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☆ Navalny's Widow Joins EU Foreign Ministers as Ukraine War Nears Two-Year Mark
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Gabriela BaczynskaBRUSSELS (Reuters) - The widow of Alexei Navalny, Russian President Vladimir Putin's nemesis who died in an Arctic prison last week, joins EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday, days before the two-year mark of Russia's war on Ukraine. The Latest Photos From Ukraine View All 91 ImagesNavalny, a 47-year-old former lawyer, rose to prominence campaigning against corruption in Putin's Russia. The ministers are due to discuss military support for Ukraine and what would be the European Union's 13th package of sanctions against Moscow since it unleashed a full-scale invasion of its neighbour on Feb.24, 2022. Inside the EU, Germany has blocked replenishing a military fund used to supply Ukraine saying Berlin was contributing too much compared to other members. One senior EU diplomat said they believed it "will be able to make it in time" and agree the new punitive measures for Feb.24.

Persons: Gabriela Baczynska BRUSSELS, Alexei Navalny, Vladimir Putin's, Yulia Navalnaya, Putin, Josep Borrell, Navalnaya's, Donald Trump, Viktor Orban, Gabriela Baczynska, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Ukraine, Moscow, NATO, Kremlin, EU, Washington Locations: Russian, Brussels, Ukraine, Munich, Israel, Gaza, Russia, Putin's Russia, Siberia, United States, Europe, U.S, EU, Germany, Berlin, Hungary, Budapest, Kyiv, London, Sahel, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Mauritania

☆ US, EU Discuss Russia Sanctions Ahead of Ukraine War's Second Anniversary
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

"Many of us are prepared to roll out quite robust anniversary packages," the official told Reuters, but declined to provide details. The new sanctions would come as the U.S. and its allies look to maintain pressure on Russia with U.S. military aid to Ukraine increasingly in doubt. "All delegations expressed their support to the proposed package, except one who requested a bit more time to analyze the content of the proposals," said an EU official, pointing to Hungary. The official said, however, the new EU sanctions would blacklist almost 200 people and entities. "The Russia sanctions program is both an extraordinary success and an extraordinary failure, depending upon one's point of view," said Smith.

Persons: Daphne Psaledakis, Gabriela Baczynska WASHINGTON, Joe Biden's, John Smith, Smith, Gabriela Baczynska, Don Durfee Organizations: Reuters, Kyiv, Republican, Representatives, Washington, EU, Wednesday, Russia, U.S . Treasury Department’s, Foreign Assets Control Locations: BRUSSELS, U.S, Russia, Brussels, Ukraine, Washington, EU, Hungary, Moscow, Lincoln

☆ Slovakia Approves Criminal Law Reforms That Sparked Protests
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

The government said the changes modernise the criminal code by lowering long prison terms and preferring alternative punishments. President Zuzana Caputova immediately signalled she would try to stop the changes, possibly through a veto or a court challenge. The law was a "monstrous amnesty" for that circle, said deputy Michal Sipos from the opposition Slovensko party. An EU official said on Thursday the commission's concerns remained, which could possibly lead to legal action and budgetary consequences. (Reporting by Jan Lopatka in Prague; additional reporting by Gabriela Baczynska in Brussels; editing by Jonathan Oatis)

Persons: Robert Fico, SMER, Tibor Gaspar, Zuzana Caputova, Michal Sipos, Jan Lopatka, Gabriela Baczynska, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Reuters, European Commission, European, Slovak, EU Locations: Poland, Hungary, Prague, Brussels

☆ EU Deal for Ukraine 'Difficult' Despite Move by Hungary -Official
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Talks between European Union countries aimed at agreeing on more aid for Ukraine later this week remain "difficult", a senior EU official said on Tuesday, despite Hungary having signalled its readiness for a compromise. It has already once blocked the aid package and has also voiced opposition - along with EU paymaster Germany - to topping up the military fund. "We are not there yet," the EU official said under condition of anonymity, referring to preparations for the Thursday summit in Brussels of the leaders of the bloc's 27 member states. As the EU mounts pressure on Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to agree, the official said Budapest's conditions for lifting its veto on the financial assistance to Kyiv were not acceptable to the other EU countries. The official added that Hungary's EU peers did not want to agree to review any support to Kyiv every year as that would give Orban a veto each time.

