Lai Ching-te of Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has been elected as the self-governing island’s new leader following Saturday’s presidential election. Lai, who entered the election as Taiwan’s vice president, claimed victory after the candidate representing the island’s main opposition party, Hou Yu-ih, conceded defeat. The DPP, which was …
Read More »Ukraine’s EU-candidate status is ‘symbolic’ – Belgium
Granting Ukraine EU-candidate status is an important “symbolic message” to support Kiev amid the ongoing conflict with Russia, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said on Thursday. Actual admission of the country into the bloc, however, will take “many years” and a “lot of reforms,” he warned. Ukraine is expected …
Read More »EU grants Ukraine candidate status
The European Council agreed to grant candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova during an EU summit on Thursday. Earlier, Belgium had said that the status would be a major sign of hope to Kiev, but it is, as of now, more of a “symbolic” gesture. The news on Ukraine becoming …
Read More »EU Commission officially backs Ukraine as candidate
The European Commission believes Ukraine should be granted the status of candidate for European Union membership, the chief of the EU’s executive body, Ursula von der Leyen announced on Friday. The country would still need to implement some changes to match the EU’s requirements, but it already boasts a “very …
Read More »EU premiers call to immediately grant Ukraine candidate status
French President Emmanuel Macron has stated that Germany, France, Italy and Romania are all in favor of granting Ukraine immediate EU-candidate status, following a joint meeting between the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the four EU leaders in Kiev on Thursday. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian …
Read More »European Commission to support Ukraine’s EU candidate status – Politico
The European Commission is to support giving EU candidate nation status to Ukraine, Politico reported on Monday. Several anonymous officials “familiar with the debate among commissioners” told the media outlet that among the factors which tipped the scales in Kiev’s favor were the sacrifices Ukrainians have made so far, as …
Read More »Major EU states against granting Ukraine candidate status – Italy
Only Rome supports giving Ukraine candidate status in the European Union, which is just not in the cards right now, with all the other major EU members opposed, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi revealed on Tuesday. EU officials will try to draft a fast-track proposal for how Kiev could join …
Read More »EU candidate accuses West of hypocrisy
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has said his “guts turn” when he hears Western countries talk about their respect for the territorial integrity of Ukraine, while simultaneously insisting on the independence of the Serbian breakaway region of Kosovo. During a Sunday broadcast on Prva TV, Vucic claimed there were no principles …
Read More »Germany, Spain, and Portugal endorse candidate in French election
The leaders of Germany, Spain, and Portugal have named the incumbent French president Emmanuel Macron as their preferred candidate at the upcoming second round of the election, warning the voters against supporting National Rally’s leader, Marine Le Pen. In a surprising move on Thursday, three days before the vote in …
Read More »French presidential candidate reveals NATO stance
French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen has pledged, if she wins the election, to withdraw the country from NATO’s Integrated Military Command and to work on “strategic rapprochement” between the alliance and Russia. During a press conference on Wednesday, the far-right National Rally candidate who in the past voiced support …
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