EU pushes ahead with new sanctions — Russian gas ban moved to 2027 as Zelenskyy visits Brussels for key talks on aid and frozen assets.

Brussels

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with European Union leaders as the EU approved its 19th package of sanctions targeting Russia's shadow fleet, banking, and energy sectors. The new measures followed Slovakia lifting its veto, enabling the bloc to move forward. EU leaders also discussed securing Ukraine's financial needs for the coming years, including military equipment, and considered using frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine. However, concerns remain among some EU members about the legal risks of using these assets.

The EU is finalizing a major defense roadmap aimed at strengthening its military capabilities by 2030, including countering Russian drone attacks and building an anti-missile defense system. While some member states are cautious about transferring defense responsibilities to the EU level, the proposed plan seeks to reduce reliance on U.S. protection and enhance security for countries bordering Russia.

Zelenskyy meets EU as new sanctions on Russia advance

Each time EU leaders welcome Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky into EU buildings, they want to tell Russian President Vladimir Putin that they would never be outmanoeuvred by Moscow and that they will continue their support for Kyiv. The bloc has finally managed to implement new sanctions after Slovakia lifted its veto. Today, in the morning, we approved already the 19th package of sanctions targeting shadow fleet, banking and energy sector of Russia. And today in this European Council we will take the political decision to ensure the financial needs of Ukraine for 2026 and 2027, including for acquisition of military equipment. And this is a very strong message to Russia. Zelensky is asking for more money and more powerful weapons. His country needs to plug a deficit in the budget and compensate for US support scrapped under President Donald Trump. I agree with you totally that Russia doesn't show that they want to stop this war, they attack us. You see, again, kindergartens, schools, just civilians, and they increase this pressure. It means that we have not only to defend with all Europe, with the United States together, we have to pressure on Putin to stop this war. Zelensky wants to use Russian frozen assets to buy weapons as soon as possible. Most of those assets are in banks in Belgium, whose Prime Minister remains cautious. But the Uyghur wants strong guarantees his country won't face legal action from Russia. We know that there are vast amounts of Russian money in other countries who have always been silent about this. If we move, we must move all together. That's European solidarity. If these three demands, which are quite reasonable, I think, are met, then we can go forward. If not, I will do everything in my power at the European level, also at the national level, politically and legally, to stop this decision. The EU is also finalizing its defense roadmap, one of its largest projects in decades. But it still faces legal and administrative hurdles. Many nations consider defense an issue of national sovereignty that should not be left to the EU. But if approved, the new defense policy will invest heavily to counter the risk of Russian drone attacks, build an efficient anti-missile defense system, increase patrols in countries bordering Russia and protect satellites and space assets. The defense plan aims to expand Europe's military capabilities so that by 2030 it has all it takes to repel any potential threat from Russia and defend itself without having to rely on U.S. protection. Hashim al-Bara' al-Jazeera, Brussels.

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New York

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Seoul

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Vatican City

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Seattle–Tacoma International Airport

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Vilnius

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Ukraine Invasion

Trump imposes new Russia sanctions

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Jerusalem

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Paris

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The Hague

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Kharkiv

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Breakdown