Persons: Russia's, Viktor Orban, Orban, Jan Strupczewski, Gabriela Baczynska, Mark Heinrich Organizations: European Union, EU, Germany, Hungarian Locations: BRUSSELS, Ukraine, Hungary, Kyiv, Russia, Brussels

☆ Von Der Leyen Confident All EU States Will Agree on Aid Package to Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

By Gabriela BaczynskaBRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union's chief executive voiced confidence on Wednesday that all 27 member states will agree to jointly extend more financial aid to Ukraine. Hungary has resisted agreement on an aid package, raising the possibility of the other 26 countries giving funds to Ukraine under separate bilateral deals with Kyiv. But Ursula von der Leyen, who heads the executive European Commission, told EU lawmakers: "I am confident that we will find a solution by 27." EU leaders last month agreed to start accession talks with Ukraine but Hungary vetoed granting 50 billion euros($54 bln) in aid for Kyiv through 2027. The prospect of 26 countries giving aid to Ukraine under separate bilateral deals with Kyiv is one alternative that is under discussion.

Persons: Gabriela Baczynska BRUSSELS, Ursula von der Leyen, Viktor Orban, Tassilo Hummel, Bart Meijer, Gabriela Baczynska, Timothy Heritage Organizations: European Commission, EU, Russian, European, Commission, Kyiv Locations: Ukraine, Hungary, Brussels, Hungarian, Budapest

☆ EU states to start debating Ukraine membership talks on Tuesday
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Gabriela Baczynska | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/2] European Union (EU) flags fly in front of the headquarters of the European Central Bank (ECB) in Frankfurt, Germany, July 8, 2020. The initial draft, dated Dec.4 and seen by Reuters on Monday, reads: "The European Council decides to open accession negotiations with Ukraine and with Moldova." For Bosnia, the initial draft stated the bloc was "ready to open EU accession negotiations... once the necessary degree of compliance with the membership criteria is achieved". All three decisions would require unanimous backing of the 27 EU countries. "In our perception, no conditions for Ukraine to start accession talks are met," Hungarian government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs told journalists separately on Monday.

Persons: Ralph Orlowski, Zoltan Kovacs, Charles Michel, Kovacs, Viktor Orban, Michel, Gabriela Baczynska, Jan Strupczewski, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: European Union, European Central Bank, REUTERS, Rights, European Commission, EU, Kyiv, Reuters, European Council, Commission, Ukraine, Thomson Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, Ukraine, Hungary, Moldova, Georgia, Bosnia, Soviet, Kyiv, EU, Caucasus, Tbilisi, Budapest, Hungarian, Brussels

☆ 'There is no Planet B', Belgian climate protest tells COP28
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Farah Salhi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] A demonstrator holds a placard, during a climate protest coinciding with COP28 being held in Dubai and ahead of the upcoming Belgian presidency of the Council of the European Union, in Brussels, Belgium, December 3, 2023. REUTERS/Johanna Geron Acquire Licensing RightsBRUSSELS, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Police said about 20,000 people protested in the Belgian capital on Sunday to demand more action to fight global warming as delegates from some 200 countries met in Dubai for the United Nation's COP28 climate conference. Marching to the beat of drums, protesters waved banners saying "ACT NOW" - the "O" stylised to resemble the Earth on fire - and "There is no Planet B". In Dubai on Sunday, the COP summit focused on climate change's impact on fuelling sickness and disease. Reporting by Farah Salhi, Writing by Gabriela Baczynska; Editing by Sharon SingletonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: COP28, Johanna Geron, John, Karol De Decker, Farah Salhi, Gabriela Baczynska, Sharon Singleton Organizations: of, European Union, REUTERS, Rights, Police, United Arab, Thomson Locations: Dubai, Brussels, Belgium, Belgian, United Arab Emirates, Paris

☆ 'There Is No Planet B', Belgian Climate Protest Tells COP28
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Dec. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

By Farah SalhiBRUSSELS (Reuters) - Police said about 20,000 people protested in the Belgian capital on Sunday to demand more action to fight global warming as delegates from some 200 countries met in Dubai for the United Nation's COP28 climate conference. Marching to the beat of drums, protesters waved banners saying "ACT NOW" - the "O" stylised to resemble the Earth on fire - and "There is no Planet B". In Dubai on Sunday, the COP summit focused on climate change's impact on fuelling sickness and disease. Host, the United Arab Emirates, and charities pledged $777 million to eradicate neglected tropical diseases expected to worsen. (Reporting by Farah Salhi, Writing by Gabriela Baczynska; Editing by Sharon Singleton)

