Contents tagged with EU
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China seeks role in Ukraine peacekeeping mission amid EU diplomatic talks
Chinese diplomats have reportedly been probing European Union politicians about including Beijing in a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, reports Die Welt, citing an unnamed EU diplomat. While the specifics of these conversations, referred to as "delicate," remain undisclosed, the interest shown by Chinese representatives underscores the complexity of geopolitical maneuvers amidst the ongoing conflict.
According to the source, Chinese diplomats approached EU representatives to discuss the …
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Macron hints at European troops deployment to Ukraine without Russia’s consent
France’s President Emmanuel Macron has made clear that Russia should have no say over the deployment of European troops in Ukraine, should Kyiv request their presence. In an interview with Le Parisien, Macron emphasized Ukraine's sovereignty, indicating that decisions regarding allied troop deployment are solely Ukraine’s prerogative.
Macron highlighted a growing alignment between Ukraine and the United States during talks in Saudi Arabia culminating in a mutual agreement on a 30-day ceasefire. …
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Hungarian government faces backlash over controversial Facebook post on Ukraine's EU aspirations
A recent post on the Hungarian government's official Facebook page stirred up controversy after declaring that keeping Ukraine alive "should not happen". However, it was soon taken down, reports Magyar Hang.
During a speech at the opening of the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's image and excerpts from his speech were shared in a post by the government. "The European Union wants to keep Ukraine alive, it will fund the million-strong Ukrainian army, and …
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Orban vetoes EU's Ukraine support statement amid tensions over peace deal
Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban has blocked the conclusions of the European Council summit regarding support for Ukraine and the establishment of a fair peace agreement, which includes reliable security guarantees for Ukraine.
Hungary's position left the communiqué out of the official summit conclusions, even though 26 of the 27 European Union member states backed the conclusions at the March 6 meeting, reports Suspilne.
Slovakia voted in favor after an agreement to address the "need to …
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Czech Foreign Minister call for U.S. engagement in EU security and closer ties with Ukraine
Jan Lipavský, the Czech Republic's Foreign Minister, emphasized the necessity for Europe to involve the United States in security discussions and to help pave the way for closer ties with Ukraine following the cessation of American military aid to Kyiv.
The Czech government has initiated plans to increase defense spending from approximately 2% of its GDP in 2024 to 3% in the coming years, according to Reuters.
Since last year, the Czech Republic has led a campaign to gather ammunition for …
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EU to deliberate troop deployment to Ukraine as part of future peace strategy
European Union (EU) leaders are set to discuss the potential deployment of EU troops in Ukraine, a decision that hinges on the development of a peace settlement, according to a report by Evropeyska Pravda. The EU's security guarantees for Ukraine, which include the possibility of deploying European military forces on Ukrainian soil, are anticipated to gain traction among European leaders after the cessation of hostilities.
This topic is expected to feature prominently in the agenda of the EU …
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EU Summit faces blockade threats from Hungary and Slovakia over Ukraine support and sanctions against Russia
Ahead of an urgent EU leaders' summit, Hungary is threatening to block any mention of support for Ukraine in the final statement, while also pledging to veto the extension of EU sanctions against Russia. Additionally, Hungary has already blocked EU security guarantees for Ukraine. Meanwhile, Slovakia is threatening to obstruct the EU summit's decision on further aid to Ukraine unless the issue of resuming Russian gas transit is addressed. How is the EU and Ukraine responding?
"Israel's War …
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Europe weighs seizing €200 billion in Russian assets as leverage in Ukraine peace talks
As Europe searches for an effective mechanism, major European nations are contemplating seizing over €200 billion in frozen Russian assets, linking this issue to a potential ceasefire agreement in Ukraine. France and Germany, previously opposed to full asset seizure, are now in discussions with the UK and other partners on using these assets. One proposal from French officials is to implement asset seizure if Russia violates any future peace agreements. Proponents argue this could pressure …
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EU seeks strategic resource partnership with Ukraine amid US negotiation strains
In a significant move, the European Union has proposed a deal to Ukraine for access to its "critical" resources, EU Commissioner for Industrial Strategy, Stephan Sejourne, announced on Monday, February 24. Sejourne indicated that "21 out of 30 critical materials needed by Europe can be supplied by Ukraine as part of a mutually beneficial partnership," though he did not specify which resources were under consideration.
During his visit to Kyiv on February 24, Sejourne presented this proposal to …
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EU sanctions derail Russia's plan to employ foreign airlines for domestic flights
Russia's attempt to counter a sharp increase in airline ticket prices has hit a major roadblock. The European Union's newly imposed, 16th sanctions package has blocked one of Moscow's crucial strategies—engaging foreign carriers for domestic flights. As a result, any negotiations for what's termed "cabotage" appear virtually out of reach. This development was reported by the Russian outlet Agentstvo.
The restrictions, introduced on the third anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, ban any …