is intended to protect Poland’s eastern borders, where last year around 20 Russian drones crossed in an unprecedented incursion https://t.co/WhWhJxDwXA — Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) January 30, 2026 In January, PGZ was part of a Polish-Norwegian consortium that signed an agreement with the Polish government to develop a new anti-drone network, known as SAN, which they said would be the first of its kind in Europe. PGZ’s vice president, Marcin Idzik, says they are now considering integrating Frankenburg’s systems into SAN. Because Frankenberg is a European entity, it may be possible to fund the project through the EU’s SAFE programme, which is providing Poland with €44 billion in loans for defence spending. Last month, a representative of Frankenburg told Ukrainian news service Militarnyi that the company hoped to begin testing its Mark 1 anti-drone missiles in Ukraine in the second quarter of this year. Following his talks with Pevkur, Kosiniak-Kamysz also revealed that Poland and Estonia hope to sign a new security cooperation agreement soon and that Estonia has invited Poland to take part in joint exercises. ​ Notes from Poland is run by a small editorial team and published by an independent, non-profit foundation that is funded through donations from our readers. We cannot do what we do without your support. Main image credit: Frankenburg Technologies (press materials)

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Keep our news free from ads and paywalls by making a donation to support our work! Notes from Poland is run by a small editorial team and is published by an independent, non-profit foundation that is funded through donations from our readers. We cannot do what we do without your support. Polish opposition leader Jarosław Kaczyński says it is vital for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to win re-election this month so that right-wing parties across Europe can prevent the European Union from becoming a tool for “German neo-imperialism”. Kaczyński also defended Orbán’s ties with Russia, saying that he “has no choice” because of Hungary’s dependence on Russian energy. And he drew comparisons between Hungarian opposition leader Péter Magyar and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who came to power only thanks to “external influence”. Kaczyński, leader of the national-conservative Law and Justice (PiS), which is Poland’s main opposition party, made his remarks in an interview with Mandiner, a Hungarian media group aligned with Orbán’s Fidesz party. The Polish politician said that he “would really like the mandate of Viktor Orbán and of Fidesz to be extended” at parliamentary elections taking place on 12 April. This “would be very important for Hungary and also for Europe, because…[it] could provide the first opportunity for a big change”. “If Fidesz wins in Hungary, if we win in Poland [at next year’s elections] and the right wins in Fr…

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More than 1.25 million EU citizens are urging the EU to ban conversion practices targeting LGBTQ people, which often cause severe psychological harm. While some countries already prohibit them, EU-wide action faces legal and political hurdles, including limited EU competence, member state opposition, and disagreements over definitions and religious freedom concerns.

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Tune in to Europe Today, Euronews' flagship morning programme at 8 am Brussels time. In just 20 minutes, we bring you up to speed on the biggest news of the day.

Listen on Spotify Apple Music Amazon Music For two decades, aspiring EU members wanted to join the bloc to get richer. Now, that’s changing. With conflicts raging at Europe’s doorstep and NATO shaky under Donald Trump, even rich countries want to join the bloc, hoping it’ll help them feel safer. Zoya and Nick unpack this shift on today’s episode. Also on the show, we trace Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s political journey from a liberal dissident to MAGA darling. As the leader continues to antagonize the EU, we ask what options the bloc has to minimize his influence in European political decision-making if he’s reelected in the upcoming election. Finally: Russia is recruiting informants to spy on dissidents abroad. POLITICO got its hands on a cache of text messages and recordings between two intelligence agents and a student blackmailed into spying for the Kremlin. We discuss what the correspondence tells us about Moscow’s efforts to infiltrate opposition groups in Europe. Send any questions or comments to us on our WhatsApp: +32 491 05 06 29.

Exclusive: Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Italy and Slovakia actively pursue regressive policies, watchdog finds Governments in five EU member states are “consistently and intentionally” eroding the rule of law, Europe’s leading civil liberties group has warned, while democratic standards are deteriorating in six more, including historically strong democracies. Drawing on evidence from more than 40 NGOs in 22 countries, the Civil Liberties Union for Europe (Liberties) described the governments of Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Italy and Slovakia as “dismantlers” that were actively weakening the rule of law. Continue reading...

