OMM Newsroom
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Russia had failed to respect an energy ceasefire announced by US President Donald Trump, and called for increased pressure on Moscow.
Speaking to reporters Friday before the second day of an EU summit in Brussels, von der Leyen said the bloc had supported the ceasefire but that Russia had not observed it.
“Instead, Russia escalated, and therefore we have to increase the pressure on Russia,” she said.
Trump said Sunday that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to an immediate halt to attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure.
Von der Leyen said the EU was preparing its 22nd sanctions package against Russia. The bloc would not lift sanctions unless Moscow ended the war, she said.
EU leaders would also discuss Ukraine’s preparations for winter and its financial, budgetary and military needs for 2026 and 2027, von der Leyen said.
European Council President Antonio Costa reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to Ukraine, saying the bloc’s support remained “as strong as ever”.
“This is no time to withdraw the support to Ukraine. This is no time to relieve Russia’s sanctions. Now it’s time to increase our support, to increase our pressure,” Costa said.
He said increased support and pressure were needed to bring Russia to accept a genuine ceasefire, join negotiations and end the war.
