European Council

The Russian army advanced seven kilometers closer to Chasiv Yar near Bakhmut, as well as east of Avdeyevka and northwest of Maryinka, Moscow claims.
Four people were killed in a Russian strike on Kherson, as Russia carried out several attacks in eastern Ukraine over the previous day, Ukrainian local authorities said.

Today, EU leaders reached a rapid consensus on a €50 billion support package for Ukraine, breaking a deadlock that threatened crucial financial assistance for Kyiv. The breakthrough came after Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who had been obstructing the release of funds, conceded during intense negotiations at the extraordinary summit.

Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov's strategic diplomacy at the European Council has yielded promising results as Bulgaria gears up for full acceptance into the Eurozone and Schengen by January 1, 2025.

Bulgaria's Prime Minister, Nikolai Denkov, stated in Brussels that the removal of land borders between Bulgaria, Romania, and Greece is not currently under political discussion. Denkov, who anticipates discussions with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Bulgaria's priorities during the European Council meeting, highlighted key topics such as Schengen land borders and the Eurozone.

The leaders of the 27 European Union countries sealed a deal on Feb. 1 to provide Ukraine with a new 50-billion-euro ($54 billion) support package despite Hungary's weeks of threats to veto the move.

European Council President Charles Michel announced the agreement about only an hour into the leaders' summit in Brussels.

The roadblocks are taking place near the European Quarter, where EU leaders are expected to attend an extraordinary meeting of the European Council.
The plan is for them to present their complaints about exorbitant prices, rules and bureaucracy to the EU's leaders at a summit scheduled to discuss aid to Ukraine.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is participating in the Special European Council taking place in Brussels on Thursday, where he will again support Greece's position in favor of a comprehensive approach to the mid-term revision of the EU Multiannual Financial Framework, with a package deal that includes aid to Ukraine but also increased funds for migration and responding to natural disasters.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov, participating in the World Economic Forum in Davos, emphasized the collective responsibility of Europe in supporting Ukraine during a CNBC interview. Denkov stressed that Ukraine's fight extends beyond its borders and urged European unity for strength.

Reports from Politico suggest Hungary may lift its blockade on EU assistance to Ukraine, marking a potential breakthrough ahead of the special European Council meeting on February 1 in Brussels.

The Austrian government has specified five prerequisites for potentially lifting checks at Schengen land borders for Bulgarian and Romanian citizens, as detailed in a statement released after the European Council's decision to open air and sea borders for both countries on December 29.