Germany has just proposed an “associate EU membership” for Ukraine.
This is a major shift.
For the first time, a leading European power is proposing political and security integration before full EU membership.
Europe is now discussing how to integrate Ukraine faster. 🇪🇺🇺🇦
🇮🇹 🇺🇦 Italy will provide an additional €10 million to support recovery and repair works in Ukraine’s energy sector.
Today, Ambassador @italyinukr Carlo Formosa and the Director of @Ener_Community, Artur Lorkowski, signed the relevant agreement on the partners’ new contribution.
Before this, Italy had already contributed €13 million to the 🇺🇦 Energy Support Fund. We are grateful to Italy for its continued support of Ukraine’s energy sector and energy resilience ⚡
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🇮🇹 🇺🇦 Додаткових 10 млн євро надасть Італія для проведення відновлювальних ремонтних робіт в енергетиці. Сьогодні Посол Італії в Україні Карло Формоза та директор Секретаріату Енергетичного Співтовариства Артур Лорковський підписали відповідну угоду щодо нового внеску партнерів. До цього Італія вже спрямувала до Фонду підтримки енергетики 13 млн євро. Вдячні Італії за підтримку українського енергетичного сектору та внесок у стійкість нашої енергосистеми.
The European Parliament has given the green light to Canada’s participation in SAFE, the EU instrument for coordinated defence procurement and financing in the field of defence.
Alignment between Canada and Europe continue to grow in matters of security cooperation.
Very good.
Europe does not need to be a superpower for prestige. It needs scale to avoid being strategically controlled by others.
A crisis in the Strait of Hormuz Europe feels that immediately because it still imports 57% of its energy.
Russia once supplied around 40–45% of EU gas imports and 55% of Germany’s gas. When Europe sanctioned Russia, it discovered the cost of not having energy sovereignty.
Europe spends nearly €392B on defence in 2025, around 2.1% of GDP, but without full military integration it still duplicates systems, fragments procurement and depends heavily on U.S. intelligence, platforms and defence technology.
Europe also needs financial sovereignty. If European companies are financed and owned mainly by foreign funds, strategic decisions move outside Europe.
A single European country negotiates weakly. A bloc of 450M people, the world’s largest single market, can impose standards, defend industry, negotiate access and protect supply chains.
So no, this is not about flags or ego.
A fragmented Europe is a rich market exposed to foreign energy, foreign capital, foreign defence systems and foreign geopolitical shocks.
A united Europe is sovereignty.
Our Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine has obtained new Russian documents assessing the aggressor state’s losses from the war. Importantly, this is specifically a Russian internal assessment – one they are trying to conceal both from the world and from their own domestic audience.
The first major indicator is a reduction in active oil wells. Just a single Russian oil company – and not even the largest one – has already been forced to shut down around 400 wells. Given the specifics of Russian oil production, these are significant losses, as restarting wells in Russia is far more difficult than in other oil-producing countries.
The second indicator is a reduction in oil refining of at least 10% in just a few months this year alone. We see that our Ukrainian long-range sanctions are truly effective, and we will continue to scale up this line of our active actions. The data on the banking crisis in Russia is also quite convincing: 11 financial institutions are preparing for full liquidation due to problems that cannot be resolved by other means, while another eight banks have accumulated critical issues that cannot be addressed without external resources. This year’s federal budget deficit figures also look encouraging for us, standing at almost $80 billion by the fifth month of this year, alongside the bankruptcy of a significant number of Russian regional budgets.
I have also instructed the Head of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine, Oleh Luhovskyi, to share, in a format that does not compromise our sources, the obtained information on Russia’s attempts to involve global companies in resolving its financial hardship and in sanction-evasion schemes. In particular, we have recorded attempts to organize the export of grain from the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea – and, regrettably, other forms of economic exploitation of the peninsula involving entities from the United States. We will inform our partners. We are also recording attempts to bring investment and technology from democratic countries into Russia’s Arctic oil and gas projects. We know how to counter this. Thank you to everyone who helps us. Thank you to all our Ukrainian intelligence officers.
THE FREE WORLD WILL DEFEND TAIWAN.
WHATEVER IT TAKES.
Taiwan is the frontline of freedom in the Indo-Pacific.
If democracies stand united, peace will prevail.
If dictators think the Free World is weak, conflict becomes more likely.
Europe, America, Japan, Korea, Australia, Canada and NATO allies must make clear:
Any attack on Taiwan would have massive economic, technological, financial and strategic consequences.
Peace through strength.
Deterrence through unity.
Freedom through courage.
