EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said that any plan to end the war needs the participation of Ukraine and European countries. She emphasized that the EU supports a lasting, strong, and just peace, and welcomes any efforts to achieve it.
Kallas stated that the European Union's ties with Beijing limit the bloc's ability to effectively pressure China regarding its support for Russia in the war in Ukraine.
The European Union has begun work on the 20th package of sanctions against Russia. The goal is to further pressure the aggressor, with potential targets including energy companies and vessels.
The European Commission is tightening visa rules for Russian citizens due to increasing security risks. Russians will no longer be able to obtain multiple-entry visas, requiring a new application for each trip to the EU.
Latvian President Rinkēvičs has returned the law on the country's withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention to the Saeima for "deeper discussion. " This decision has caused widespread public outcry, including a petition with over 62,000 signatures against denunciation.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe visited Brussels to meet with EU foreign policy and intelligence officials. The purpose of the visit was to reaffirm Washington's commitment to intelligence sharing amid European concerns about US foreign policy.
The European Union has condemned Belarus for provocative actions after balloons carrying smuggled cigarettes forced Lithuania to close airports. The EU warned of possible further sanctions but refrained from directly accusing the Lukashenka regime due to Hungary's objections.
The Official Journal of the EU has published the content of the 19th sanctions package, adopted on October 23. The restrictions apply to 116 vessels of the "shadow fleet" and 44 legal entities from various countries, including Russia, Hong Kong, China, India, and Thailand.
The European Union has adopted its 19th package of sanctions, targeting Russian banks, cryptocurrency exchanges, and organizations in India and China. The EU is also restricting the movement of Russian diplomats to counter destabilization.
Of the EU's 185 billion euro reparations credit, 40 billion will cover Ukraine's budget needs, 100 billion will go to military needs, and 45 billion euros will cover the ERA program. The European Commission is working on the implementation mechanism, and the instrument is expected to become available in the first quarter of 2026.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders, including Merz, Macron, and Starmer, advocated for an immediate ceasefire. They propose considering the current line of contact as a starting point for negotiations, supporting Trump's position.
Ukraine's allies are seeking to strengthen its position ahead of Trump-Putin talks, fearing a bad deal. They are preparing a support package that includes funding, weapons, and new sanctions against Russia, and plan to involve Zelenskyy in any negotiations.
26 EU member states have committed to joining the creation of a Special Tribunal on the crime of aggression against Ukraine. This brings closer the start of the tribunal's work, which will investigate crimes of aggression.
EU diplomacy chief Kaja Kallas stated that Russia is not interested in peace and called for increased pressure on Russia. This week, the EU plans to adopt the 19th package of sanctions and use frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine's defense.
EU diplomacy chief Kaja Kallas commented on Trump's upcoming meeting with Putin in Budapest. She emphasized the importance of Zelenskyy's meeting with Putin to discuss ending the war.
EU's chief diplomat Kaja Kallas announced that the 19th package of sanctions against Russia is expected this week. The adoption will not take place today, but leaders will meet on Thursday.
The European Union seeks to obtain the right to inspect vessels of Russia's "shadow fleet" and encourage countries to deregister them. This is due to threats to the environment, navigation safety, and the possible use of vessels for hybrid attacks.
Iran announced the termination of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which limited its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. Iran's Foreign Ministry announced the termination of all provisions of the agreement, while emphasizing its commitment to diplomacy.
Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko announced Ukraine's readiness to offer alternative sources and synchronize systems with Slovakia. This should protect Slovakia from energy supply risks and create a new regional energy hub.
Security guarantees for Ukraine are part of the EU's defense roadmap, which was presented on October 16. The bloc plans to create a "Drone Alliance" with Ukraine by early next year, using Ukraine's experience in drone defense.
The EU Council discussed the future defense readiness roadmap, which will define goals and objectives until 2030. The document will be adopted on October 16 and presented on October 23, 2025.
Europe's first rare-earth magnet factory, owned by Neo Performance Materials, has opened in Estonia. The enterprise is capable of annually producing magnets for 1 million electric vehicles and 1,000 wind turbines, reducing dependence on China.
President Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine might need to import electricity after one or two more attacks and is discussing gas imports. The main problem lies in financing these purchases.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet with US President Donald Trump in Washington this week. The meeting will take place on October 17 after two telephone conversations between the leaders.
The European Union is considering using about 200 billion euros of frozen Russian central bank assets as the only way to sustainably finance Ukraine. EU leaders aim to reach a political agreement on this at next week's summit, after which work on a legal proposal will begin.
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal discussed strengthening the security of Ukraine and Europe with EU High Representative Kaja Kallas. They coordinated Ukraine's priority financial needs for the next year.
A European defense roadmap will be presented this week, outlining goals and development stages for capabilities in key areas. It will include counter-drone systems, as stated by EU High Representative Kaja Kallas.
Six countries have contributed specific sums to assist Ukraine within the framework of the PURL initiative, which provides for the supply of American weapons at the expense of NATO funds. Seven more countries have expressed their readiness to join this program.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas stated that the European Union received a presentation from Ukrainians on drone protection and anti-drone systems that require funding for implementation. She also spoke about the EU defense roadmap, which has specific milestones for readiness by 2030.
The European Union is allocating 10 million euros to the Special Tribunal on the crime of aggression against Ukraine. This is intended to ensure that those responsible for crimes of aggression are held accountable.
