U.K. Warned by EU Ally Denmark Not to Expect Any Brexit Favors - Bloomberg

The U.K. may be a key ally of Denmark, but that doesn’t mean it should expect any favors from the government in Copenhagen when it negotiates its departure from the European Union.

"Our objective is to make the best possible deal for Denmark," Danish Foreign Minister Kristian Jensen told Bloomberg when asked about future Brexit talks.

The small Scandinavian nation has often sided with Britain during discussions in Brussels. The two countries are broadly in favor of the free market and have refused to join the bloc’s common currency, the euro.

They have both obtained important opt-outs from EU rules since joining the club, in 1973, while Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen was one of the most enthusiastic supporters of David Cameron’s efforts to crack down on so-called "benefit tourism."

However, Jensen stressed Friday that Denmark was gearing up to defend its business interests. His comments provide a taste of the kind of reception that U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May can expect when she discusses the terms of her country’s EU divorce with the remaining 27 member states.

Read more: U.K. Warned by EU Ally Denmark Not to Expect Any Brexit Favors - Bloomberg

Ukraine: Suddenly, Europe Is Taking a Harder Line on Russia Sanctions - by Carol Matlack and Arne Delfs

As violence escalates in eastern Ukraine, Europe is moving toward an action some thought it might never take: the imposition of stringent economic sanctions on Russia. Angela Merkel, the Russian-speaking German chancellor whose country has more at stake financially than any other, is leading the charge.

Until recently, much of the toughest talk of sanctions was coming from Washington, while the Europeans were regarded as—well, wimps. But now, Berlin “is already busy coordinating the next phase of sanctions behind the scenes,” a high-ranking German government official tells Bloomberg News. “These economic sanctions will be much wider-ranging and also more hurtful to business interests.”

Merkel has fired two warning shots at Moscow in recent days. Berlin announced today that Germany had suspended granting licenses for arms exports to Russia, after saying on April 11 that a planned $973 million satellite-technology deal between Russia and Airbus Group (AIR:FP) had been put on hold.

 Read more: Suddenly, Europe Is Taking a Harder Line on Russia Sanctions - Businessweek