Russian invasion

The world's response
Hungary wants to form a Ukraine-skeptical bloc within the EU

Hungary plans to form a Ukraine-skeptical alliance with the Czech Republic and Slovakia within the European Council, an advisor to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán told Politico.

The background is that the former Visegrad 4 group, which also included Poland, split after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The aim is for the three countries to coordinate ahead of EU summits and pursue common positions, including on support for Ukraine. Such a formation could make it more difficult for the EU to provide military and economic support to Kyiv, the political website writes.

Kristersson: Hungary is wrong and the rest of us are right

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) is sharply criticizing Hungary's plans to form a Ukraine-skeptical alliance together with the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Kristersson tells TV4 Nyheterna that it is serious, and that Sweden has long fought the Hungarian “resistance” within the EU. However, he believes that it is limited and notes that a clear majority is pursuing a pro-Ukrainian line.

– Hungary is wrong and the rest of us are right.

Negotiations
Zelenskyj asks Trump to put more pressure on Xi this week

Volodymyr Zelenskyj hopes that Donald Trump can pressure Xi Jinping to reduce support for Russia when the American and Chinese presidents meet in South Korea.

At a press conference in Kyiv, Zelenskyj says that he hopes that China reduces imports of Russian energy.

– I think that would have helped us all, he says according to AFP.

Trump himself has said that the Ukraine war is one of the issues to be discussed.

Zelenskyj ready for talks – but not in Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj says he is ready for peace talks anywhere in the world, with the exception of Belarus and Russia, reports The Guardian.

At the same time, he emphasizes that Ukraine will not take a step back or give up any territory.

In a comment to AFP, the president also says that Ukraine needs financial support from Europe to be able to continue to resist the Russian invasion for the next three years.

– I emphasized this again to all European leaders. I told them that we will not fight for decades, but you must show that for a certain period of time you will be able to provide Ukraine with stable financial support, he says in a comment.