EURACTIV.com with Reuters
G7 agree on $18.4 billion to keep Ukraine running, ready with more
The Group of Seven's financial leaders agreed on $18.4 billion to help Ukraine pay its bills in coming months and said they were ready to stand by Kyiv throughout its war with Russia and do more if needed.
Russia uses new laser weapons in Ukraine, Zelenskyy mocks ‘wonder weapon’
Russia on Wednesday (18 May) said it was using a new generation of powerful lasers in Ukraine to burn up drones, deploying some of Moscow's secret weapons to counter a flood of Western arms.
Russia says more Ukraine fighters surrender in Mariupol; US reopens Kyiv embassy
Russia said on Wednesday (18 May) nearly 700 more Ukrainian fighters had surrendered in Mariupol, while the United States became the latest Western country to reopen its Kyiv embassy after a three-month closure.
How Turkey spoiled NATO’s historic moment with Finland, Sweden
When Finland and Sweden signalled they were thinking of making the historic decision joining NATO, the alliance expected a tough response from Moscow, not from one of its own.
First Russian soldier accused of war crimes in Ukraine pleads guilty
A Russian soldier accused of war crimes in Ukraine pleaded guilty on Wednesday (18 May) to killing an elderly unarmed civilian.
Russia could cut off gas to Finland this week, energy provider says
Russia could cut off gas supplies to Finland this week, Finland's state-owned energy provider Gasum said on Wednesday (18 May), in a row over Moscow's demand for countries to pay for gas in roubles and as Helsinki seeks NATO membership.
Fixing EDF’s reactors corrosion mystery to take several years, French regulator warns
The head of French nuclear regulator ASN said on Tuesday (17 May) that fixing corrosion problems at some of state-controlled utility EDF's nuclear reactors would require a "large scale" plan and "several years" as he warned of a risk more reactors could be halted.
Border changes? Germany takes position against ‘diktat peace’ in Ukraine
Russia will not get away with trying to redraw Ukraine's borders by creating facts on the ground, German chancellor Olaf Scholz said on 16 May, insisting that the West would not stand for a "diktat," forced on the country.
US backs UN push to get Ukraine grain back to global market
The United States supports efforts by UN Secretary-General António Guterres to get Ukrainian grain back into the international marketplace amid the war, the US ambassador to the United Nations said on Monday (16 May).
EU clarifies how companies can legally pay for Russian gas, ENI and RWE open bank accounts
The European Commission has confirmed how European Union companies can pay for Russian gas without breaching the bloc's sanctions against Russia, in updated guidance on the issue seen by Reuters.
Ukrainian troops evacuate from Mariupol, ceding control to Russia
Ukraine's military said on Tuesday (16 May) it was working to evacuate all remaining troops from their last stronghold in the besieged steel plant in Mariupol, ceding control of the city to Russia after months of bombardment.
EU ministers urge Hungary to sign up to planned Russian oil embargo
EU foreign ministers sought to publicly pressure Hungary on Monday (16 May) to lift its veto on a proposed oil embargo on Russia, with Lithuania saying the bloc was being "held hostage by one member state".
China’s economy skids as lockdowns hit factories, retailers
China's retail and factory activity fell sharply in April as wide COVID-19 lockdowns confined workers and consumers to their homes and severely disrupted supply chains, casting a long shadow over the outlook for the world's second-largest economy.
Neutral Switzerland leans closer to NATO in response to Russia
Switzerland's fabled neutral status is about to face its biggest test in decades, with the defence ministry tilting closer to Western military powers in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine
Lebanon vote brings blow for Hezbollah allies in preliminary results
Iran-backed Hezbollah has been dealt a blow in Lebanon's parliamentary election on Sunday (15 May) with preliminary results showing losses for some of its oldest allies and the Saudi-aligned Lebanese Forces party saying it had gained seats.
Swiss voters approve ‘Lex Netflix’ TV streaming funding law
Swiss voters on Sunday (15 May) backed proposals to make global TV streaming services such as Netflix Inc, Amazon and Disney invest some of their revenues generated in Switzerland into domestic film-making.
Battle rages for Ukrainian region of Donbas
Russia pummelled positions in the east of Ukraine on Sunday (15 May), its defence ministry said, as it sought to encircle Ukrainian forces in the battle for Donbas and fend off a counteroffensive around the strategic Russian-controlled city of Izium.
Ukraine wages counteroffensive against Russian forces in east
Ukrainian forces have launched a counteroffensive near the Russian-held town of Izium in eastern Ukraine, a regional governor said on Saturday (14 May), in what could prove a serious setback for Moscow's plans to capture the entire Donbas region.
Ukraine thwarts Russian forces at river, sees long fight ahead
Ukrainian forces destroyed parts of a Russian armoured column as it tried to cross a river in the Donbas region, video from Ukraine's military showed on 13 May, as the Ukrainian defence minister predicted many weeks of grinding fighting ahead.
Musk puts $44 bln Twitter deal ‘temporarily on hold’, shares slide
Elon Musk tweeted that his $44-billion deal for Twitter Inc was “temporarily on hold” on Friday while he waits for data on the proportion of its fake accounts, sending shares in the social media platform plunging.
Erdogan says Turkey not supportive of Finland, Sweden joining NATO
President Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday (13 May) it was not possible for NATO-member Turkey to support plans by Sweden and Finland to join the pact, saying the Nordic countries were “home to many terrorist organisations”. Finland’s plan to apply...
EU readies €195 billion plan to quit Russian fossil fuels
The European Commission plans to unveil a €195 billion plan to stop importing Russian fossil fuels by 2027, combining a faster rollout of renewable energy and energy savings with a switch to alternative gas supplies, draft documents show.
Swiss release some frozen Russian assets
The Swiss government on Thursday (12 May) reported 6.3 billion Swiss francs (€6.05 billion) worth of Russian assets frozen under sanctions to punish Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, a drop from early April as around 3.4 billion francs in provisionally blocked assets were released.