Skip next section Zelenskyy welcomes new US and EU sanctions on Russia
10/23/2025October 23, 2025
Zelenskyy welcomes new US and EU sanctions on Russia
has welcomed recent sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union against Russia, calling them an important step in pressuring Moscow.
“We waited for this. God bless, it will work. This is very important,” Zelenskyy said as he arrived at an EU summit in Brussels.
Speaking alongside European Council President António Costa, Zelenskyy said Russia’s continued attacks on civilian infrastructure, including kindergartens and schools, show it has no interest in peace. He stressed the need to maintain pressure on President Vladimir Putin.
“Pressure means sanctions packages, long-range air defense, and of course, financial support,” the Ukrainian president said.
Zelenskyy is attending the EU summit, where further financial assistance for Kyiv is among the main topics.
On Wednesday, the US government announced new sanctions targeting Russia’s two largest oil companies — the first such measures since Donald Trump returned to the White House in January. The EU also adopted its 19th package of economic sanctions, which includes a ban on imports of Russian liquefied natural gas.
https://p.dw.com/p/52SpI
Skip next section Russia warns of ‘painful response’ if EU seizes frozen assets
10/23/2025October 23, 2025
Russia warns of ‘painful response’ if EU seizes frozen assets
Russia has warned that any move by the European Union to confiscate held in Euroclear accounts would trigger a “painful response.”
“The EU has no legal means to seize Russian assets, so their confiscation would be theft,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.
“Any actions with Russian assets without Russia’s consent are null and void from the standpoint of international and contract law. There is no legal way to take someone else’s funds without hurting the pockets and prestige of those who expropriate them,” Zakharova told reporters.
“Any confiscatory initiatives from Brussels will inevitably result in a painful response. We will act in full compliance with the principle of reciprocity in international relations, based on our own interests and the need to compensate for the damage caused to Russia.”
https://p.dw.com/p/52Sgr
Skip next section Russia says new US oil sanctions threaten diplomacy but claims immunity
10/23/2025October 23, 2025
Russia says new US oil sanctions threaten diplomacy but claims immunity
has warned that new US sanctions targeting its oil industry could undermine diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine but insisted the measures would have little impact.
“Our country has developed a strong immunity to Western restrictions and will continue to confidently develop its economic potential, including its energy potential,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a weekly briefing.
https://p.dw.com/p/52SSk
Skip next section EU to agree on funding Ukraine through 2027, says Costa
10/23/2025October 23, 2025
EU to agree on funding Ukraine through 2027, says Costa
are set to agree to cover Ukraine’s financial needs for 2026 and 2027, European Council President Antonio Costa said ahead of a summit of EU leaders in Brussels.
“Today we will take the political decision to ensure the financial needs from Ukraine to 2026 and 2027,” Costa told reporters. “The technicality of the solutions, we continue to work on with the European Commission, but the most important is the political decision.”
“[Russia] cannot believe that we are tired. We are not tired. And we are here to continue to support Ukraine, diplomatically, politically, military, and financially. And this is the most important message for Russia.”
https://p.dw.com/p/52SKp
Skip next section EU leaders to back Zelenskyy and advance loan plan using Russian assets
10/23/2025October 23, 2025
EU leaders to back Zelenskyy and advance loan plan using Russian assets
European leaders are to meet in Brussels in a show of support after a turbulent week that saw US President Donald Trump announce and then pause plans to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin.
At Thursday’s European Council summit, the bloc’s 27 leaders are expected to reaffirm their commitment to Ukraine’s territorial integrity and agree to move forward on a proposal to use frozen Russian central bank assets for a major loan to Kyiv.
The proposed €140 billion ($163 billion) “reparations loan” would be backed by profits from Russian assets frozen in the EU, most of which are held in Belgium by the clearing house Euroclear. Brussels has demanded assurances that other EU members will share any legal risk if Russia challenges the measure.
Early on Thursday, the bloc approved a new package of sanctions against Moscow.
Zelenskyy will attend the Brussels meeting before traveling to London on Friday as Europe seeks to maintain unity amid uncertainty over Washington’s next steps.
