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Ukraine War04 October, 20262 min read

Ursula Von Der Leyen Says EU Will Keep Sanctions Until Russia Stops The War

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EU will not lift sanctions until Russia stops the war. von der Leyen reiterated sanctions will stay until Moscow ends the war at EU summit.

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Ursula Von Der Leyen Says EU Will Keep Sanctions Until Russia Stops The War
Image: Українські Національні Новини (УНН)

EU backs Ukraine, sanctions

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told journalists that “we will not lift any sanctions as long as Russia does not stop the war,” as European Council President António Costa said “This is not the time to withdraw support for Ukraine.” Donald Trump described Volodymyr Zelenskiy as “not someone it is easy to deal with for us,” while Zelenskiy told “Piers Morgan Uncensored” that it was “painful” for Trump to “pick a side... not ours.”

Zelenskiy and Costa arrived in Brussels for an EU leaders’ summit, and Costa told reporters, “You can count on us,” as the EU framed its position around continuing assistance and keeping sanctions tied to Russia stopping the war. Von der Leyen also said, “There is one thing that is completely clear,” as she linked the EU’s sanctions stance to Russia’s conduct in the war.

Image from 21News
Image: 21News
Reporting for this sectionAl-Arabi al-Jadeed

Drone war and energy row

Ukraine abandoned a brief truce involving energy-related targets and attacked a Russian oil refinery, as the State Emergency Service said a Russian drone attack on Ukraine’s central Kirovohrad region killed three people and injured six.

The drone strike started a fire at the refinery about 300 kilometers (180 miles) southeast of Moscow in Russia’s Ryazan region, according to the Russian Defense Ministry and Ryazan Gov. Pavel Malkov.

Image from ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Image: ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Zelenskyy said he was outraged by Russia’s continuing aerial bombardment of energy infrastructure in apparent defiance of Trump’s demand on Sunday for both sides to halt those attacks, and Zelenskyy told the Financial Times that Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries would resume, saying “We’re done,”.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Thursday that Ukraine never stopped its strikes on refineries, while Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called the strikes a “direct and crude challenge to President Trump.”

Reporting for this sectionAP News

Brussels meetings, Starlink limits

Volodymyr Zelensky sought to boost European support for Ukraine at the European Union summit in Brussels after Kyiv resumed strikes on Russian oil refineries, and Zelensky met NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to stress the need to supply anti-air missiles and ammunition. Zelensky said Russian forces had launched around a thousand drones since midnight Wednesday until Thursday afternoon, and Rutte called for implementing the Energy Ceasefire that Trump announced on Sunday even though the Kremlin did not confirm its approval.

Zelensky told the Financial Times that what happened “was not a technical problem, but was deliberate,” after Kyiv said it faced restrictions in using Starshield satellite services and said the service was restored as of Thursday. Donald Trump described Ukraine’s resumed strikes on Russian oil refineries as “shameful,” adding that they contribute to higher global energy prices, while Zelensky wrote on the eve of his working session with EU leaders that “we need strong signals, i.e., more real pressure on Russia and more defensive support for Ukraine.”

Reporting for this sectionArab 48Al-Khaleej Newspaper