All posts tagged: Volodymyr Zelenskyy

EU forges ahead with membership for Ukraine and Moldova after Orbán’s exit – POLITICO

EU forges ahead with membership for Ukraine and Moldova after Orbán’s exit – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

The EU previously voiced concerns about anti-corruption efforts in Ukraine, and some Ukrainian lawmakers have objected to changes being demanded by Brussels. Kachka said these objections were a normal part of the democratic process, but that rule-of-law reforms were under way. Despite the optimism, the process will still be challenging. Capitals have already pushed back on the idea new countries could be waved through for geopolitical reasons, amid concerns that future governments could backslide on democracy and the rule of law, creating another confrontation like they have seen from Hungary. However, a broader discussion about reforming the process or admitting new members without full rights has not yet gotten off the ground. “With the present Hungarian government it is possible to go on with the €90 billion loan, and with the new government, we will go on to with the accession process,” Kos said Wednesday. EU leaders pose for a group photograph in Ayia Napa, Cyprus, on April 23, 2026. | Jewel Samad/AFP via Getty Images Responding to reports France and Germany want to offer …

EU approves €90B loan to Ukraine – POLITICO

EU approves €90B loan to Ukraine – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

The two countries lifted their vetoes after oil flows through the Druzhba pipeline, which was damaged by Russian strikes earlier this year, resumed on Thursday. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen celebrated the news on her way to Cyprus, where she is meeting with European leaders to discuss the energy crisis caused by the war in the Middle East. “While Russia doubles down on its aggression, we are doubling down on our support to the brave Ukrainian nation enabling Ukraine to defend itself,” von der Leyen wrote on X. Hungary’s outgoing prime minister, Viktor Orbán, and Slovakia’s Robert Fico, conditioned their support for the loan to the restoration of oil flows through the pipeline. The restart ends a months-long standoff that blocked the EU’s largest financial package for Kyiv, and which sparked fears the war-battered country would run out of money. Zelenskyy announced his country would repair the Druzhba pipeline shortly after Hungarian opposition leader Péter Magyar defeated Orbán in national elections held earlier this month. Source link

Druzhba oil flows resume, clearing path for €90B Ukraine loan – POLITICO

Druzhba oil flows resume, clearing path for €90B Ukraine loan – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

The restart breaks a months-long standoff that had frozen the EU’s largest financial package for Kyiv. Hungary’s outgoing prime minister, Viktor Orbán, staunchly blocked the loan and said Budapest would only lift its veto when oil flows were restored. POLITICO reported Wednesday that the deal hinged entirely on the pipeline. Five EU diplomats said Hungary and Slovakia had tied their support to oil physically reaching their territory, with ambassadors agreeing to move forward only once deliveries resumed. “Some caution is needed as there might still be technical issues,” one diplomat said. But another predicted the restart would be enough, pointing to “very scientific calculations” of when oil would arrive. Hungarian oil company MOL announced crude began moving through Ukraine at noon on Tuesday and is expected to reach Hungary and Slovakia by Thursday at the latest. Sáková had earlier pointed to a similar timeline in a previous Facebook post, saying supplies should resume Wednesday morning. With flows now underway, the condition set by Hungary appears to have been met — clearing the way for the …

Russian TV host brands Meloni ‘fascist scum,’ sparking diplomatic fracas – POLITICO

Russian TV host brands Meloni ‘fascist scum,’ sparking diplomatic fracas – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Russian Ambassador Paramonov dismissed Tajani’s protests in a post on Facebook, saying Rome had “missed the mark” by summoning him over comments made by a television host and insisting the remarks did not reflect the position of the Russian government. “No reasonable person would treat purely personal remarks as an official statement,” he added. Russia’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to POLITICO’s request for comment. Rome has firmly backed Ukraine efforts to end the Russian full-scale invasion of its territory, with Meloni standing out as one of Kyiv’s most reliable European allies. The prime minister has ramped up military cooperation and recently hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for talks on expanding defense support, including drone production. That stance has exacerbated internal tensions in Italy, where far-right coalition partner the League, energy giant ENI and the opposition 5Star Movement have floated resuming Russian gas purchases amid mounting energy pressures. Meloni on Tuesday dismissed Solovyov’s tirade as propaganda. “A diligent propagandist of the regime cannot give lessons in coherence or freedom,” she wrote on social media, …

Ukraine has repaired Druzhba pipeline, Zelenskyy says – POLITICO

Ukraine has repaired Druzhba pipeline, Zelenskyy says – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

The pipeline, which stopped transporting oil from Russia to Central Europe after it was damaged in a Russian strike in January, became the focus of a bitter dispute between Ukraine and Hungary. Budapest, which receives the vast majority of its oil from Moscow, accused Kyiv of slow-walking repairs and subsequently vetoed a €90 billion EU loan for Ukraine, initially approved by the bloc’s leaders at a summit in December. Zelenskyy’s announcement paves the way for Hungary to finally lift its veto on the loan, which is intended to prop up Ukraine’s war-battered economy and help fend off Russia’s full-scale invasion. Hungary’s outgoing Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said on Sunday that he will drop his opposition as soon as oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline is restored. On Monday, in a sign of optimism that they could resolve the deadlock and unlock the funds for Ukraine, the Cypriot presidency of the Council of the EU put the topic on the agenda of a meeting of the EU’s 27 ambassadors on Wednesday. The deal is set to …

