Politics & Economics

Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko discussed the launch of EU accession negotiations with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen during her working visit to Denmark. Svyrydenko announced this on Telegram, Ukrinform reports. She described the conversation as "friendly and constructive," expressing gratitude to Denmark for its "tangible support, which strengthens our defense and helps our people." "Ukraine is fully prepared to open the first three negotiation clusters without delay and to complete preparations for all others by the end of this year. The opening of these clusters would serve not only as a procedural step but as a powerful signal to…

The European Union is considering introducing secondary sanctions against third countries that help Russia circumvent existing restrictions. That is according to Bloomberg, citing people familiar with the matter, Ukrinform reports. According to the report, EU foreign ministers will meet later this week in Copenhagen to discuss various options. Among them is the potential use of a circumvention tool adopted in 2023 but never used. This mechanism would allow the EU to ban the export, supply, or transfer of certain goods to third countries suspected of enabling sanctions evasion. Read also: Zelensky briefed on new sanctions steps against Russia The ministers…

Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski has defended Warsaw's funding of Starlink satellite internet for Ukraine, calling it "one of the best investments we have made to support Ukraine and strengthen Poland’s influence." He made the statement after Wednesday's Cabinet Council meeting – the first under President Karol Nawrocki, Ukrinform reports, citing Polskie Radio. Sikorski said he was "shocked" that anyone would obstruct such an effective program, referring to Nawrocki's veto of a bill extending benefits for Ukrainian refugees. "It is in Poland's strategic interest to influence both Ukraine's ability to defend itself and the outcome of…

Ukrainian and U.S. delegations will hold a meeting in New York this Friday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced in his nightly video address, Ukrinform reports. "Yesterday, [Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine] Andriy Yermak and [National Security and Defense Council Secretary] Rustem Umerov were in Qatar for meetings, including those on mediation. Today, there were meetings in Saudi Arabia. I'm grateful for this support. Tomorrow, meetings are planned in Switzerland. On Friday, we will be meetings with President Trump's team in the United States, in New York," Zelensky said. Read also: Zelensky briefed on new sanctions steps…

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has received a briefing from the head of Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service, Oleh Ivashchenko, on the next sanctions measures against Russia. Zelensky stated this in his nightly video address, Ukrinform reports. Video: Office of the President of Ukraine "Today I received a report from the head of Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service, Oleh Ivashchenko, specifically regarding sanctions — which next steps are needed, which specific Russian legal entities must be blocked, which individuals require additional pressure, and which sanction-evasion schemes, unfortunately, are still working," Zelensky said. Read also: Trump warns Russia of economic war if peace with…

Olha Stefanishyna has officially assumed the role of Ukraine’s Ambassador to the United States. President Volodymyr Zelensky announced this during his evening address, according to Ukrinform. “I just spoke with Olha Stefanishyna – now the new Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States. The formal procedures are complete – today I signed the decree appointing the Ambassador. I outlined key tasks for updating the work of our embassy, and most importantly – to fully implement all agreements with Washington, our agreements with President Trump, primarily in the defense sector,” Zelensky said. He emphasized that Ukraine’s long-term security guarantees largely depend…

Ukraine's recent attacks against the Druzhba oil pipeline are parts of a larger, intensive campaign against the Russian oil sector, and the resulting disruptions of supplies to Hungary and Slovakia are merely a side effect. This was stated in an exclusive comment to Ukrinform by Andras Rasz, a Hungarian expert with a German-based DGAP think tank. “These attacks serve at least three main purposes. First, they intend to decrease Russia's incomes from oil export. Second, they also want to create a fuel shortage in Russia, further amplifying economic problems. Third, they also serve an information purpose: to make the Russian population aware…

Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andrii Yermak and Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) Rustem Umerov discussed ways to achieve peace with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Defense and National Security Advisor. Yermak reported this on Telegram, Ukrinform saw. “Day two. Riyadh. Together with NSDC Secretary Rustem Umerov, we met with Minister of Defense of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, His Royal Highness Khalid bin Salman Al Saud. The main topics of our conversation were the paths to achieving a lasting peace for Ukraine and Saudi Arabia’s role in this process. We also had…

Russia’s denunciation of the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment is, in fact, an admission of guilt. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine stated this in its Comment, Ukrinform reports. The MFA draws the international community’s attention to this decision and emphasizes Russia’s systematic practice of torture and its attempts to evade accountability for gross human rights violations. “Today’s Russia is a territory of lawlessness and degradation of human dignity. The decision to withdraw from the Convention against Torture only consolidates this reality and firmly places Russia among those states for…

At present, Russians are “sending negative signals regarding meetings and further developments.” President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote this on Telegram following a conversation with Finland’s President Alexander Stubb, Ukrinform reports. “I spoke with President of Finland Alexander Stubb. A very good conversation – as always. We are coordinating our positions to deliver more substantial results,” Zelensky wrote. He noted that the discussion touched upon relations with the United States and its influence on Russia. “Unfortunately, the Russians are currently sending negative signals regarding meetings and further developments. Strikes on our cities and villages continue. Every day there are new victims. The…