Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed reports that he asked Roman Abramovich to pass on an offer of direct talks to Vladimir Putin. A Russian oligarch loyal to the Kremlin may be a surprise choice of messenger for Kyiv, but the former Chelsea owner has a history of acting as go-between since the start of Russia’s invasion.

Russia has increased its pressure on Armenia ahead of Sunday’s parliamentary elections, pulling out virtually all the stops linked to trade should its long-term ally persist in its ambitions to join the European Union. Moscow has threatened to raise gas prices, put measures in place to be able to restrict the Russian import of certain Armenian products and warned it may suspend the country from the Eurasian Economic Union.

Parliamentary elections in malta began on Saturday as voters cast their ballots in elections likely to secure a record-setting fourth term for the Labour government, according to opinion polls, despite concerns about over-construction and corruption in the tiny Mediterranean nation. Preliminary results are expected on Sunday afternoon.

Luc V. de Zeeuw posted a photo: Chateau de Gromesnil standing in its landscaped gardens with a path and manicured shrubs under a cloudy sky

With the US bogged down in its war against Iran, Ukraine has been urging Europe to step up and play an active role in negotiations on bringing the Russian invasion to an end. But EU officials say the bloc first needs to be aligned on what it wants to say to Moscow – and who would be best placed to serve as a mediator. 

In this week's briefing, RFE/RL Europe Editor Rikard Jozwiak, drills down on two issues: the terrorist threat Russia poses to the EU, and Brussels’ expanded mission to Ukraine.

With Europeans sizzling in a record-breaking heatwave in May, and lands and rivers facing severe drought conditions in April, the effects of extreme climate-related events are becoming increasingly obvious. We sit down with the EU's Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth, Dutch politician Wopke Hoekstra, to talk about the EU's carbon emissions reduction targets, the next COP summit, and, of course, the energy crisis resulting from the war in the Middle East.

Pope Leo XIV arrived in Spain on Saturday for a seven-day trip focused in part on migration, including a visit to the Canary Islands where he will honour thousands of migrants who died trying to reach Europe. Leo is also scheduled to meet with victims of sex abuse by Catholic clergy, which some 200,000 minors are estimated to have suffered in Spain since 1940.

Former title holders crashed out at Paris's Roland-Garros tennis stadium and PSG faced off with Arsenal in Budapest to win their second Champions League final in a row as a heatwave shattered European temperature records for the month of May: FRANCE 24 looks back at some of the week's most striking images.

Russian strikes killed four people and wounded 10 others in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region, according to local officials. The attack hit the city of Chuguiv, causing fires, damaging residential buildings and vehicles, and adding to a surge in civilian casualties amid intensified fighting in recent months.

The EU Migration Pact comes into force today, two years after it was adopted by EU member states.

Voters have slashed their support for the governing Labour Party in council elections. But the PM says he’s not walking away, even as his colleagues blame him for the backlash.