Discussions on the EU’s 18th sanctions package against Russia at a meeting of the EU General Affairs Council on 18 July have been scheduled under Any Other Business (AOB), which means there will be no voting or decision-making.

The European Union has earmarked €100 billion for Ukraine air in its long-term budget for 2028–2034.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has demanded that the European Commission allow Slovakia to purchase Russian gas until 2034, threatening to continue blocking the EU’s 18th sanctions package against Russia if the request is denied.

The Council of the European Union approved an official decision on Tuesday 15 July to extend the directive on temporary protection for Ukrainians in the European Union until 4 March 2027.

At a meeting of the EU Agriculture Council on 14 July, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Romania expressed their dissatisfaction with a new agreement between Ukraine and the EU which is being drawn up based on the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA).

Two European Union member states – Slovakia and Malta – are currently not supporting the adoption of the EU’s 18th package of sanctions against Russia.

EU ambassadors were unable to agree on the 18th package of sanctions against Russia due to Slovakia’s veto during a meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper) on 9 July.

The EU Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper) is set to once again consider the 18th package of sanctions against Russia on Wednesday 9 July. However, Slovakia’s position blocking the package remains unchanged.

On Monday, 7 July, on the eve of the EU Economic and Financial Affairs Council (EcoFin) meeting, during a dinner in Brussels, the ministers of economy and finance of the European Union member states will discuss support for Ukraine if the war continues in 2026.

On Wednesday 9 July, the European Parliament is set to vote on the resolution on the human cost of Russia’s war against Ukraine and the urgent need to end Russian aggression.

Following the suspension of some types of US military aid to Ukraine, the European Union must strengthen its own support for Ukraine.

The results of consultations conducted by Hungary on assessing Ukraine's potential accession to the European Union are not binding, but the European Commission takes them into account.

The European Commission has concluded negotiations with Ukraine on the main principles of the review of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) between Ukraine and the EU after the expiry of the Autonomous Trade Measures (ATMs), which introduced a preferential regime for Ukrainian exporters until 5 June 2025.

EU enlargement is one of the priorities of Denmark's presidency of the European Union and Copenhagen would like Ukraine and Moldova to move forward on this path simultaneously.

The EU has officially extended the sectoral sanctions against Russia for another six months.