The Capitals brings you the latest news from across Europe, thanks to on-the-ground reporting by EURACTIV’s media network. You can subscribe to the newsletter here.

Before you start reading today’s edition of Capitals, be sure to take a look at the article Ukraine applies for fast-track EU membership, by Alexandra Brzozowski.

European news you deserve to read. welcome to Capitals by EURACTIV.

In today’s news from the capitals:

POLISH-UKRAINIAN BORDER

As Poland becomes a logistical hub for Ukraine’s arms supply, Hungary has said it will not allow the transit of lethal weapons through its territory. EURACTIV’s Alexandra Brzozowski and Sarantis Michalopoulos report from the Polish-Ukrainian border. Read more.

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BERLIN

The German debt brake still applies, despite the historical commitment to defense spending. The 100 billion euros the German government announced on Sunday that it would spend on military equipment does not mean additional spending is on the table in other areas, a German government spokesman said Monday. Read more.

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PARIS

Putin plans to stop targeting civilians after a call with Macron. Russian President Vladimir Putin has ‘confirmed his willingness to engage’ to stop strikes against civilians, preserve ‘all civilian infrastructure’ and secure roads so they can be ‘free and safe’ following an appeal with French President Emmanuel Macron, the Elysee Palace said in a statement. press release issued on Monday. Read more.

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VIENNA

Vienna will provide 15 million euros in humanitarian aid to Ukraine. The Austrian government will provide 15 million euros in aid, 10,000 helmets and fuel to help the Ukrainian population suffering from the ongoing Russian-led war, the government announced. Read more.

UNITED KINGDOM AND IRELAND

LONDON

Johnson under fire for his “confusing” stance on Ukrainian refugees. Boris Johnson’s government is under pressure to open the UK to Ukrainian refugees after Home Secretary Priti Patel said on Monday the government would not waive visa requirements. Read more.

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DUBLIN

Irish PM: Non-lethal aid to Ukraine, not against military neutrality. Ireland will mainly provide non-lethal supplies under the EU’s military aid program to Ukraine after deciding not to supply weapons in line with its policy of military neutrality. Read more.

NORDIC AND BALTIC

HELSINKI

Finnish companies are beginning to cut ties with Russia. Big Finnish companies are distancing themselves from all things Russian in a show of solidarity with Ukraine. Read more.

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COPENHAGEN

Denmark sends weapons, allows nationals to fight in Ukraine. Denmark will supply Ukraine with high-tech weapons, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Sunday at a short press conference alongside Defense Minister Morten Bødsko, adding that the Danes are free to fight for the ‘Ukraine. Read more.

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VILNIUS | CHISINAU

Lithuania is ready to accept up to 2,000 Ukrainians from Moldova. Lithuania is “ready to accept up to 2,000 refugees who are in Moldova and transfer them to Lithuania”, the interior minister said. Agnė Bilotaitė announced Monday in a Facebook post. Read more.

SOUTHERN EUROPE

MADRID

Ribera of Spain: Rroom for additional measures to mitigate the impact of the war on energy markets. “There is room” for further action at EU level to mitigate the impact of the war in Ukraine on energy supply and prices, Spain’s transition minister said on Monday ecological, Teresa Ribera, adding that this can also be done at national level in Europe. , EURACTIV partner EFE reported. Read more.

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Spain will soon deploy additional troops to support NATO allies. Spain will soon deploy troops to the border between its NATO allies and Russia, Defense Minister Margarita Robles announced on Monday. Read more.

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ROME

Italy declares a state of emergency following the Russian-Ukrainian war. Italy has declared a state of emergency following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and will send arms and aid to the latter according to a decree approved by the Italian Council of Ministers on Monday. Read more.

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LISBON

Portugal will contribute 8 to 10 million euros to the EU arms package for Ukraine. Portugal’s contribution to the European arms supply package for the Ukrainian army will be around “8 to 10 million euros”, Defense Minister João Gomes Cravinho announced on Monday. Read more.

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Ukrainian Ambassador to Portugal asks for support for EU membership, diplomatic cut with Russia. Ukraine’s ambassador to Portugal on Monday asked the Portuguese government to support the country’s EU membership and consider the possibility of severing relations with Russia, thanking the sanctions and military assistance. Read more.

VISEGRAD

PRAGUE

Czech Prosecutor: Endorsing Russian Aggression is a Criminal Offense. Public speeches endorsing the Russian invasion of Ukraine or praising the leadership of the Russian Federation could be considered a criminal offence, Czech Prosecutor General Igor Stříž warned in an official statement. Read more.

