European Union

Tusk spoke on the occasion of an informal EU summit in Cyprus where EU leaders will also discuss the war in the Middle East, energy measures in response and the Union's next long-term budget.

Russian news agencies quoted a statement by diplomats at Russia's mission to the European Union as saying the measures were meaningless without a decision from the UN Security Council.

Cyprus is physically close to Israel and Lebanon and has close ties with Israel and Greece, with Cyprus-based PhileNews noting that “Thursday’s working dinner centers on geopolitical developments."

The EU plans to cut electricity taxes and coordinate gas storage efforts to mitigate the energy fallout from the Iran conflict, without major market interventions.

The European Commission is due to present a broader package of energy and transport measures, with the EU's transport chief noting no signs of "widespread [flight] cancellations" in the near future.

"A Government that violates international law and, therefore, the principles and values of the EU cannot be our partner," Sanchez wrote

Baghaei was responding to an X/Twitter post by Kaja Kallas, who had written that "Under international law, transit through waterways like the Strait of Hormuz must remain open and free of charge."

Syria, which had most Western sanctions lifted at the end of last year, is seeking broader integration into the international community under interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O’Flaherty visited Germany in October 2025, during which he said he saw increasing pressure on democratic freedoms and undue restrictions on peaceful protests.

With Orban’s departure from power following the recent elections, Israel is waking up to a starkly different European landscape.