European Union leaders reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Ukraine but stopped short of approving President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s request for €5 billion ($7.8 billion CAD) in artillery purchases. Zelenskyy urged EU leaders via video link to expedite aid, emphasizing the need for artillery shells as Ukraine faces ongoing Russian aggression.
The EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, underscored the importance of military support, arguing that Ukraine’s battlefield strength directly impacts negotiations. While most EU leaders backed continued financial and defense aid, Hungary’s Viktor Orban refused to endorse the statement.
Meanwhile, Ukraine is set to participate in upcoming U.S.-Russia talks on Black Sea security in Saudi Arabia, though without direct engagement with Russian officials. Zelenskyy also clarified that he had not discussed U.S. ownership of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant with Donald Trump, despite reports suggesting otherwise.
On the battlefield, Ukraine launched a drone strike on Russia’s Engels airbase, a key site for nuclear-capable bombers, triggering major explosions. Russia claimed to have downed 132 drones, while Ukraine said its strike caused secondary ammunition detonations.
Amid rising tensions, European military officials met in the U.K. to advance plans for an international peacekeeping force in Ukraine, though the extent of participation remains uncertain.
Source: Swifteradio.com
