Ukraine War & EU Security: Russian drones hit a Kyiv–Warsaw passenger train and nearby fuel/transport infrastructure near the Ukraine–Poland border, prompting evacuations and fresh calls in EU capitals for tougher sanctions as the conflict edges closer to NATO’s doorstep. EU Enlargement: Albania closes its first accession chapters (science/research, education/culture, external relations), with the Commission calling it a key milestone as the country pushes to close more of the 33 chapters. Canada–EU Pivot: Prime Minister Mark Carney explores a new “associate member” style status with the EU to deepen access for strategic sectors amid escalating US trade tensions. UK Constitutional Shockwaves: Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland leaders plan a joint declaration in Cardiff to press for independence referendum rights, raising pressure on UK PM Andy Burnham. EU Border Tech U-turn: The EU shelves its entry-exit system rollout in multiple countries to keep “border fluidity,” underlining friction over facial recognition controls. Kosovo Politics: Kosovo’s parliament re-elects Albin Kurti as PM, but failure to elect a president could trigger another snap election. Sanctions List Fight: EU member states again clash over renewing Russian sanctions, with Slovakia and France pushing to keep Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman off the list.