Ukraine

Do Europeans support the EU’s decision to grant Ukraine candidate status with a view to future enlargement? A new Eurobarometer survey found that 61% of Czechs disagree with this move – the highest share in the entire Union. What could be behind this? Analysts from the Institute for European Policy EUROPEUM – Jana Faktor Juzová and Maria Gorbatova – shared their insights with Euractiv.

Two years ago, the European Union temporarily lifted tariffs on Ukrainian agricultural imports to support a country under attack by Russia. However, the duty-free regime is due to expire in less than two weeks and its future is uncertain. Member States' agriculture ministers are discussing the matter today in Brussels.

The coalition of the willing met on Saturday 10 May in Kiev. What are the parameters of the ceasefire they proposed?

Hungary has repeatedly used its veto power not only to pressure Ukraine on bilateral issues, but also to win concessions from the EU, especially in the budget and rule of law areas, says Martin Vokálek, executive director of the EUROPEUM Institute in Prague.

Donald Trump repeatedly says he wants to end the war in Ukraine. But the question remains what kind of peace he has in mind - and for whose benefit such a solution would actually be. If we want to understand his current position on Ukraine and Russia, it is worth recalling one of his most significant diplomatic initiatives of the past: an unexpected and controversial meeting with the leader of North Korea during his first term. This episode may suggest much about Trump's negotiating style and what we can expect next. EUROPEUM Institute analyst Tereza Novotna discusses this topic for Asia Times.

The European Union is facing a dual challenge. The European Parliament is discussing continued military aid to Ukraine, while also having to respond to potential trade restrictions from the United States. Both issues raise the question of Europe’s self-sufficiency and its ability to defend its own interests. Deputy Director of the EUROPEUM Institute, Viktor Daněk, commented on the situation for CNN Prima News.

France and the UK will send a team of experts to Ukraine to assess the needs of the military there. The announcement was made at a summit of the coalition of the willing in Paris, where representatives of thirty countries, including the Czech delegation led by Prime Minister Petr Fiala, met. What else did the summit bring? And what direction can the peace talks take in the coming weeks? Martin Vokálek, Director General of the EUROPEUM Institute, commented on the situation for Czech Radio Plus.

In Brussels, representatives of the Member States discussed a myriad of issues. One of them is the continuation of further military aid to Ukraine. Twenty-six Member States supported the joint declaration on the continuation of aid, while Hungary opposed it. What weight does this declaration carry if it is not unanimous? Filip Křenek, an analyst at EUROPEUM Institute, commented for STVR.

Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has led to significant changes in the Ukrainian transport sector due to disruptions in supply chains, cargo flows, and damage of the country’s infrastructure. The Ukrainian transport system has undergone significant transformations. The country's borders with Russia and Belarus and its airspace have been closed. In the first months of the full-scale war, the temporary blockage on the operation of Black Sea ports forced Ukraine to develop land transport corridors to the EU countries and neighboring Moldova to enable both export and import of goods needed for the economy. Despite the ongoing war, Ukraine has accelerated a long-planned reform of the country's transport system to adapt its infrastructure to the EU standards and integrate it with the European transport network. Writes Sandra Baniak, a Research Fellow at the Centre for Eastern Studies in the Connectivity and Regional Integration Programme.

EU leaders meet in Brussels to discuss defence, competitiveness and support for Ukraine. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held talks with both Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Europe remains the main pillar of support for Ukraine - despite the efforts of some leaders, such as Viktor Orbán, to undermine the unity of the EU-27. Martin Vokálek, Executive Director of Institutut EUROPEUM, comments on the situation in Studio 6.

The British Prime Minister has called on his foreign colleagues to put pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin. Will Europe be able to create enough pressure to get Russia to the negotiating table and could Donald Trump exert similar pressure? Viktor Danek, deputy director of the EUROPEUM Institute, commented for CNN Prima News.

The British Prime Minister held a virtual summit on Ukraine on Saturday 15 March. It was to discuss peacekeepers to oversee a possible ceasefire in Ukraine. How many countries would send their peacekeepers to Ukraine? Viktor Danek, deputy director of EUROPEUM Institute, commented on the summit for CNN Prima News.