As reported by NRK, a Norwegian state-owned public broadcaster, Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said Norway is allocating NOK 425 million (about US$45.8 million) for the development of renewable energy sources, battery storage systems and decentralised energy systems to make Ukraine's power grid less vulnerable.

The funds will be channelled through the EU to help Ukraine modernise its infrastructure.

"Ukraine must get through another winter while building an energy system that is less vulnerable to new attacks," Eide said.

In late 2025, Norway's government said that Norway's total financial support for Ukraine will have exceeded €19.4 billion by the end of 2026.

In late March, it was reported that Ukrainian and Norwegian companies will receive NOK 93 million, or €8 million, in support from the Norwegian government for pilot projects in renewable energy and medicine supplies.

As reported by Interfax-Ukraine, the embassy stressed that it will remain in Kyiv despite the Russian threats.

"Our embassy continues to operate as usual in accordance with our security framework. We are not withdrawing personnel or making any other changes to our staffing. The German Embassy is here in Kyiv – on Ukraine's side," the embassy stated.

Earlier the same day, Germany summoned the Russian ambassador with regard to Russia's threats of further strikes on Kyiv.

Russian representatives were also summoned by the European External Action Service and Norway's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarína Mathernová has said that Western diplomats will not be leaving Kyiv despite Russia's latest threats.

Read more in article by Sergiy Sydorenko and Yurii Panchenko of European Pravda: Ukraine’s Belarus strategy: why Kyiv is acting against US line and what Tsikhanouskaya’s visit has to do with it. 

In reality, Belarus is of enormous importance to Ukraine’s security.

The Ukrainian-Belarusian border stretches for more than 1,000 kilometres. That fact alone should be enough to explain why Belarus’s future matters so much to Ukraine.

But it matters just as much to Putin, including for purely military reasons. It was from Belarusian territory that Russian troops launched their offensive on Kyiv in 2022. Today, Belarus also plays an important role in aerial attacks against Ukraine, including the coordination of long-range FPV drones and other operations.

And even after the war ends, Belarus’s future will remain one of the defining factors for Ukraine’s development. This is not only about security, although that aspect is also crucial. It is one thing to maintain readiness for a potential attack from the east; it is another to remain prepared for threats from both the east and the north.

The economic dimension is equally important.

If Belarus ceases to function as a Russian satellite, Ukraine would gain access to Baltic ports and direct export routes to the Baltic states, while also reducing its logistical dependence on Poland.

During her visit to Kyiv, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya stated that Ukraine and the Belarusian people share a common task: ending Russian aggression, after which the two countries would "build a European future together".

"We must understand: without a free Belarus, there can be no secure Ukraine; and without an independent and free Ukraine, there can be no democratic Belarus. Our destinies are closely intertwined," she added.

Another important point is that Belarus is one of the few countries where Ukraine could become an unquestioned geopolitical leader and, in the future, a genuine role model.

In recent months and weeks, the West has begun to shift its policy toward Belarus and Lukashenko’s dictatorship. Not everyone supports these changes; disagreements over the issue have already spilled into the media.

The United States has started significantly adjusting its approach towards Belarus and personally towards Alexander Lukashenko in the direction of rapprochement.

Media reports have already described US pressure on Vilnius to allow the resumption of exports of Belarusian fertilisers through Lithuania. So far, the Lithuanian authorities have resisted and refused to agree. But there is no guarantee that the embargo will remain in place indefinitely.

And this is where Ukraine has found itself in an unusual role.

Kyiv has categorically refused to ease pressure on Lukashenko and has instead begun publicly calling for tougher sanctions.

This represents a new geopolitical role for Ukraine.

Because in reality, this is not merely a disagreement or even confrontation with the United States. Several influential Western capitals have also begun pursuing a new approach, amounting to a form of engagement with Lukashenko.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha announced that Ukraine is considering introducing new sanctions proposed during the visit by the team of Belarus’s democratic forces.

Such a move by Kyiv increases the political weight of the Belarusian democratic opposition and of the Belarusian people whom it represents, rather than Lukashenko. But it is also important for Ukraine itself, as a way of maintaining Western pressure on the Belarusian dictator.

 Anitta Hipper, lead spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said Russia's threats to foreign nationals and diplomats, accompanied by calls for them to leave Kyiv, constitute an unacceptable escalation of the war.