BRUSSELS — The EU is discussing contingency plans in case its longtime antagonist, Viktor Orbán, wins another term. EU countries are floating several ideas to prevent the Hungarian prime minister — and, in some cases, any other troublesome leader — from derailing how the bloc operates, 10 EU diplomats told POLITICO. They include changing how votes are cast, withholding more funding, and even expulsion. “Respect for the rule of law is essential for access to EU funds,” Michael McGrath, the European commissioner for democracy, justice, the rule of law and consumer protection, told POLITICO when asked about countries being hit with tougher financial penalties. Hungary goes to the polls on April 12, and while Orbán’s Fidesz party is trailing the Tisza party of Péter Magyar by nine percentage points, according to POLITICO’s Poll of Polls, the EU is preparing for a world in which Orbán wins. Orbán has long been a thorn in the EU’s side, most recently blocking a loan for Ukraine that he’d approved in December. For many at the EU top table, that crossed a line. “Nobody can blackmail the European Council, nobody can blackmail the European institutions,” European Council President António Costa raged to reporters. “It is completely unacceptable what Hungary is doing.” Then came allegations that Budapest has maintained contact with Moscow throughout the war in Ukraine, and that Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó used breaks during EU meetings to update his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov. Posters featuring Orbán, left, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Hungarian opposition leader Péter Magyar on billboards in Budapest, Hungary on March 27. | Attila Kisbenedek/AFP via Getty Images If Orbán wins the election, “the gloves will come off,” said one EU senior diplomat, granted anonymity to speak freely, as were others in this article. “Many think that a red line has been crossed [with the blocking of the loan to Ukraine] and that something needs to be done — but it’s not clear what,” said a second diplomat. “Let’s say there will be renewed and refueled discussions on how to cope with Orbán, triggering a more sincere discussion on how to handle him — and maybe more creative ways,” a third diplomat said. If Orbán does win, opinion is divided on whether he’d change with a fresh mandate to govern. “He’s clever enough — one of the most clever politicians in the room at the European Council — to know where the limits are,” said one EU senior official. “I don’t think” he’ll change, one diplomat said. “He’s a Trojan horse. The whole point of the EU is trust — the foundation of Europe is working together.” Here are some of the options being discussed if Orbán is victorious next month: 1. Change how the EU votes One option is to expand the use of qualified majority voting (QMV) — which normally requires 55 percent of member states representing 65 percent of the total EU population to vote in favor — into sensitive areas that at present need everyone on board, such as foreign policy or elements of the EU’s long-term budget, the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). The EU has had to get creative with Hungary before in this regard. In 2023, when EU leaders were discussing enlargement talks with Ukraine, which Budapest opposes, then-German Chancellor Olaf Scholz proposed that Orbán leave the room (EU rules say unanimity is also fulfilled if one leader is absent). Why it could work: Three diplomats were particularly vocal about this option, with one pointing out that there has been a growing willingness to examine ways to make the EU’s decision-making more effective by increasing the use of QMV. Another one of the three diplomats added: “It is something we are pushing for anyway, regardless of the very concrete case [of Orbán]: If you want to react quickly, you need more decisions taken by QMV.” Why it might not work: A move away from unanimity on more issues would be massive, as having all the EU’s countries working together is a key tenet of the bloc. A view of a European Commission building in Brussels on March 23, 2026. | JPix/NurPhoto via Getty Images An attempt to push forward Ukraine’s application for EU membership despite Hungary’s opposition, floated last September, failed to gain sufficient support among member countries. However, two diplomats said a new Orbán mandate could provide the catalyst for revisiting such proposals. Others remain skeptical. One diplomat pointed to the delicate balance in foreign affairs between effective decision-making and what member countries still consider an essential aspect of national sovereignty. 2. A multi-speed Europe An option mentioned by four diplomats is greater use of flexible formats — from informal coalitions of the willing to enhanced cooperation among smaller groups of countries. Why it could work: The coalition of the willing format “already happens, to a certain degree, especially in the context of security issues when the Brits are involved,” said one diplomat. “But it can’t substitute the EU27 as a forum to exchange information.” