Ukraine, EU Strengthen Mobile, Digital Ties

Ukrainian and European telcos extended a pact giving refugees connectivity while they live in EU countries. The voluntary agreement allows over 4 million people to access roaming without surcharges and affordable international calls, the European Commission said. Telcos agreed to extend the plan for six months, broaden it to cover calls to fixed line numbers in Ukraine and ensure sustainable inter-operator prices. Seven Ukrainian and 20 European operators signed the joint statement, which is open to all telcos "willing to sign in an expression of solidarity with the people of Ukraine." Separately, European Council President Charles Michel, EC President Ursula von der Leyen and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted in a Feb. 3 statement that the EU "reconfirmed its solidarity with Ukraine in countering hybrid threats and cyberattacks" and "acknowledged the importance of strengthening cooperation in tackling Russian state-controlled information manipulation and interference, including disinformation, as well as building resilience in Ukraine's digital transformation."