Zelensky and EU leaders discuss energy, air defense, and accession clusters
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to discuss energy needs, air defense, and EU accession. He described the meeting as productive, focusing on further assistance and financial stability for the next year. Zelensky stated that new negotiation clusters were opened this week, with efforts underway to open the remaining two by the end of the year. He noted no signals from Russia indicating readiness to end the war, emphasizing the need for European leadership to protect lives from Russian terror. EU leaders publicly assured that sanctions against Russia will not be weakened. They plan to fully launch Ukraine's accession negotiations by year-end, coinciding with the expected opening of the remaining negotiation clusters.