EU eyes approval for €90B Ukraine loan on Wednesday – POLITICO

EU eyes approval for €90B Ukraine loan on Wednesday – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

If the loan is approved this week, Kyiv would be set to receive the money in May, offering relief to Ukraine’s war-battered economy as it continues to fend off Russia’s full-scale invasion, now in its fifth year. Once Hungary lifts its veto the European Commission would be able to disburse the funds after completing technical checks expected to take a few weeks. After initially agreeing to the loan in December, Budapest blocked it in February as a dispute flared over the Druzhba pipeline. Orbán accused Zelenskyy of slow-walking repairs to the infrastructure in retaliation for Hungary’s friendly relations with Russia. In a sudden turnaround, Zelenskyy committed to repairing the pipeline shortly after conservative opposition leader Péter Magyar defeated Orbán in last Sunday’s election. Magyar has not yet taken office. Seb Starcevic and Jacopo Barigazzi contributed reporting. Source link

At least 5 killed by gunman in Kyiv shooting

At least 5 killed by gunman in Kyiv shooting

Published by Sam Flores

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 hostage in the assault in the Holosiivskyi district of the Ukrainian capital. Four of the hostages were successfully rescued, he said. “We expect a swift investigation. Investigators of the National Police and the Security Service of Ukraine are working,” Zelenskyy added. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said municipal authorities had launched a “special operation” to apprehend the assailant, who he said entered a supermarket after the shooting. Ukrainian Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko identified the attacker as a 58-year-old native …

Zelenskyy pitches new joint security system to European allies

Zelenskyy pitches new joint security system to European allies

Published by Sam Flores

Ukraine to hold talks with the European partners this week focused on creating a joint defence system, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced before visiting Berlin on Tuesday. “I am confident: either Ukraine becomes an integral part of Europe’s security system, or some in Europe risk becoming part of the ‘Russian world,’” Zelenskyy said. Ukraine’s president reiterated that Kyiv stands ready to “support those who support us”. “Our Ukrainian security experience and our military expertise are now the most sought-after products for dozens of countries worldwide,” Zelenskyy said, referring to Kyiv’s recently signed defence agreements with the Middle East. Ukraine has already signed 10-year agreements with Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE. Kyiv is also in talks with Kuwait, Oman, Turkey, Syria while countries in Asia and Africa “are interested in Ukraine’s experience as well.” “Ukraine is a global producer of strength and security – that is already the case, and it will remain so,” Zelenskyy said, announcing his talks with the European partners this week, following his tour in the Middle East. A Ukrainian drone …

Ukraine unter Druck – mit Vassili Golod – POLITICO

Ukraine unter Druck – mit Vassili Golod – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Während sich die Welt auf den Nahen Osten konzentriert, rückt der Krieg in der Ukraine zunehmend in den Hintergrund. Dabei ist die Lage weiterhin dramatisch: Nach dem härtesten Winter seit Kriegsbeginn kämpfen viele Regionen noch immer mit zerstörter Energieinfrastruktur, an der Front dauern die Gefechte unvermindert an. Im Gespräch mit Vassili Golod (ARD, Kyjiw) geht es um die Realität nach mehr als vier Jahren Krieg: erschöpfte Gesellschaft, hohe Verluste und eine Armee, die sich immer stärker auf Drohnen und Technologie stützt, um das Ungleichgewicht bei Personal auszugleichen. Im Zentrum steht zudem die politische Dimension: Präsident Wolodymyr Selenskyj wirbt in Berlin für eine strategische Partnerschaft mit Deutschland und für weitere militärische Unterstützung. Die Ukraine setzt auf Kooperation, Innovation und internationale Aufmerksamkeit, denn die Sorge wächst, dass andere Krisen diesen Krieg überlagern könnten. Das Berlin Playbook als Podcast gibt es morgens um 5 Uhr. Gordon Repinski und das POLITICO-Team bringen euch jeden Morgen auf den neuesten Stand in Sachen Politik — kompakt, europäisch, hintergründig. Und für alle Hauptstadt-Profis:Unser Berlin Playbook-Newsletter liefert jeden Morgen die wichtigsten Themen und …

Zelenskyy will fix Druzhba oil pipeline as he counts on Hungary to lift EU loan veto – POLITICO

Zelenskyy will fix Druzhba oil pipeline as he counts on Hungary to lift EU loan veto – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

“We believe this coincides with other commitments by European Union member states, particularly Hungary, which has blocked certain decisions that are important to us,” he added in reference to the loan. The Druzhba pipeline carrying Russian oil through Ukraine to Hungary and Slovakia has been at the center of a spat between the European Union and Hungary. After it was damaged during a drone attack in January, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán retracted his support for the €90 billion loan that Kyiv needs to sustain its war effort as Russia’s full-scale invasion enters its fifth year. But Hungarian Prime Minister-elect Péter Magyar’s landslide victory last weekend stemmed European leaders’ optimism about a quick turnaround in Budapest — with Magyar himself indicating Monday he’s ready to lift Budapest’s blockade. “We also want to quickly get the EU loan for Ukraine — agreed upon in December — up and running,” Merz said about the money. “The funds for military aid must be disbursed quickly now. Ukraine needs them urgently.” Merz and Zelenskyy met in Berlin with key ministers from …