Ukraine–European Union relations

Foreign Affairs Minister Bogdan Aurescu warns about the danger of prolonging and expanding of the conflict situation in Ukraine. Speaking in the extraordinary meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council of the EU in Brussels on Thursday, he called for 'sincere political will for a negotiated solution.'

Photo credit: (c) SIMION MECHNO / AGERPRES FLOW

Although Bulgarian exporters are seriously injured by the sanctions on Russia, the country will not back away from its current stance and will seek new markets, according to Economy Minister Bozhidar Lukarski.

Bulgaria's Economy Minister met Monday with Ukraine's Ambassador to Bulgaria Mykola Baltazhy.

The European Commission said on Thursday it is ready to extend new aid to Ukraine of up to EUR 1.8B to help the country cope with a deep recession.

George Soros expressed his opinion that the European Union (EU) should reorient its current policies towards Russia and Ukraine.

Soros proposes a two-way approach, which balances the economic sanctions against Russia with an increased financial assistance to Ukraine.

The European Parliament (EP) approved the EU-Georgia Association Agreement (AA) on Thursday.

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The EU's relationship with Russia and the crisis in Ukraine were among the main topics on the agenda of the European Council summit that was held in Brussels on Thursday.

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"Russia is EU's strategic problem"

BRUSSELS -- "Russia's approach to Ukraine and to the EU" is a challenge to the latter "which does not make European leaders too optimistic," says Donald Tusk.

Rather, this makes them "realistic," the new president of the European Council was quoted as saying by Reuters.

When President Vikto Yanukovych of Ukraine fled his capital Kiev on Feb. 21, 2014, after the Maidan protests, very few could have predicted that it would unfold into a second Cold War between Moscow and the West.

Only five days later on Feb. 26, Russian forces sneaked into the strategic Crimean Peninsula in the Black Sea, essentially occupying the Ukrainian territory.

CEEC prime ministers want cooperation with China

BELGRADE -- Prime ministers of Romania, Albania, Slovakia and Bosnia-Herzegovina said in Belgrade that good projects are "key for further cooperation with China."

The Central and Eastern European countries and China must then be efficient in their implementation, they told a summit in Belgrade.

"EU seeks alignment not only on Ukraine"

BRUSSELS -- The European Commission is asking Serbia to harmonize its foreign policy - "a possible hint of pressure on us to impose sanctions on Russia," writes a daily....