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has floated the increased use of enhanced cooperation among willing member states to bypass unanimity in areas such as competitiveness. Speaking at an EU leaders’ retreat in the Belgian countryside in February, she said: “Our ambition should always be to reach agreement among all 27 member states. However, where a lack of progress or ambition risks undermining Europe’s competitiveness or capacity to act, we should not shy away from using the possibilities foreseen in the treaties under enhanced cooperation.” Why it might not work: While Hungary has opted out of Ukraine-related financial arrangements, alongside Czechia and Slovakia, it continues to block these efforts. On the Ukraine loan, for example, one of the bills that needs approval before the cash can be disbursed requires the agreement of all member countries. “In cases of very urgent need, this can be a vehicle, but in the end it still comes back to a decision by all 27,” one senior diplomat said. Two other diplomats were critical of these restricted formats, saying they should be exceptions rather than the new norm. “We have to look at this subject case by case, but I don’t think we have an interest in not having Hungary at the table. We are the EU, and we have to preserve unity,” one diplomat said. 3. Stronger enforcement and financial pressure Another option is more aggressive enforcement measures, such as withholding EU cash. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, left, and European Council President António Costa at a leaders’ summit in Brussels on March 20, 2026. | Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images European Council President António Costa floated the idea that Orbán’s block on Ukraine’s loan had breached Article 4(3) of the EU Treaties, under which member countries have an obligation to provide “sincere cooperation.” “Costa sent a letter about that but never followed up,” one diplomat recalled, mentioning the fear of perceived meddling during an election campaign. A senior Commission official said the use of Article 4(3) was a possibility. Any breach could lead to an infringement procedure which, if the EU court ruled in the Commission’s favor, would result in financial penalties. Why it could work: An extra level of what’s known in EU-speak as conditionality — when the bloc limits or suspends access to EU funds when a country breaches rule-of-law standards — is already included in the Commission’s proposal for the next long-term budget, which will be negotiated under the Irish Council presidency starting in July. McGrath, the European commissioner, said that under the new MFF proposal, the EU budget would support reforms that strengthen the rule of law in member states. “This means that if breaches to the rule of law were to occur, the suspension of payments or blocking of funding is now on the table,” he said, without referring to Hungary specifically. Why it might not work: An adviser to the EU’s top court recently recommended annulling the Commission’s 2023 decision to unfreeze €10.2 billion in EU cohesion funds for Hungary. The move is also being challenged by the European Parliament, which suspects it was a quid pro quo for Hungary dropping its veto on Ukraine matters. A final ruling has yet to be issued, but it shows the issues that can arise when funds are withheld. “Conditionality has proven quite effective in the past, but there needs to be a direct link to an abuse of EU funds. You can lock funds, but you can’t just say it’s a political issue,” said one diplomat. Budapest has already signaled it would veto any tighter rule-of-law conditionality attached to EU funds — or even bring down the whole budget, if necessary. “Under the new MFF, if there is a realistic possibility that we will not have access to EU funds at all, then why would we be interested in accepting such an MFF?” Hungary’s EU affairs minister, János Bóka, told POLITICO. 4. Suspending voting rights In 2018, the European Parliament triggered Article 7 of the EU treaties, which allows for the suspension of a member state’s voting rights if it breaches the bloc’s values. Why it could work: Former Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis argued that even pursuing Article 7 can have an impact. When he was in office, he said, “even pushing for Article 7 creates pressure on Hungary — they got really nervous.” European Commissioner Michael McGrath at a meeting in the Berlaymont building in Brussels on March 25, 2026. | Thierry Monasse/Getty Images Why it might not work: The Parliament may have triggered Article 7, but the process has stalled because suspending one country’s voting rights needs the backing of the other 26 — and Slovakia won’t agree to it. “Under Article 7 you need unanimity — it will be difficult,” said one diplomat. Another added: “There’s no real legal tool. Article 7 can strip voting rights, but all 26 others would have to agree. And I imagine at least one leader who wouldn’t,” hinting at Slovakia’s Robert Fico. 5. Expulsion from the EU The most dramatic — and unrealistic — of the options. No country has even been kicked out of the EU and the subject remains taboo. Why it could work: One diplomat pointed to a commentary published in a legal blog suggesting the possibility of repurposing the EU’s exit clause (Article 50, which is what the U. K. triggered when it started the Brexit process) or other legal workarounds to “walk out on Hungary.” The diplomat said this is “not realistic but a good pitch,” adding that “a few years ago people talked hypothetically about this scenario — now it’s doing the rounds again.” Why it might not work: “Expulsion is not in the treaties, and I don’t see our interest in doing so,” one diplomat said. “What would Hungary do in that case? It would fall into Russia’s orbit.” Max Griera contributed reporting.

