Ukraine Funding & Accession: The EU is set to keep backing Kyiv with a €100bn package in the 2028-34 budget plan, while Ukraine says it expects all EU accession negotiating clusters to open by end-2026. Russia–NATO Hybrid Warnings: Poland’s PM warns Russia may stage “accidental” strikes on NATO states to weaken Article 5, as Macron and other leaders cite intensifying Russian hybrid operations. EU Defence Cash for Drones/Missiles: The Commission will disburse another €3.3bn to Ukraine under the “Ukraine Support” loan for missiles and drones. EU Kids Act: The Commission proposes EU-wide restrictions on social media for children under 13, including tighter default privacy and limits on addictive design. Finance & Banking Union Push: ECB officials say European banks need bigger scale and deeper capital markets to compete with Wall Street, urging progress on banking integration. Energy Shock & Windfall Tax: EU governments discuss a bloc-wide windfall tax on energy firms as fuel prices surge amid Middle East disruptions. Canada–EU “Associate Member” Plan: Mark Carney backs a new Canada-EU alliance after the EU floated “associate membership,” drawing US backlash and sparking debate over what the status would mean. Russia Asset Seizures: Putin signs a decree placing Russian assets of European retailers under temporary management, including Nestlé and French groups Auchan and Leroy Merlin. Regional Security & Shipping: EU naval missions in the Red Sea raise alert levels as Houthi attacks disrupt trade routes. Georgia Pro-European Protests: Pro-European rallies continue for 660 days, with a political prisoner released amid ongoing pressure on the government.