European Council
EU leaders supported Ukraine and pressure on Russia but did not agree on funding. Zelenskyy requested at least €70 billion for 2027.
Zelenskyy said that the war will cost €155 billion next year. He asked the EU to additionally allocate €70 billion to Ukraine for defense and resilience.
Mette Frederiksen said she had not heard any calls for Zelenskyy to soften his criticism of Trump. She defended the president's right to speak out.
The German chancellor said that decisions regarding Russian assets frozen in Europe should be made by Europeans. He called for increased aid to Ukraine.
Zelenskyy will meet with European leaders and the NATO Secretary General in Brussels. He called for increased pressure on Russia and support for Ukraine.
The leaders of three countries called for permission to block burdensome EU laws. They also propose speeding up approval processes and reducing bureaucracy.
EU leaders plan to demand tougher sanctions against Russia and limit Moscow's oil revenues. This comes in defiance of Trump's deal with Putin on diesel fuel exports.
The prime ministers of Estonia and Latvia and the president of Lithuania called on the EU to ban the transit of Russian grain. The issue will be considered next week.
The Ukrainian delegation in the United States will discuss strengthening air defense and current issues with the American side. European partners will join the talks.
Zelenskyy and Costa discussed Russian strikes, negotiating clusters, and the winter energy package. Ukraine received a €1.2 billion EU tranche.
September brought diplomatic initiatives, strikes on energy infrastructure, and budget decisions. In October, new rules, negotiations, and events are expected.
The EU will call on Ukraine to accelerate anti-corruption and tax reforms in order to receive financial support for 2026. So far, €14.9 billion has been allocated.
Germany and five other EU countries are demanding a substantial cut to the 2028–2034 budget. They also want to change spending priorities.
The European Commission is planning clear schedules for reforms and negotiations for Ukraine, Montenegro, Moldova and Albania. They will not be offered to other candidates for now.
António Costa called for the creation of new EU taxes to finance defence and competitiveness. Germany is demanding a reduction in the bloc’s budget.
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar said that Budapest does not support the expedited accession of any candidate country to the EU. The Union’s budget will be supported provided that it benefits Hungary.
The European Commission has not yet received a letter from four countries regarding Russia's frozen assets. The issue of a reparations loan remains on the agenda.
The EU aims to prepare a joint response to Russia’s hybrid threats by 2030. New sources of funding are being considered for this purpose.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said that Ukraine must fulfill all the conditions for EU accession without exceptions. However, he is ready to share his integration experience.
On Ukraine’s Independence Day, iconic structures in six countries around the world were illuminated in blue and yellow. The displays became a symbol of solidarity.
Zelenskyy and European Council President Costa discussed Ukraine’s needs for antiballistic systems and financing. They also discussed support for exports after Russian strikes.
Leaders of the Coalition of the Willing will meet on August 24 to discuss strengthening Ukraine’s air defense, pressure on Russia, and security guarantees.
Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa expressed support for the ICC and its independence after the US sanctions against court officials.
The Trump–Putin summit in August 2025 did not lead to a ceasefire or a peace agreement. A year later, the fighting continues, and Ukraine is once again submitting proposals to the United States.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced a new international format that will unite the countries of the region around security, economy and tourism. The initiative was supported by the presidents of the European Council and the European Commission.
António Costa approved Spain's decisive actions to return migrants in Ceuta. The escalation of the migration crisis led to the death of at least 57 people.
European leaders condemned the Russian attack that violated Poland's airspace. They stated it poses a threat to Europe's security and promised to increase support for Ukraine.
The EU proposes to impose sanctions against over 1,600 companies that help Russia in the war against Ukraine. This is the largest sanctions package, which will increase the number of sanctioned entities by 50%.
In 2022, Russian occupiers committed a war crime, killing at least 50 Ukrainian prisoners of war in Olenivka. The victims were the defenders of Mariupol who left Azovstal.
The European Council has adopted sanctions against 15 individuals and one organization responsible for human rights violations against Ukrainian prisoners of war. Among those listed are individuals involved in torture in Olenivka and the pre-trial detention center in Taganrog.