EU summit: Zelenskyy asks leaders for €70 billion in extra support

The European Union will maintain its sanctions regime against Russia until Moscow ceases its war of aggression against Ukraine, Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa reassured Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday. Their comments were a rebuke to US President Donald Trump for easing sanctions on Russia to strike a diesel supply deal with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. We're working now on the 22nd sanctions package, and one thing is absolutely clear, we will not lift any sanctions unless Russia stops the war. 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. Zelensky thanked European leaders for their continued support, pointedly describing them as real leaders who had stood by Ukraine since the beginning of the war. We don't see now signals from Russian side that they are ready for this, to end this war. That's why we have to prepare for the winter. Meanwhile, Trump has once again attacked Zelensky, calling his strategy to strike Russian oil refineries a disgrace and demanding new elections in the country.