How Viktor Orbán Became Putin’s Best Friend in the EU From liberal dissident to MAGA darling, the transformation of the prime minister who brought Budapest back into Moscow’s orbit. By JAMIE DETTMER in Budapest, Hungary Photo–Illustration by Natália Delgado/ POLITICO Zsuzsanna Szelényi remembers that Viktor Orbán was the one telling the Russians to get out of Hungary. It was 1989. The Iron Curtain was falling, and Orbán had been chosen to give a speech marking the reinternment of the country’s Imre Nagy — the postwar prime minister who led the 1956 Hungarian revolution against the Soviets and was executed for it. Szelényi, who was there as part of the reburial honor guard, recalled how the man who would become her country’s longest-serving prime minister took the stage to call for the withdrawal of the Soviet army. “If we believe in our own strength, we are capable of bringing the communist dictatorship to an end,” Orbán said. “If we are determined enough, we can compel the ruling party to submit to free elections.” There was no indication of what Orbán would one day become, said Szelényi, a former lawmaker of the prime minister’s ruling Fidesz party. From a liberal leader calling on Hungary to break away from Moscow, the Hungarian PM has become a self-styled champion of illiberalism — and the Kremlin’s best friend in Europe. At a time when the EU is struggling to counter Moscow’s aggression in Ukraine and on the rest of the continent, the Hung…