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WARSAW

Polish media are calling on tech giants to block Russian propaganda accounts. Polish media, including major newspapers, online news services and radio stations, have called on big tech companies to block accounts and pages linked to Russian government propaganda as Russia continues to make the war in Ukraine. Read more.

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BRATISLAVA

Slovakia supports the rapid accession of Ukraine to the EU. Prime Minister Eduard Heger (OĽaNO) wants to develop a “special path” for Ukraine’s integration into the EU. Ukraine’s membership was also supported by President Zuzana Čaputová. Both are in close contact with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who is calling on the EU to grant Ukraine immediate membership. Read more.

BALKAN NEWS

PRISTINE | BELGRADE

Vucic: Kosovo’s demand for accelerated NATO membership idea of ​​EU and US lobbyists. Kosovo’s application for fast-track NATO membership is a brainchild of EU and US lobbyists aimed at pressuring NATO members who do not recognize Kosovo to do so, asserted Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, adding that “it is not the Kosovo Albanians’ idea, it is their lobbyists’ in the EU and the United States”, read more.

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SOFIA

Bulgaria will not send fighters, troops to Ukraine. Bulgaria will not send troops or fighters to Ukraine, Prime Minister Kiril Petkov announced it on Monday, noting that his country does not have enough planes to protect its own skies. Read more.

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ZAGREB

Croatia must send arms to Ukraine, provide health care to refugees. Croatia will send weapons worth 16.5 million euros to Ukraine and provide health care for the country’s refugees, as well as necessary medical assistance for the injured, Croatian ministers of health said on Monday. Defense and Health. Read more.

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LJUBLJANA

Slovenia sends military aid, including weapons, to Ukraine. Slovenia has sent rifles, ammunition and helmets to Ukraine, Defense Minister Matej Tonin announced on Monday, adding that aid had already been sent on board “several planes” without revealing the exact quantities. Read more.

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BELGRADE

Sberbank Serbia liquid, unrelated to ECB restrictions. Sberbank Serbia is liquid and well capitalized, the National Bank of Serbia (NBS) reported on Monday, adding that an estimate by the European Central Bank (ECB) that the bank could face bankruptcy due to a significant leakage of deposits which allegedly took place in the branches of the bank in Croatia, Austria and Slovenia, did not refer to it. Read more.

EU reiterates call on Serbia to impose sanctions on Russia. The European Union has repeatedly called on Serbia to join the EU in imposing sanctions against Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. Read more.

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WESTERN BALKANS

Frontex: Western Balkans’ main entry point for weapons smuggled into the EU. The Western Balkans are the main entry point for firearms smuggling into the EU, while among nationals of the region, Albanians are most often found using forged documents, Frontex said, l EU border control agency, in an annual risk analysis report. Read more.

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SARAJEVO

Dodik ready to block BiH’s decision to join EU sanctions against Russia. Bosnia and Herzegovina will not join EU sanctions against Russia, says Milorad Dodik, the Serbian member of the tripartite presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina regarding a decision that requires the support of the three members of the presidency. The two others, Šefik Džaferović and Željko Komšić support the sanctions. Read more.

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SKOPJE

North Macedonia to donate military equipment to Ukraine. Macedonian government to donate military materials and equipment to Ukraine, confirmed government press office announcement by Defense Minister Slavjanka Petrovska. Read more.

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PODGORIC

A rally in support of Russia in Nikšić. President Milo Đukanović condemned the Russian invasion, but the Assembly is still discussing the declaration on Ukraine. Read more.

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WESTERN BALKANS

Green transition on the agenda of the EBRD summit in the Balkans.The transition to green energy was at the center of discussions between six Western Balkan leaders at the fifth EBRD summit on investment in the Western Balkans, in particular wind and solar energy. Read more.

AGENDA:

• EU: European Parliament extraordinary debate on Ukraine with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel and EU Foreign Minister Josep Borrell / European Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni participates in the meeting G7 Finance Ministers / Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in Brussels.
• Germany: Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck travels to the United States to meet with several members of the US Biden administration / Chancellor Olaf Scholz receives Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel and ECB President Christine Lagarde in Berlin.
• Italy: Prime Minister Draghi reports to Parliament on the Ukrainian crisis.
• Poland/Estonia: NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg meets Polish President Andrzej Duda and Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas in their respective countries.
• Slovakia: Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson in Bratislava.
• Bulgaria: Parliament will hold an extraordinary session to accept the resignation of Defense Minister Stefan Yanev and vote for Todor Tagarev as his successor.
• Romania: A meeting of the Supreme Defense Council is scheduled for Tuesday morning.

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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Alexandra Brzozowski, Daniel Eck, Benjamin Fox, Zoran Radosavljevic, Alice Taylor]