Slovakia

Hungary has accused Ukraine of blackmailing both itself and Slovakia by halting oil supplies, according to a statement from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's advisor, Gergely Gulyas. The accusations come in the wake of Ukraine's decision to impose sanctions on Russia's Lukoil, which has disrupted the oil transit through the country.

The United States is planning to establish logistics centers in Black Sea countries to expedite the delivery of arms to Ukraine. This move comes as Hungary and Slovakia have struggled to initiate consultations with Ukraine, mediated by the European Commission, regarding the resumption of oil supplies from the Russian company Lukoil.

Primorsko and Kiten, two popular summer destinations on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, are experiencing a busy tourist season. Zdravko Vasilev, a local resident who has captured photos of the crowded beaches, reported that tourist interest in these resorts remains high despite challenges facing local businesses.

Hungary will block European Union refunds to member states that provided ammunition to Ukraine until Kyiv resumes the transit of oil from Russia's Lukoil through a pipeline across Ukrainian territory, Hungary's foreign minister announced on Tuesday.

Ukraine has halted a third of Russian oil imports to Hungary, leading Hungary and Slovakia to request immediate consultations with Ukraine, mediated by the European Commission. This action came after Ukraine stopped transferring Lukoil oil to the west last week.

Slovakia has received the first two of its 14 new F-16 fighter jets on Monday, which are set to replace the MiG-29s previously donated to Ukraine. This acquisition is part of a 2018 deal valued at approximately 1.6 billion dollars. The remaining 12 jets are expected to arrive by the end of 2025.

NATO leaders pose for an official photo at the NATO summit in Washington, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. Front row from left, Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, Dimitar Glavchev, Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Alexander De Croo, Prime Minister of Belgium, Edi Rama, Prime Minister of Albania, U.S.

On Wednesday, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) aligned with other far-right parties to establish a new alliance within the European Parliament, marking the formation of the smallest and most radical far-right group to date.

With Russian attacks on energy infrastructure causing power cuts, Ukraine is depending on its central and eastern European neighbours to keep the lights on.

Ukraine in recent weeks has resorted to consumption restrictions and rolling blackouts after Russian forces stepped up attacks on the country's power stations and transmission lines.

Kiev and its Western allies hit out at Hungarian leader Viktor Orban on Friday after Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted him in Moscow for talks on the Ukraine conflict.

Putin told Orban, Russia's closest EU ally, that Ukraine must withdraw its troops from regions that Moscow has annexed if it wants peace.