"The European External Action Service summoned the Chargé d'Affaires, calling on Russia to stop hitting civilians and to engage in genuine peace talks starting with a full and unconditional ceasefire," she wrote on X.

Hipper also stressed that the EU Delegation will be staying in Kyiv despite the Russian threats.

Poland's Foreign Ministry stated earlier that it will regard any Russian strikes on Polish diplomatic missions as deliberate and intentional and called on Russia to immediately end its aggression.

EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarína Mathernová has said that Western diplomats will not be leaving Kyiv despite Russia's latest threats.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha believes Russia's threats of further strikes on Kyiv are intended to intimidate Western diplomats.

As reported by Polish news portal RMF24, the missiles are expected to be produced at facilities operated by the Polish defence industry. "From a military perspective, this would be an important capability for us," Tomczyk said.

"Poland purchases a large amount of equipment abroad and wants the production of components and related maintenance services to be located in Poland," he added.

Efforts to secure the ability to manufacture Patriot missiles in Poland have been ongoing for a long time. Washington was most likely reluctant to share such unique capabilities in the past, but attitudes may now be changing.

Current production of PAC-3 MSE missiles – the latest version, which Poland would manufacture (according to unofficial reports cited by Defence24) – stands at around 700 units per year. The US aims to increase production to 2,000 missiles annually by the end of 2030.

US stockpiles have recently been depleted by the war with Iran, among others. Missiles in the latest configuration have also been supplied to Ukraine, purchased by allies and the US is seeking not only to replenish but also expand its stockpiles. This is one reason Washington is looking for a manufacturing partner.

"Initially, the Americans were sceptical about allowing Poland to produce PAC-3 missiles for Patriot systems. (...) After we visited the US, I believe everything is now open, and we have received provisional approval from the State Department for the production of missiles for Patriot systems. They will be manufactured by the Polish defence industry. It depends on establishing a consortium of companies to carry out the work; we have such capabilities in Poland," Tomczyk said.

Germany is also seeking to have these missiles manufactured on its territory.

The Polish military already operates two Patriot batteries and is awaiting delivery of six more. The PAC-3 MSE is the latest missile version, although older variants and alternatives from other manufacturers are also available.

Tomczyk said US officials appear "very interested" in a scenario under which Poland would manufacture long-range missiles for HIMARS systems or Hellfire missiles used, among other platforms, by Apache helicopters.

In early May, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, said he saw no indication that deliveries of Patriot batteries would be delayed because of the war in the Middle East.

In April, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was confident that Ukraine would eventually co-produce anti-ballistic systems with European countries.

During the meeting in Kyiv on Tuesday 26 May, Zelenskyy and Tsikhanouskaya discussed the Belarusian people's desire to free themselves from Russian interference and Russia's attempts to further drag Belarus into the war against Ukraine.

"We value every expression of support from Belarusians for a free Ukraine, and we know that the day will come when there will once again be good-neighbourly relations between our states – based on the real independence of both Ukraine and Belarus from Moscow," Zelenskyy said.

He stressed that Ukraine has never posed a threat to Belarus.

Photo: Х / Volodymyr Zelenskyy 

Earlier, Tsikhanouskaya's team said her visit to Kyiv will focus on opening a representative office for Belarusian democratic forces in the Ukrainian capital and coordinating efforts against the Lukashenko regime.

The team also said the sides will discuss cooperation between Belarusian democratic forces and Ukraine, as well as support for Belarusian volunteers fighting for Ukraine and for their families.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said following his meeting with Tsikhanouskaya that Ukraine opposes the easing of sanctions against Belarusian fertiliser producer Belaruskali.

"It would be great to have them [discussions on envoys] when the moment comes and when we see real availability for peace on the side of Russia.

I will not go into further details of the discussions on the peace talks and envoys. You've heard us several times. We don't see any signals whatsoever from President Putin on really wanting any peace," Pinho said. [N.B. European Pravda doesn't recognise Putin as president – ed.]

The European Union remains divided over the appointment of a European representative for direct dialogue with Russia as part of negotiations on peace in Ukraine.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is visiting Lithuania on 26 May to demonstrate EU support for the Baltic states and ensure coordination in response to security threats in the region.

On 25 May, Rustem Umierov, Secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council, held an unannounced meeting in Brussels with Björn Seibert, Head of Cabinet for von der Leyen.