BRUSSELS — Countries no longer want to join the EU because it will make them richer — now it’s because it’ll make them safer. Two decades ago, as governments in the former communist East attached themselves to Brussels, the economic lure was clear: The wealthier West could help raise salaries and living standards. But as the postwar order crumbles and politicians question U. S. reliability, better-off nations like Iceland and Norway — which considered EU membership before and decided against it — are attracted to Europe’s clutches for the security it offers. “EU membership has always offered stability and prosperity for European nations,” European Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos told POLITICO. “Now we see that those outside of the EU are increasingly aware that, in a world of competing influences, a seat at the table in the EU also offers increased security and protection.” Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine was a major contributor to the shift. But the biggest catalyst is how Donald Trump has acted since his return to the White House in 2025, according to four diplomats, three EU and two national officials familiar with the deliberations in accession candidate countries, who were granted anonymity to speak freely. Trump’s decision to slap tariffs on imports, his administration’s National Security Strategy that blamed the EU for hastening “civilizational erasure,” and his threat to seize Greenland — a territory of Denmark and a NATO ally — have all pushed countries toward Brussels, the diplomats said. Iceland looks as if it’ll be first out of the blocks, with Reykjavík having sped up its timetable for a referendum on whether to resume negotiations to join the EU. “Part of the picture is the geopolitical turbulence,” Foreign Minister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir told POLITICO. “We would be stronger in a bigger group with like-minded countries that speak out for democracy, freedom, human rights, territorial integrity. Not to mention nations’ rights to self-determination,” Þorgerður said. The attraction of joining the EU “is defense and security, definitely, but it’s also our economic security.” Rich-poor divide For current EU members, allowing wealthier countries into the club is much more attractive than accepting another batch of poorer ones from the east. All 13 countries that joined the EU since 2004 still receive more in funding than they contribute to the central budget. That would likely also be the case for the nations on the official waiting list, including Ukraine, Moldova, Albania, Serbia and Montenegro, because EU contributions are broadly based on the size of a country’s economy. Those financial considerations mean it will be difficult to convince current members, all of whom would have to give their consent, that these poorer nations should be let in. The existing members would get an even smaller slice of EU funds. Also working against that group of countries is that current member governments are wary about the strength and longevity of their commitment to the EU’s fundamental values, such as a free press, impartial judiciary and other democratic freedoms, according to three of the diplomats. U. S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before boarding Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport on March 23, 2026. | Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images “We don’t want another Hungary or Slovakia,” said one of the diplomats, who is close to the discussions on allowing new members into the bloc. “We don’t know what will happen in these new countries in 10, 15 years. And then we could be stuck with another [Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor] Orbán.” Wealthy countries with long-standing democratic institutions like Iceland and Norway wouldn’t face such hurdles. Both are usually among the world’s Top 10 richest countries when measured by nominal GDP per capita, whereas Montenegro just scrapes into the top 100 and Ukraine is projected to be 132nd for 2026. “Of course it would be easier for Iceland or Norway to join,” said an EU official with knowledge of the accession process. “They’re basically 80 percent there” when it comes to enshrining EU law into their legal systems. “If they want to join — and it is only up to them to decide if they do — it could be very quick.” ‘Trump changes everything’ With Trump repeatedly calling into question Washington’s readiness to come to the aid of its allies, and even threatening to take Danish and Canadian territory by force, countries that have previously relied on NATO membership for security are now scrambling for alternatives. When it comes to securing its members, “NATO has one set of tools, the EU another,” Norwegian conservative leader Ine Eriksen Søreide, who backs EU membership, told POLITICO. “And that is why being a part of the EU is important also in the security aspect for a country like Norway … We have come to a crucial point where EU membership now is important to us in other ways than before.” Similar to NATO’s Article 5, the EU Treaty has a mutual defense clause — Article 42.7. Its existence came into focus after a British military base on the island of Cyprus was hit by a suspected Hezbollah drone earlier this month, though Nicosia did not trigger the article. “It is not a good time to be out on your own now,” said a Norwegian official. “Trump changes everything.” Norway applied to join the EU in 1992, but rejected membership in a referendum two years later. While the majority of Norwegians still don’t back EU membership, the “yes” camp has been growing for the past 18 months. Trump’s fury at Norway over the decision not to award him the Nobel Peace Prize also seems to have helped shift people’s perspectives. Iceland applied for EU membership in 2009 amid a financial crisis, but froze talks in 2013 after a dispute over fishing policy and after a change in its economic circumstances. It withdrew its application in 2015. Greenland joined a precursor to the EU in 1973 as part of the Kingdom of Denmark, but left in 1985 after gaining the right to self-rule, also as a result of a dispute over fisheries policy. As strange as it might sound, there’s also Canada. France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot and Finnish President Alexander Stubb have both suggested that Canada should consider joining the EU. While Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has pushed back on that suggestion, Ottawa is moving closer to Europe on trade and in other ways. Britain, which voted to leave the EU in 2016, is trying to reset its post-Brexit relationship with the bloc. Since voters chose a center-left government in 2024, U. K. and EU officials have been discussing deepening the partnership again. Although there’s no prospect of the U. K. rejoining anytime soon, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s readiness to work with the leaders of France and Germany on foreign policy challenges signals that Britain and Europe remain natural allies on defense. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks in No. 10 Downing Street in London on March 5, 2026. | Jami Joy/Getty Images Mutual defense Of course, Icelanders and Norwegians may well opt not to join the EU, particularly if the Trump administration cools on the saber-rattling and old disputes reappear during potential negotiations. “The biggest issue will, of course, be the fisheries,” said Iceland’s Þorgerður. Montenegro, the current EU membership front-runner, and Ukraine, the sentimental favorite, could well conclude their negotiations before Oslo or Reykjavík make up their minds. Or those capitals that have blocked any expansion of the EU since Croatia joined in 2013 could continue to veto any new entrants. But squeezed between Trump’s America, Vladimir Putin’s Russia and China’s Xi Jinping, existing EU members could also decide that there is safety in numbers. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which propelled Kyiv toward Brussels, demonstrates the EU’s security allure. The drone attack on a British air base on the island of Cyprus this month underscored the extent to which EU membership was a defense guarantee for Nicosia, which Turkey is blocking from joining NATO. Cyprus is divided into an occupied Turkish Cypriot north and a Greek Cypriot south. “When the decision was taken for Cyprus to join the European Union, obviously the economic dimension was very strong,” Europe Minister Marilena Raouna told POLITICO. “But I think for Cyprus, security was always the number one.” Like Cyprus, Ukraine is blocked from entering NATO, with Trump saying it isn’t going to happen. With that off the table, joining the EU is the only security guarantee Kyiv believes it can count on after a ceasefire with Russia. The security benefit from Ukraine’s joining the EU would flow both ways, officials from both Kyiv and Brussels have stressed. “We have a common interest. Ukraine can strengthen the EU defense. Just imagine if Ukrainian border guards that fought on the front line will be on Frontex [the EU’s border agency] missions in the Baltic Sea,” said Ivan Nagornyak, a Ukrainian government adviser. For Norway, Iceland, Ukraine and others, the stark reality of the new world order has started to bite. “There is no NATO, there is no U. S.,” said a Ukrainian official. “There are only weapons, drones, ammo. And there is EU.” Nicholas Vinocur and Koen Verhelst contributed to this report.

