European Union

Germany’s chancellor attempts to open up North Macedonia’s EU bid

By Konstantin Testorides, Veselin Toshkov, Associated Press

Bulgaria refuses to approve the EU’s membership negotiation framework for North Macedonia, effectively blocking the official start of accession talks with its smaller Balkan neighbor.

EU bans majority of Russian oil imports as punishment for Ukraine invasion

By Lorne Cook, Samuel Petrequin, Associated Press

In the most significant effort yet to punish Russia for its war in Ukraine, the European Union agreed to ban the overwhelming majority of Russian oil imports.

Orban open to proposal for EU embargo on some Russian oil

By Associated Press

The Hungarian prime minister’s remarks came Monday at an EU summit focused on helping Ukraine, with sanctions a clear focus of attention.

Disregarding EU sanctions, Serbia secures ‘extremely favorable’ gas deal with Putin

By Dusan Stojanovic, Associated Press

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has refused to explicitly condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and his country has not joined Western sanctions against Moscow.

May 23

After 3 months since the invasion of Ukraine began, life in Russia has profoundly changed

By Associated Press

Three months after the Feb. 24 invasion, many ordinary Russians are reeling from those blows to their livelihoods and emotions. Moscow’s vast shopping malls have turned into eerie expanses of shuttered storefronts once occupied by Western retailers.

E.U. calls on member nations to ban all Russian oil

By Lorne Cook, Samuel Petrequin, Associated Press

The European Union's chief executive has called on the 27-nation bloc to ban oil imports from Russia in a sixth package of sanctions over the war in Ukraine.

Serbia shows off newly acquired Chinese missiles amid concerns in Balkans over arms buildup

By Dusan Stojanovic, Associated Press

Although Serbia officially seeks membership in the European Union, it has been arming itself mostly with Russian and Chinese weapons, including T-72 battle tanks, MiG-29 fighter jets, Mi-35 attack helicopters and drones.

EU deal will push Google, Facebook, others to police platforms against hate speech, disinformation

By Kelvin Chan, Raf Casert, Associated Press

European Union officials clinched the agreement in principle on the Digital Services Act after lengthy final negotiations that began Friday. The law will also force tech companies to make it easier for users to flag problems, ban online ads aimed…

France investigating EU fraud agency report on presidential candidate Marine Le Pen

By Angela Charlton, Associated Press

Paris prosecutors are studying a report by the EU fraud agency accusing French far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen of misusing public funds while serving in the European Parliament.

European leaders stream into Ukraine to show solidarity

By Danica Kirka, Associated Press

U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer on Saturday joined the stream of European leaders showing their support for Ukraine by traveling to the nation’s capital for face-to-face meetings with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.