Persons: Farah Salhi, John, Karol De Decker, Gabriela Baczynska, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Police, United Arab Locations: Farah Salhi BRUSSELS, Belgian, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Paris

☆ Exclusive: EU nuclear agency sees some Russia imports up again in 2023 from before Ukraine war
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Gabriela Baczynska | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Its overall imports from Russia's nuclear energy industry held steady last year despite rising demand for nuclear power driven by high energy costs and a push to cut carbon emissions. The trend highlights challenges EU faces in reaching its long-term goal of achieving VVER fuel self-sufficiency. EU imports of natural uranium from Russia fell 16% last year from 2021, a drop compensated by increase in deliveries from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, ESA said. In 2022, the EU's Russian nuclear energy imports were worth around 750 million euros ($823 mln), or 1% of the bloc's Russian gas imports, according the European Commission. Sources said, however, that the proposal - which is not public - does not include sanctions on Russia's nuclear energy industry.

Persons: Radovan Stoklasa, ESA's, Stefano Ciccarello, Ciccarello, Finland's, Gabriela Baczynska, Anne Kauranen, Timothy Gardner, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: REUTERS, Union, Euratom Supply Agency, ESA, Reuters, U.S, Westinghouse, Commission, U.S ., Thomson Locations: Mochovce, Slovakia, Russia, BRUSSELS, Russian, Moscow, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, France, Sweden, Belgium, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Europe, United States, Brussels, Helsinki, Washington, Budapest

☆ EU Executive's Jourova Says No Talks About Ukraine Without Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - A deputy head of the European Union executive said on Tuesday she would find "unacceptable" any talks about the war in Ukraine that would not include Kyiv or envisage the country giving up territory. The European Commission's vice-president Vera Jourova also said she would be "disappointed" if a Dec.14-15 summit of EU leaders refused to endorse proposals for more financial aid to Kyiv and a recommendation to launch accession talks with Ukraine. The Czech EU Commissioner who worked on her own country's EU entry nearly 20 years ago offered Kyiv a sympathetic ear recalling how difficult it was to meet European accession requirements. She said that, under President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Ukraine was finally ready to overcome endemic corruption. She said that unanimous backing of all the 27 EU countries would be needed to enact it.

Persons: Vera Jourova, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Viktor Orban, Gabriela Baczynska Organizations: European Union, Ukraine, Czech EU, EU, Kyiv Locations: BRUSSELS, Ukraine, Kyiv, Czech, Hungary

☆ EU executive approves 900 mln euros in funds for Hungary
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Gabriela Baczynska | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

EU support is crucial to Ukraine, which has been struggling to push back a full-scale Russian invasion since February 2022. EU officials said Hungary's amended recovery plan is worth a total of 10.4 billion euros over several years - or about 5% of Hungary's 2023 GDP - including 4.6 billion euros under RePowerEU: 0.7 billion euros in grants and 3.9 billion in loans. EU officials said Hungary would use the RePowerEU money to modernise its electricity sector through smart metres and digitalisation of energy companies. EU officials expected two payments of around 460 million euros each to follow next year. EU officials told Reuters last month that the bloc was considering unlocking aid for Hungary to win Budapest's support for Ukraine.

Persons: Laszlo Balogh, Viktor Orban, Orban, Gabriela Baczynska, Toby Chopra Organizations: Hungarian, European Union, National Bank of Hungary, REUTERS, Ukraine EU, European Commission, Ukraine, Kyiv, Fidesz, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Budapest, Hungary, Ukraine, BRUSSELS, Brussels, Russia, EU, Moscow

☆ Senior EU Official Channels Increasing Gloom Over Russia's War in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

"Leaders... were realizing it's quite expensive," said the official, who is involved in preparing a Dec.14-15 summit in Brussels of the EU 27 member states' national leaders. But it's not easy," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss talks between EU leaders held behind closed doors. While Hungary was openly calling for a new EU strategy on Russia's war in Ukraine, the official said others in the bloc were also increasingly asking questions about the future of the war following failed hopes for Ukraine's counteroffensive. "Will we continue to support Ukraine financially, military? The consensus is to continue to provide support to Ukraine, but some of those questions are coming."