EU officials are also encouraged by signals from Washington, after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Wednesday that the United States would unveil “a substantial pickup” in sanctions against Russia. He accused Moscow of failing to act in an “honest and forthright” way in negotiations toward a potential peace deal.
The Brussels talks will focus on sustaining funding for Ukraine and increasing pressure on Moscow, while discussions in London are expected to center on keeping Trump engaged in Western efforts to end the war.
https://p.dw.com/p/52RxV
Skip next section EU adopts 19th sanctions package banning Russian LNG imports
10/23/2025October 23, 2025
EU adopts 19th sanctions package banning Russian LNG imports
EU member states has formally adopted a 19th package of sanctions against Russia over , introducing a ban on imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) and new restrictions targeting banks, diplomats, and trade.
The 27 countries finalized the deal on Thursday after lifted its hold on Wednesday evening. “It’s a significant package that targets main Russian revenue streams through new energy, financial, and trade measures,” the Danish EU presidency said in a statement.
The LNG ban will take effect in two phases: short-term contracts will expire after six months, and long-term agreements will end on January 1, 2027 — one year earlier than the ‘s original timeline to end reliance on Russian fossil fuels.
The package also introduces limits on the movement of Russian diplomats within the bloc and expands sanctions to include Russian banks, cryptocurrency exchanges, and entities in India and China.
“The EU is curbing Russian diplomats’ movements to counter the attempts of destabilisation. It is increasingly harder for Putin to fund this war,” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas wrote on X.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said the LNG ban marks a major step toward completely phasing out Russian energy in Europe.
https://p.dw.com/p/52S7y
Skip next section Report: Russia built Arctic spy network using Western technology
10/23/2025October 23, 2025
Report: Russia built Arctic spy network using Western technology
A new investigation has found that Russia spent more than a decade acquiring advanced Western technology to build a secret underwater surveillance system in the , designed to protect its nuclear arsenal.
According to the international research project “Russian Secrets” — involving Germany broadcasters NDR, WDR, and the newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung — Russian firms obtained survey ships, underwater robots, sonar systems, and special cables from at least ten European countries as well as the US, Japan, and Canada.
One example cited in the report is the purchase of the former survey vessel MV Aquarius Dignitus in 2020 by companies linked to Russian businessman Alexey S. Through his Cyprus-based firm Mostrello, Alexey S. allegedly used a network of companies to buy sensitive marine technology for a classified military project known as “Harmony.”
The system reportedly involves a network of underwater sensors capable of tracking Western submarines and securing Russia’s nuclear submarine bases in the Arctic. Western intelligence agencies consider the project highly sensitive given rising tensions in the region and Moscow’s military buildup on the Kola Peninsula near Murmansk.
Analysts say the network’s strategic location could allow Russia to quickly target both the US and Europe with missiles.
https://p.dw.com/p/52Rsc
Skip next section NATO chief thanks Trump for efforts to end war in Ukraine10/23/2025October 23, 2025
NATO chief thanks Trump for efforts to end war in Ukraine
has said it was “good to be in DC today to talk about NATO support to bring the war against Ukraine to a just and lasting end,” thanking US President Donald Trump for his role in ceasefire efforts.
“I’m grateful to President Trump for his crucial work to stop the killing. A ceasefire is the first step — they should stop where they are,” Rutte wrote on X. “Ukraine is ready and it’s important that all continue to apply pressure — through support to Ukraine, sanctions, shadow fleet, and more — to bring Russia to the table.”
Rutte was making his comments after a meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House.
https://p.dw.com/p/52Rqf
Skip next section Chinese leader Xi can help with war in Ukraine, Trump says
10/23/2025October 23, 2025
Chinese leader Xi can help with war in Ukraine, Trump says
Ahead of a meeting next week with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea, Trump said he would like Beijing to help put pressure on Moscow to halt the fighting.
“I think he [Xi] can have a big influence on Putin. I think he can have a big influence … he’s a respected man. He’s a very strong leader of a very big country. And we will certainly be talking about Russia-Ukraine,” he said.
