European Union

After his phone call with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, US President Donald Trump proposed the Vatican as a venue for peace talks on the Ukraine war. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has indicated that she would support Pope Leo XIV in the negotiations. According to the Wall Street Journal, these could begin in mid-June.

Russia's war against Ukraine is increasingly perceived not just as a military conflict, but as a battle against the Western way of life as a whole. A glance at Europe's media reveals that at many different levels the question of how to deal with direct and indirect Russian influence is being posed.

As part of the revision of the EU’s animal welfare legislation, the European Commission presented in December 2023 a proposal for new rules on the protection of animals during transport.

The text almost mirrors the draft first reported by Euractiv earlier this month.

In today’s edition of The Capitals, read about Germany showing signs of ending its anti-nuclear stance, Spain's Sánchez turning to the Arab world for a UN Gaza push, and so much more.

Slovakia’s silence on rejecting an EU tribunal for Russian aggression, despite championing international law, draws criticism from experts and opposition.

PiS-backed candidate Karol Nawrocki signed a far-right pledge by Sławomir Mentzen to secure his second-round support.

Two landmark Italian court rulings have reignited the LGBTQ+ parenthood debate, clashing with Meloni’s hardline stance and restrictive laws.

Kushner's mission extends beyond diplomacy – and his past is nearly impossible to ignore.

Spain leans into its long-held mediator role in the Middle East as Sánchez turns to Erdoğan for support on Gaza at the UN.

Constitutional experts doubt that conditionality will be effective in the long term, especially if richer member states begin to violate EU values.