Persons: Gabriela Baczynska BRUSSELS, it's, Gabriela Baczynska, William Maclean Organizations: Union, Kyiv, European Commission, EU, Ukraine's Locations: Ukraine, Kyiv, Brussels, Hungary, EU, U.S

☆ EU official channels gloom over Russia's war in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Gabriela Baczynska | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Persons: it's, Gabriela Baczynska, William Maclean Organizations: Union, Kyiv, European Commission, EU, Ukraine's, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Ukraine, Kyiv, Brussels, Hungary, EU, U.S

But some worry the aid could be blocked by Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban who has touted his ties with Moscow and objected to similar support in the past. Asked for comment, Hungarian government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs said that any financial aid to Ukraine should be separate from the EU budget. "The issue of money for Ukraine will be solved one way or another, Kyiv will get EU support," the official said. BILLIONS AT STAKELast year, Hungary vetoed a similar proposal to give 18 billion euros in financial assistance to Ukraine in 2023. EU officials told Reuters last month that they were looking at unlocking at least some of that money as the bloc seeks to win Orban's vote for Ukraine.

Persons: Viktor Orban, Zoltan Kovacs, Valdis Dombrovskis, Orban, Jan Strupczewski, Gabriela Baczynska, Andrew Heavens, Toby Chopra Organizations: Moscow, Russia, Kyiv, European, Hungary's, EU, Trade, Ukraine, Hungary, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Hungary, Moscow Ukraine, BRUSSELS, BUDAPEST, Ukraine, Kyiv, Brussels, Moscow, EU, Budapest, Russia

If accepted, EU officials expect formal accession talks with Kyiv to start next year. A top aide to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Budapest would not support Ukraine's EU integration unless Kyiv changes its laws on minorities, in particular as regards education. "Moldova is firmly on the path for EU membership and we will continue working relentlessly towards this goal," the country's president, Maia Sandu, said in welcoming the move. The Commission said the EU should also begin membership talks with Bosnia and Herzegovina once a long list of extensive conditions are met. In 2020, Britain was the first country to ever leave the EU, a major setback for European integration following World War Two.

Persons: Yves Herman, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Zelenskiy, Ursula von der Leyen, Von der Leyen, Viktor Orban, Maia Sandu, von der Leyen, enlargements, Andrew Gray, Yuliia, Olena, Alexander Tanas, Gabriela Baczynska, Nick Macfie, Sharon Singleton Organizations: REUTERS, European Union, European Commission, EU, Kyiv, Ukraine, Russia, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Brussels, Belgium, Moldova, Bosnia, Georgia, BRUSSELS, KYIV, Hungary, Kyiv, Hungarian, Budapest, EU, Moscow, Tbilisi, Herzegovina, Sarajevo, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Netherlands, Britain

☆ EU executive proposes to grant Georgia EU candidate status
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

BRUSSELS, Nov 8 (Reuters) - The European Union's executive recommended on Wednesday that the bloc grants formal candidate status to Georgia, if and when it fulfils remaining conditions. "The Commission recommends that the (European) Council grants Georgia the status of a candidate country on the understanding that certain reforms that steps are taken," said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The outstanding conditions include Georgia aligning itself with the EU's foreign policy sanctions, pushing back against disinformation and political polarisation, as well as ensuring a free and fair 2024 election. Reporting by Marine Strauss, Gabriela Baczynska, Andrew GrayOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, Marine Strauss, Gabriela Baczynska, Andrew Gray Organizations: European, Council, Georgia, Andrew Gray Our, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Georgia

☆ EU weighs advancing Ukraine's membership bid as Russia war drags on
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Gabriela Baczynska | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's Brussels-based executive will publish a report on Wednesday assessing progress achieved towards membership by EU hopefuls. The Commission said last June that Ukraine met two out of seven conditions the EU had set to start membership talks. MOLDOVA, GEORGIAIn good news for Ukraine, Germany's foreign minister expressed confidence that the EU would advance its bid to join. The latter got nine conditions to start membership talks, including fighting organised crime, and can get a conditional positive recommendation along with its neighbour Ukraine. But Tbilisi has the backing of Orban and could still move ahead on its EU path as the bloc wrestles for influence with Russia.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen's, von der Leyen, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Zelenskiy, Viktor Orban, Orban, Gabriela Baczynska, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Georgia BRUSSELS, European Union, Kyiv, EU, Hungarian, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Moldova, Ursula von der Leyen's Brussels, Kyiv, Europe, Italian, MOLDOVA, GEORGIA, Moscow, Georgia, Chisinau, Russia, Tbilisi

☆ EU Weighs Advancing Ukraine's Membership Bid as Russia War Drags On
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's Brussels-based executive will publish a report on Wednesday assessing progress achieved towards membership by EU hopefuls. Such talks take years before candidates meet extensive legal and economic criteria to join, and the bloc is not willing to take in a country at war. The Commission said last June that Ukraine met two out of seven conditions the EU had set to start membership talks. MOLDOVA, GEORGIAIn good news for Ukraine, Germany's foreign minister expressed confidence that the EU would advance its bid to join. But Tbilisi has the backing of Orban and could still move ahead on its EU path as the bloc wrestles for influence with Russia.

