"I'm happy to be here, I'm really grateful for the enormous support we receive from the Council of the EU, the Commission and the European leaders, real leaders, who have been at our side since the beginning of the war." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said this when he arrived at the European Council.
"Naturally, we want to end this war as quickly as possible. At the moment we see no signs from the Russian side that indicate a willingness to end the conflict," he added.
Kiev challenges Trump and resumes raids on Russian refineries after the failure of the energy truce and the diesel pact between Washington and Moscow. The Ryazan plant has already been hit.
In an interview with the Financial Times, the Ukrainian leader condemns the 'dangerous' interruption in the sharing of intelligence information by the US and the weakening of the Starlink service, which also appears to have restarted today.
For the tycoon "with attacks on refineries, Volodymyr Zelensky" increases energy prices, it is a scandal. He's not an easy person to deal with. I'm not a big fan of his. I think it is more difficult to deal with him than with Vladimir Putin."
"The situation is really serious. We must also support Ukraine to help it get through the winter, because it will be a tough winter", declared the EU High Representative Kaja Kallas, arriving at the European Council.
"We see no sign from Russia that it wants to stop this war or that it is open to any kind of truce or peace. This is why we really need to help Ukrainians survive and defend their country,” he stressed.
"It is clear that they need air defense. We can also discuss, for our part, what more we can do so that Russia gets the message that it needs to negotiate to end this war."
Kallas recalled that "1,600 new entries" were adopted on the sanctions lists on Monday and that the EU is "working on a new package of sanctions to increase pressure on Russia", hoping to be able to act "together with all our partners".
"We await the outcome of Meloni's negotiations, I hope that Europe starts from some fixed points: in the last three years the price of gas has increased by 140% and that of diesel has doubled. It is a problem for all Member States, for families and for businesses, and a community response is needed."
The Minister for European Affairs Tommaso Foti said this in an interview with Corriere della Sera, in which he maintained that "there is no difference between the centre-left and Futuro Nazionale: both vote against the government and are therefore part of the very broad camp".
"The center-right presented a common sense document that called for energy peace with a stop to mutual attacks by Russia and Ukraine on plants. Without political speculation. Yet Conte has decided to run away from the vote, and with him the centre-left."
As for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's position, according to which Russian gas is not convenient for Italy and whoever claims the opposite serves Moscow's interests, Foti declares that "both Futuro Nazionale and the M5S say that buying Russian gas".
Matteo Salvini also says this and, in this regard, Foti states that "declarations are one thing, parliamentary acts are another. The League voted on the resolution with us, as always, like all aid to Ukraine. It was right to explain to Italians that certain demagogic messages are technically incorrect."
As for the suspicions about the general, Foti declares that "Meloni made a speech so clear that no one was able to refute it, suddenly everyone changes the subject and throws more dust into the air. And this is an important element before public opinion."
"Sooner or later we have to go beyond propaganda slogans and face reality. And reality tells us that the issue of Ukraine, but more generally the tumultuous phase of international politics with the dramatic crises that characterize it, imposes seriousness and responsibility on all of us."
Lorenzo Guerini tells Corriere della Sera, explaining that "in the PD resolution, in the premises, it is stated verbatim 'Italy and Europe must continue to support Ukraine on a humanitarian, economic and military level'".
"Military support for Ukraine is necessary because peace cannot be confused with the surrender imposed on the attacked - continues the president of Copasir and former defense minister - And without our support, I mean ours as Europe, Ukraine would be abandoned in its struggle to resist the invader".
Speaking of the applause of some PD reformists for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Guerini points out that "it was a support limited to the commitment to continue supporting a country invaded by Putin".
The US Treasury Department has extended a partial suspension of sanctions on Russian oil giant Lukoil, covering gas stations located outside of Russia, until April 2027.
The provision allows Lukoil-branded plants in countries such as the United States to continue serving customers until April 24 next year.
The extension comes a week after US President Donald Trump announced that he had reached an agreement with Russia for the supply of diesel to American and global markets.
Zelensky challenges Trump and resumes raids on Russian refineries after the failure of the energy truce and the diesel pact between Washington and Moscow. The Ryazan plant has already been hit.
