+++ Ukraine War +++: “We will have to increase funds” – Merz is in favor of further aid for Ukraine

At the start of the EU summit, Chancellor Friedrich Merz called for a further increase in funding for Ukraine. “I advocated in various smaller meetings this morning that we do everything we can to help Ukraine over the winter and next year too,” said the CDU leader in Brussels. “We will have to increase the resources here again in order to really provide lasting help to Ukraine.”

A throttling of military-used satellite internet in Ukraine has reportedly been lifted after just over a day. The fast movement functionality of the Starlink military package - Starshield - has been restored, several Ukrainian media reported, citing sources in the Defense Ministry.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas supports the continuation of Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries. “The majority of Russian war financing comes from oil revenues,” said the former Estonian head of government at the EU summit in Brussels.

Ukraine wants to resume attacks on Russian oil refineries. In an interview with the Financial Times on Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said: "The ban is lifted. We're done."

Britain's Finance Minister John Healey is calling on his counterparts at the International Monetary Fund's annual meeting in Bangkok to toughen sanctions on Russia's shipping. The British government is also providing £17 million for repairs to the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

The US has proposed that European states release some of the Russian state assets blocked after Moscow's attack on Ukraine. European delegates rejected the plan.

Fire broke out after an explosion on a merchant ship in Romanian waters near the border with Ukraine. The investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.

After criticism from Ukraine, US entrepreneur Elon Musk points out that the Starshield satellite network is owned and controlled by the US government.

French right-wing populist Marine Le Pen says France cannot continue to provide financial support to Ukraine. Ukraine also contradicts Russian claims that it attacked oil refineries on Wednesday.

At least 20 Bangladeshi nationals who were lured to Russia under false promises of work have been killed as live "bait" in the Ukraine war.

Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has called for pressure on Russia to be maintained in light of recent attacks on civilian ships off the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte called on the members of the alliance to provide more help for Ukraine.