Persons: Gabriela Baczynska BRUSSELS, Ursula von der Leyen's, von der Leyen, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Zelenskiy, Viktor Orban, Orban, Gabriela Baczynska, Sharon Singleton Organizations: European Union, Kyiv, EU, Hungarian, Reuters Locations: Ukraine, Ursula von der Leyen's Brussels, Kyiv, Europe, Italian, MOLDOVA, GEORGIA, Moscow, Georgia, Moldova, Chisinau, Russia, Tbilisi

Overall EU support for Ukraine has totalled almost 83 billion euros since Russia invaded in February 2022, the Brussels-based executive European Commission said this week. Slovakia's Robert Fico, attending his first EU summit since being appointed for his fourth term as prime minister on Wednesday, adopted a similar line. Orban has also said he would not endorse in its current form the proposed EU budget revision, which includes the 50 billion in new aid for Kyiv. Fico said there was endemic corruption in Ukraine and demanded that any new EU aid include guarantees that the funds not be misappropriated, according to a statement from his office. "The questions are, what type of aid and how it is used, how we are sure, the European Union is sure, that this aid is used efficiently," he said.

Persons: Fico, Orban, Olaf Scholz, Slovakia's Robert Fico, Vladimir Putin, Nikolai Denkov, Jan Strupczewski, Phil Blenkinsop, Bart Meijer, Tassilo Hummel, Marine Strauss, Krisztina, Jason Hovet, Miranda Murray, Gabriela Baczynska, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: Ukraine New, Union, EU, Ukraine, European Commission, Russia, Kyiv, European Union, European, Bulgarian, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Ukraine New Slovak, Ukraine BRUSSELS, Russian, Hungary, Slovakia, Brussels, Russia, SLOVAKIA, HUNGARY Hungary, Budapest, Bratislava, European Union

☆ 'Positions Not Matching Yet' as EU Leaders Fight for Slice of Budget Pie
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

The bloc's executive proposed that member states chip in more to the shared coffers to provide 50 billion euros to Ukraine and spend another 15 billion on migration. Budgetary decisions require unanimity and divisions were on display on Thursday as the bloc's 27 national leaders arrived for a summit in Brussels. On the bloc's eastern flank, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said that - beyond supporting Ukraine - joint spending should grow for improving EU defence capabilities. Lithuania said 50 billion euros for Ukraine was not enough. Orban's comments come as his government is trying to unlock billions in aid envisaged for Hungary in the EU budget but blocked by the European Commission over rule of law concerns.

Persons: Gabriela Baczynska, Jan Strupczewski BRUSSELS, Alexander de Croo, Kaja Kallas, Kyriakos, Hungary's Viktor Orban, Orban, that's, Ireland's Leo Varadkar, Olaf Scholz, Marine Strauss, Krisztina, Tassilo Hummel, Rene Maltezou, Jan Strupczewski, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: European Union, EU, Belgian, European Commission, Diplomats Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Brussels, Estonian, Lithuania, Greece, East, Africa, Budapest, Hungary, Austria, Western Balkans, Germany

☆ EU calls for humanitarian pauses for Gaza aid as Israel raids enclave
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Israel's military, which has been carrying out limited raids into Gaza as it prepares for a ground incursion of the enclave, said early on Friday it was "currently conducting raids in the Gaza Strip as part of preparations for the next stage of the operation." Unlike in the Security Council where resolutions on Gaza aid failed this week, no country holds a veto in the General Assembly. Israel has bombarded the densely populated Gaza Strip following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israeli communities. EU COMPROMISEIn Brussels, the 27 leaders of the EU reached a compromise declaration after days of wrangling, expressing the "gravest concern for the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza". They called for "continued, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access and aid to reach those in need through all necessary measures including humanitarian corridors and pauses for humanitarian needs".