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that everyone looks forward to the president’s address

The 5S party is allowing all members to participate in consultations and vote, including online voting. Bonelli stated: "Let's mobilize our base, but for concrete actions."

The leader of the Five Star Movement stated: "I urge Schlein and her allies not to confine themselves to their party headquarters to decide who the next Prime Minister will be."

US Vice President JD Vance responded to Joe Rogan's comments labeling MAGA supporters as "dorks," acknowledging that every group has its flaws.

Vehicles stolen in the EU may soon be legally registered in Russia. One German police union fears this could lead to an increase in car thefts in Europe.

Two unidentified drones crashed in southern Finland on Sunday, an incident the defence ministry described as a "suspected territorial violation". Neighbouring countries Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia experienced similar crashes by drones on their land earlier this week.

Attendees at the Conservative Political Action Conference express support and concerns amid a rift over Trump's actions. As the saying goes, "Wherever you go, there you are." Donald Trump's MAGA supporters may have been reminded of this last week when they gathered at a convention center near Dallas for a revival of the president's political movement, only to find that there was no escape from the problems it faces. The annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) is usually a place of optimism, if not triumph. Last year, Elon Musk wielded a chainsaw in the air during his attempt to dismantle government bureaucracy, and JD Vance identified undocumented immigration as the "greatest threat" facing the United States and Europe. Trump is a regular attendee, often entertaining the audience with lengthy monologues about his accomplishments.

University students are being recruited to serve in drone units fighting Ukraine. They are offered lucrative contracts and promised they won't be sent to the front. Reports suggest those promises are not always kept.

Hungarian leader Viktor Orban's officially declared wealth is fairly modest: some savings and a jointly owned villa in Budapest. But voters in what Transparency International deems the EU's most corrupt country believe otherwise.

The Ukrainian armed forces lost about 1,275 troops over the day in the zone of the Special Military Operation

Overnight in the Odesa region, Russian forces attacked civilian infrastructure and an energy facility, resulting in power outages.

If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck.” The DMA looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck — yet many insist it is a chicken.

Spokesman Dmitry Peskov says that Moscow is ready to develop the contacts "to the same extent and at the same pace" as the US

Ukraine's military intelligence agency, HUR, has released a documentary film about the activities of a Ukrainian agent operating behind enemy lines.

The official emphasized the need for such meetings to ensure peace

The Kremlin is planning to forcibly transfer Russians' pension savings into a new state scheme – the long-term savings program.

Far-right activist and Donald Trump loyalist Laura Loomer appeared to be unimpressed by Vice President JD Vance's win in the CPAC straw poll.

Spokesman Dmitry Peskov commented on the meetings of the Russian delegation in the US

The Kremlin is preparing a major overhaul of its instruments of external influence.

Kremlin authorities are jamming cellular communications and blocking Telegram in Yelabuga (Tatarstan), where a factory producing Shahed-type combat drones is located.