Security • Strength • Unity = Victory
Gunther Fehlinger-Jahn
Chairman of Austrian Committee for NATO Enlargement for Ukraine, Austria, Kosovo, Bosnia and EU
@GunterFehlinger
https://t.co/iglqnIIa9b
Today we remember the victims of the deportation of Crimean Tatars who were forcibly displaced from their homes.
Russia is enforcing a policy of repression against Crimean Tatars in occupied Crimea today.
The UK stands with Ukraine and the Crimean Tatars.
#CrimeaIsUkraine
Taiwan is not just a bunch of really advanced microchip factories, although it has them. It is an independent country (sorry, U.S. State Department) and a modern, thriving, multiparty democracy with the rule of law, a free and independent media, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of religion, educational inquiry, and due process. Freedom House grades Taiwan as a 93 out of a possible 100 in political rights and civil liberties. (China scored a nine.) There are 23 million people there who do not deserve to live under the boot of Xi Jinping. And we know the regime of the People’s Republic of China really hates the Taiwanese because they prove that the people of China do not need an authoritarian, totalitarian mass surveillance state to live happy, productive, and sufficiently orderly lives.
Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians and members of other nations went through the Soviet machine of terror. The overwhelming majority of them – simply for being who they were. Today, together, we honored the memory of those killed by political repression at the Bykivnia Graves National Historical Memorial Preserve and also laid flowers at the Memorial Sign of Polish Burials.
These historical events of Russia’s savagery remind us again and again that evil cannot remain unpunished; otherwise, repression and abuse return with renewed force. Now, when thousands of our people – prisoners of war and civilian detainees – remain in Russian captivity and are going through the same trials, it is important not to forget this. At all levels, the necessary efforts must be made to bring back each and every one of them. And above all, we must ensure that justice is served and that the criminals are held accountable for their actions. The free world has enough strength to ensure this.
Great news!
Norway has joined the EUSBSR (EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region) as a full member.
Together with 8 EU countries, Norway will work for a secure, better connected and prosperous Baltic Sea.
The cooperation will include transport, energy and maritime security
🇪🇺🇳🇴
"Why China doesn't like the EU, why Russia doesn't. It is because if we stick together, if we operate together, then we are equal powers, we are strong."
- Kaja Kallas, EU foreign representative
The future of Taiwan belongs to the Taiwanese people, and nobody else.
The self-determination of peoples is a fundamental right.
Taiwan’s democracy, identity, and destiny must be decided by the 23 million Taiwanese alone, free from coercion, threats, or imperial ambitions.
These €1.4 billion will be directed where they are needed most: to sustain the Ukrainian State, preserve essential public services and support the brave Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Our commitment to Ukraine's victory and freedom is unwavering.
https://t.co/wlEpOkAV1M
I am honoured to receive the Order of Princess Olha.
Ukraine has been on my mind every day since Russia started its war of aggression.
Thank you again, dear @ZelenskyyUa, for this great honour.
I will do what I can to support your country defend itself.
When the whole world learned about Bucha. About Ukrainians butchered in the streets of Bucha by Russian occupiers. About our people tortured in basements. About those shot on the roads. About adults and children whose bodies were found in graves in Bucha. Everyone saw the horror that Russia and its aggression bring. They saw what Ukraine is really defending itself against.
Today, on the fourth anniversary of Bucha’s liberation from Russian occupiers, we honored the memory of Ukrainians who were killed and tortured there. We remember and will never forget what the enemy did. Every Russian murderer, executioner, and terrorist must be held accountable for every crime against our people.
Blessed be the memory of everyone whose lives were taken by Russia – to all who were killed in Bucha and across Ukraine at the hands of Russian occupiers.
Biennale architettura Venezia. Totem in legno larice delle Dolimiti e rivestiti con tessuto tecnico microforato Soltis Master 99, covers by Solaris Architettura Tessile
🇮🇹✨ Night lights, ice, and Olympic dreams! 🛷
International Luge Training continues under the stars at the brand-new Cortina Sliding Centre. 🌙❄️
The final two sessions on Monday, Nov 3, and Tuesday, Nov 4, mark the start of international qualifiers — the race to #MilanoCortina2026 is on! 🚀
#Luge #MilanoCortina2026 #RoadToMilanoCortina #Olympics #SlidingTogether #LugeLove
This year, we worked hard to strengthen our defence posture and boost our growth, innovation and job creation.
From promise to progress, Europe is delivering for its citizens.
Join me on 10 September for my State of the Union speech.
Together, we will chart the way forward ↓