EU Leaders Meet in Brussels on Ukraine as von der Leyen Vows No Sanctions Relief Until Russia Ends War
At a European Council summit in Brussels on 16 October, EU leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed winter support for Ukraine and its path to EU membership. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said sanctions on Russia will stay until it stops the war.
European Union leaders are meeting in Brussels on 16 October for a European Council summit, joined by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to discuss support for Ukraine in the war launched by Russia. The talks come as relations between Kyiv and Washington have worsened, and their outcome bears on Ukraine's winter preparations and its progress towards EU membership.
Sanctions and accession
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, responding to pressure from the US, stressed that EU sanctions on Russia will not be lifted until it stops the war. She accused Moscow of violating the energy ceasefire announced by US President Donald Trump, saying Russia instead escalated its attacks. The summit is also due to address opening two further negotiating clusters in Ukraine's accession talks before the end of the year.
European Council President António Costa said EU support for Ukraine remains as strong as ever, adding that this is no time to withdraw support or ease sanctions on Russia. In his words, that is essential to bring Russia to accept a real ceasefire and come to the negotiating table.
Assessments of the situation
The EU's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, called the situation in Ukraine "really grave", saying Russia shows no sign of wanting to end the war or agree a truce. She said talks with the US are currently very difficult, and recalled that frozen Russian assets will not be returned until Russia pays reparations to Ukraine.
Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin called for a European response, including faster use of the EU's €90bn loan and the opening of accession clusters. Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs said Ukraine needs financial and military support to get through the winter. He said Russia's oil revenues had been boosted by the US war in Iran and the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz.
Zelenskyy thanked European leaders for their support and said he sees no signals that Russia is ready to end the war, so Ukraine must prepare for winter in both energy and defence.
Situation in Ukraine
Overnight Russian attacks killed at least three people in Kharkiv, and 370,000 people in the Volyn region lost power. Ukraine is struggling with a shortage of interceptor missiles. The leaders will also discuss migration and foreign policy.