Persons: Khan Younis, Abu Mustafa, Joe Biden, Iran's, U.N, Mamadou Sow, Israel, Washington, Biden, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Hossein Amirabdollahian, Yoav Gallant, Nidal al, Tala Ramadan, Emily Rose, Adam Makary, Jeff Mason, Phil Stewart, Michelle Nichols, Gabriela Baczynska, Andrew Gray, Grant McCool, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: United Nations, Hamas, REUTERS, Gaza Biden, Union, Reuters, General, Security, EU, International Committee, Cross, UNRWA, United, Pentagon, Iran's, U.S, Iranian, Thomson Locations: Israel, Palestinian, Gaza, Al, Rafah, Brussels, Jeddah, West, Tehran, U.S, Iraq, Syria, Iran, Lebanon, United States

☆ EU Summit Calls for 'Humanitarian Corridors and Pauses' in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union leaders agreed at a summit on Thursday to call for the establishment of "humanitarian corridors and pauses" to get urgently needed aid into Gaza. In a declaration at the summit in Brussels, the leaders of the Union's 27 nations expressed the "gravest concern for the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza". They called for "continued, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access and aid to reach those in need through all necessary measures including humanitarian corridors and pauses for humanitarian needs." The summit was the leaders' first in-person meeting since the deadly Oct. 7 assault on Israel by Palestinian militant group Hamas, which prompted Israel to bombard and blockade Hamas-run Gaza. In their declaration, the leaders reiterated their previous condemnation "in the strongest possible terms" of the Hamas attack and emphasised Israel's right to defend itself "in line with international law and international humanitarian law".

Persons: Gabriela Baczynska, Andrew Gray, Diane Craft, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Union, Hamas, European Locations: BRUSSELS, Gaza, Brussels, Israel, Palestinian

☆ Hungary's Orban Says Is 'Proud' of Putin Meeting
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Thursday that he was "proud" of his contacts with Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom he met in China this month despite European Union efforts to isolate Moscow for waging a war against Ukraine. Orban spoke on arriving to a summit of the EU's 27 national leaders in Brussels. He drew criticism for his talks with Putin, which had been organised with great pomp. Therefore we keep open all the communication lines to the Russians, otherwise there will be no chance for peace. This is a strategy, we are proud of it," Orban told reporters.

Persons: Viktor Orban, Vladimir Putin, Orban, Putin, Gabriela Baczynska, Marine Strauss, Jan Strupczewski Organizations: European Union, Ukraine Locations: BRUSSELS, Hungarian, China, Moscow, Brussels, Europe

☆ EU migration ministers address militant Islamist attacks, risks from Israel-Hamas war
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Gabriela Baczynska | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

A teacher was slain in northern France last week in an attack President Emmanuel Macron condemned as "Islamist terrorism". The killings occurred at a time of heightened security concerns across much of Europe linked to the Israel-Hamas war. The attack in Brussels underlined persistent failings of the EU's troubled migration and asylum systems, including security gaps and ineffective returns. The EU, a bloc of 450 million people, has recorded some 250,000 irregular arrivals this year, in large part aided by smugglers. Last year, the EU took in several million refugees for Russia's war in the neighbouring Ukraine.

Persons: Darrin, Morocco Broad, Emmanuel Macron, Israel, Gabriela Baczynska, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: Geo, Medecins Sans Frontieres, REUTERS, France Ministers, Palestinian, EU, Thomson Locations: Italy, Libya, Belgium, France, Israel, Egypt, Morocco, BRUSSELS, Europe, Brussels, EU, Gaza, Afghanistan, Syria, Tunisia, Tunis, Ukraine, East, Africa

They spoke after paying tribute to the victims of Monday's attack in the Belgian capital, home to the EU institutions, and condemning what they branded a brutal terrorist attack. Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said Europe's open-border Schengen zone would not survive unless the EU's external frontiers were better protected from unwanted immigration. Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said the EU also needed a more effective system of returning unauthorised immigrants. The 45-year-old gunman arrived on the Italian island of Lampedusa in 2011 and then lived in Sweden before claiming asylum in Belgium. EU migration ministers will discuss the plans in Brussels on Thursday, as will national leaders next week.

Persons: Ulf Kristersson, Alexander De Croo, Yves Herman Acquire, Margaritis Schinas, Abdesalem Al Guilani, RTBF, Abdesalem, Sudip Kar, Gupta, Johnny Cotton, Anna Ringstrom, Benoit van Overstraeten, Gabriela Baczynska, Gareth Jones, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Swedish, Belgian, REUTERS, Sweden's, EU, STV, European Commission, Islamic State, Thomson Locations: Sweden, Brussels, Belgium, BRUSSELS, Tunisia, Swedish, Belgian, Europe, Lampedusa, Israel

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