EU Leaders Pledge Support for Ukraine at Brussels Summit

EU leaders pledged continued support for Ukraine at a Brussels summit, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy receiving assurances of aid and progress on accession talks. The 22nd sanctions package against Russia is being prepared. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU Council President António Costa affirmed solidarity, citing Russia's failure to honor a US-brokered energy ceasefire. All negotiation clusters for Ukraine's EU membership are expected to open by year's end. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also advocated for increased funding. The summit follows tensions with US President Donald Trump, who criticized Zelenskyy and announced a diesel deal with Russia. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas noted Europe cannot quickly replace Starlink satellite internet, which Ukraine relies on for military operations.