**EU to Continue Talks with Ukraine on Gas Supplies**
The European Commission will continue negotiations with Ukraine about supplying gas to Europe. This includes Hungary and Slovakia, which still get some of their gas from Russia.
Ukraine stopped Russian gas supplies on January 1st because the contract ended. Some EU countries are worried about energy security.
A statement from an EU diplomat said: “The Commission is ready to continue discussions with Ukraine on the supply to Europe through the gas pipeline system in Ukraine.”
Hungary and Slovakia have been asking for guarantees that they will get enough gas. They were worried about being cut off from Russian supplies.
**EU Ministers Agree to Extend Sanctions**
At a meeting of EU foreign ministers, they agreed to extend sanctions against Russia. This was after some countries, like Hungary and Slovakia, got the “guarantees” they needed on energy security.
Before this, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban had said he would veto any decision to extend sanctions if Ukraine didn’t resume transit of Russian gas to Europe. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico also threatened to limit aid to Ukraine and cut electricity supplies.
**EU Countries Boost Defense Spending**
Several EU countries have promised to increase their defense spending. Lithuania will spend between 5% and 6% of its GDP on defense until at least 2030. Estonia will raise its defense spending from 3.7% of GDP to 5%.
Poland’s interior minister said: “Fundamental rights and democratic values are core principles of EU integration. Officials that represent a country which trample down these values should not benefit from easier access to the EU.”
**Ukraine Denies Giving Predictions on War**
A statement was made saying Ukraine had predicted “serious consequences” for its existence if negotiations didn’t start by summer. However, Ukrainian military intelligence denied making this prediction.
**Other News**
Russian forces have been attacking near a village in Donetsk Oblast. There were reports of explosions in western Ukrainian cities.