As reported by Ukrinform, Simon Wouda, Head of Taskforce Ukraine at the Dutch Defence Ministry, said that the vehicles had been purchased from civilian industry and repainted in military colours before being transferred to Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces to provide mobility for units operating both strike and interceptor drones. He added that the shipment was only part of a larger aid package that had already been delivered and would continue to be supplied.

Wouda stressed that what mattered was what Ukrainian soldiers received today because they were fighting right now.

He added that speed was crucial and emphasised that the Netherlands was not simply supplying weapons but delivering capabilities. According to Wouda, whenever a weapons system was transferred, it came with spare parts, ammunition, documentation translated into Ukrainian and, if necessary, training.

Representatives of Milrem Robotics, High Eye and Acecore Technologies were also present during the shipment and demonstrated equipment purchased by the Dutch Defence Ministry for Ukrainian troops.

These systems are already being used for reconnaissance, evacuation, logistics, mine detection and autonomous missions.

The Dutch Defence Ministry stressed that unmanned technologies have become one of the key factors in modern warfare and that supporting Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces is a strategic direction of bilateral cooperation.

Earlier, the Netherlands announced it would provide F-16 Fighting Falcon flight simulators for training Ukrainian pilots.

Ukraine has also said it expects training for Ukrainian pilots on Gripen fighter jets to begin later this year.

Croatia expects the first negotiating cluster for Ukraine's EU accession talks to be opened in June.

"Croatia continues to say that Ukraine is more than ready to open the first cluster, and we really do expect it to happen in June," Andreja Metelko-Zgombić, State Secretary of the Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said before the start of the EU General Affairs Council meeting in Brussels.

She added that Croatia expects that "no member state will have any additional objection to it".

Earlier, Margus Tsahkna said he would like the EU to open all six negotiating clusters for Ukraine before the June summit.

Similarly, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said after talks with his Hungarian counterpart Anita Orbán that accession negotiations should be opened by the end of the first half of 2026.

Previously, Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar explained Hungary's condition for opening the first negotiating cluster with Ukraine.

Read more: Who is the new Hungary? Why Ukraine's EU accession talks are still stalling and what comes next

As reported by ERR, an Estonian public broadcaster, last week it emerged that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz had proposed granting Ukraine associate member status without voting rights in the European Union for the duration of accession talks.

Under Merz's proposal, Ukraine would, among other things, be able to appoint a non-voting commissioner to the European Commission and send non-voting representatives to the European Parliament, as well as gradually gain access to the EU budget.

The European Union has no associate members. Previously, the EU concluded association agreements with candidate countries – Estonia, for example, concluded such an agreement in 1995, which laid the groundwork for close cooperation and created the necessary legal framework to prepare the country for EU accession.

The Estonian foreign minister noted that the EU must now focus on the process that will lead Ukraine to full membership. To this end, all six accession negotiating clusters must be opened in June.

Tsahkna also said that Merz's proposal, now made public, had already been circulating when Hungary fully blocked EU progress on enlargement more than two years ago.

"Meanwhile, the situation has changed: a new government has been formed in Hungary, and at this point our recommendation and position is to move clearly forward within the agreed enlargement process – namely, to open all six negotiating chapters ahead of the June Council meeting and to move forward from there. These chapters should be opened for both Ukraine and Moldova. So this alternative path would not advance that work at this stage, and therefore our very clear recommendation and guidance also to other member states is that we will now focus on this full membership process," Tsahkna said.

Tsahkna emphasised that it is currently difficult to assess how quickly Ukraine's accession talks could progress.

"It is very difficult to say, as there are very complex chapters – for example, on agriculture, on free movement of labour and also budgetary questions for the future if Ukraine joins the European Union," Tsahkna said, adding that the topic is highly political.

Marko Mihkelson, chair of the Riigikogu Foreign Affairs Committee, stated that neither Estonia nor Ukraine wants Ukraine to be granted associate member status in the EU.

Mihkelson also noted that it is now important for accession talks to begin next month.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha neither endorsed nor categorically rejected Friedrich Merz's idea of a new format for EU-Ukraine relations but reiterated Kyiv's position.

Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Taras Kachka stated that Ukraine does not object to the element of the German chancellor's "associate membership" proposal concerning participation in EU institutional work prior to full accession.