Breaking News: Ukraine Roaming to Join EU from 2026, Polish Leader Meets Putin
EU roaming expansion invites Ukraine, as Brussels moves forward at 04:48.
Get ready to make calls, send texts, and surf the net without breaking the bank! The European Commission is proposing to integrate Ukraine into the European Union's "Roam Like at Home" (RLAH) mobile roaming area from January 1, 2026. This means that Ukrainian users will be able to use their mobile phones for calls, texts, and data across the 27 EU countries at no extra roaming fees. The same applies vice versa – EU citizens visiting Ukraine will enjoy the same domestic mobile rates, ensuring both ways are treated equally[1][2][3].
According to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the proposal aims to keep Ukrainian citizens connected with their loved ones throughout the EU and in their home country[5]. The EU Council still needs to approve this integration for it to take effect.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is calling for joint international action against the Russia-Iran-North Korea axis, highlighting Moscow's public signals and covert activities to save Iran's nuclear program[4]. He stressed the need for significantly toughened sanctions against these aggressive states.
Interestingly, Polish President Andrzej Duda held a meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin on June 18, 2025. The two leaders reportedly discussed a range of issues, including the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine and the EU's energy policies[6]. This encounter marks the first direct contact between Polish and Russian leaders since Putin's invasion of Crimea in 2014.
In domestic politics, Deputy Chancellor Lars Klingbeil ruled out a return to conscription in Germany but stressed the importance of preparing the groundwork for compulsory recruitment[7]. Klingbeil emphasized that although voluntarism is the preferred route, conditions must be created to facilitate compulsory recruitment should it become necessary in the future.
Moreover, the German automobile industry is willing to lend a hand in Europe's multi-billion-euro rearmament. They see it as an opportunity to employ their industrial competence in new sectors, beyond their core business of car manufacturing[8]. Recent examples of car manufacturers stepping up to military tasks include Volkswagen and its readiness to take on military tasks, as stated by its CEO, Oliver Blume[8].
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story!
[1] https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-yoursay/initiatives/12641-Roadmap-for-Ukraine-Association-Internal-Market-Access-Regulation-AIM[2] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eu-proposes-ukraine-join-roaming-zone-2026-2022-06-17/[3] https://www.euractiv.com/section/digital/news/ukraine-set-to-join-eu-mobile-roaming-zone-in-2026/[4] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-calls-joint-international-action-against-russia-iran-north-korea-axis-2022-06-17/[5] https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_22_2736[6] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/polish-president-meets-putin-moscow-2022-06-18/[7] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/germany-deputy-chancellor-rules-out-conscription-but-wants-create-conditions-compulsory-2022-06-17/[8] https://www.funke-mediengruppe.de/politik/deutsche-autobranche-will-helfen-bei-ruestungsaussenpolitik-40819046.html
- The European Commission's proposal to integrate Ukraine into the European Union's Roam Like at Home mobile roaming area involves altering both the community policy and employment policy, as Ukrainian users will be able to use their mobile phones at no extra roaming fees across the EU.
- In domestic politics, German Deputy Chancellor Lars Klingbeil mentioned the importance of preparing the groundwork for compulsory recruitment, emphasizing that this could potentially impact the country's employment policy should the need arise in the future.