Xi and Putin have formed a strategic alliance between their countries.
https://p.dw.com/p/52Rpl
Skip next section Trump says he canceled meeting with Putin because it ‘didn’t feel right’
10/23/2025October 23, 2025
Trump says he canceled meeting with Putin because it ‘didn’t feel right’
US President Donald Trump and visiting NATO chief Mark Rutte were speaking with reporters earlier this evening in the Oval Office of the White House.
Rutte said the pair would later discuss steps on how they can bring Ukraine to the “next phase” in finding an , Sky News reported.
Trump then said that, “We canceled the meeting with President Putin. It didn’t feel right to me.”
“It didn’t feel like we were going to get to the place we have to get, so I canceled it. But we’ll do it in the future,” the president added.
https://p.dw.com/p/52Rnx
Skip next section Trump explains why he’s not sending Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine
10/23/2025October 23, 2025
Trump explains why he’s not sending Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine
Trump explained why he was not prepared to provide Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles, which
“The problem with the Tomahawk that — a lot of people don’t know — it’ll take a minimum of six months, usually a year, to learn how to use them. They’re highly complex, so the only way a Tomahawk is going to be shot is if we shot it, and we’re not going to do that,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
“It takes a year of intense training to learn how to use it, and we know how to use it, and we’re not going to be teaching other people,” the president said.
https://p.dw.com/p/52Rnw
Skip next section What are the US sanctions imposed on Russia’s Rosneft, Lukoil oil giants?
10/23/2025October 23, 2025
What are the US sanctions imposed on Russia’s Rosneft, Lukoil oil giants?
The US has imposed further sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil, Russia’s two largest oil and gas giants, along with dozens of the companies’ subsidiaries.
Both are among the top ten companies listed on the Moscow stock exchange and are involved in exploration, production, refining and sale of oil and gas in Russia and internationally.
The US sanctions see the freezing of “all property and interests” of the designated companies or persons in the US, and US persons or entities won’t be allowed to do business with them.
Together, Rosneft and Lukoil export 3.1 million barrels of oil per day, according to the UK government, which imposed fresh sanctions on Russia last week.
Rosneft is responsible for 6% of global and nearly half of all Russian oil production.
https://p.dw.com/p/52Rl9
Skip next section Peace with Russia only possible ‘through pressure,’ says Ukraine’s US ambassador
10/23/2025October 23, 2025
Peace with Russia only possible ‘through pressure,’ says Ukraine’s US ambassador
Ukraine’s ambassador to the US has welcomed the sanctions.
“This step comes after numerous attempts to give Russia a chance to begin real negotiations to end the war,” Olga Stefanishyna posted on X.
“The decision is fully aligned with Ukraine’s consistent position: peace is possible only through strength and pressure on the aggressor using all available international tools.
https://p.dw.com/p/52Rl4
Skip next section Trump administration imposes hefty sanctions on major Russian oil companies
10/22/2025October 22, 2025
Trump administration imposes hefty sanctions on major Russian oil companies
The Trump administration on Wednesday announced further sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil.
The Treasury Department said in a statement it was announcing the sanctions because of “Russia’s lack of serious commitment to a peace process to end the war in Ukraine.”
The statement said blacklisting the companies would hamper Russia’s ability to raise revenue for its war machine, adding that the US was prepared “to take further action if necessary” to push for an end to the war.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News prior to the official announcement that it was set to be “one of the largest sanctions that we have done against the Russian Federation.”
“President Putin has not come to the table in an honest and forthright manner, as we’d hoped,” Bessent said, adding that was “disappointed at where we are in these talks.”
The US announced sanctions a day after a .
https://p.dw.com/p/52Rh9
Skip next section Welcome to our coverage10/22/2025October 22, 2025
Welcome to our coverage
The Trump administration imposed additional sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil companies citing “Russia’s lack of serious commitment” to a peace process in Ukraine.
The news comes a day after Russia , killing at least six people, including two children.
We’ll cover the latest news on Russia’s war in Ukraine, now in its fourth year, in this blog.
https://p.dw.com/p/52RhA
The post Ukraine updates: Kyiv hails new EU, US sanctions on Russia appeared first on Deutsche Welle.
