German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has proposed that the heads of the European Commission, the Council of the EU and the European Council create a special task force as soon as possible to examine the possibility of granting Ukraine the status of an "associated member" of the European Union.

The European Commission has confirmed that it received a letter from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz regarding a possible new status for Ukraine ahead of full EU membership and said the issue should be discussed at the level of the European Council.

Ukraine must ensure the Hungarian minority enjoys the same rights as minorities in other EU countries before Budapest agrees to the opening of the first cluster in the EU's pre-accession talks with Kyiv.

Ukraine must fulfil a number of conditions to receive the first €3.2 billion tranche of EU macro-financial assistance in June.

Ukraine and the European Union have initialled a Memorandum of Understanding on €8.35 billion in macro-financial assistance under the EU's €90 billion loan programme.

The purchase of US-made weapons and ammunition for Ukraine under the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) programme, including interceptor missiles for air defence systems, is continuing.

Discussions are still underway in the European Union on whether temporary protection for Ukrainians should be extended for another year.

Ukraine and the European Union are continuing talks on a Memorandum of Understanding on macro-financial assistance to Kyiv under a €90 billion loan and are discussing the economic and political conditions for the release of the funds.

Kaja Kallas, the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, believes that Russia is currently not in a sufficiently strong position in its war against Ukraine and therefore must be pushed to the negotiating table – something that China could help achieve.

Cyprus, Switzerland, Monaco and Panama have joined the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children abducted by Russia. The coalition now comprises 49 members.

Ukraine will begin receiving the first payments under the European Union's €90 billion loan no earlier than June 2026.

Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, has said ahead of a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 11 May that EU foreign ministers would discuss possible negotiations between the European Union and Russia.

Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, has said that former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder cannot serve as a European Union negotiator in talks aimed at ending Russia's war against Ukraine.

Around €30 billion earmarked to support the Ukrainian military in 2026 under the EU's €90 billion loan will be spent on drones in two large tranches, ammunition, missiles, including long-range missiles, and air defence systems.