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European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Friday called for increased support for Ukraine and greater pressure on Russia, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlighted Kyiv’s energy, air defense and financing needs ahead of winter.
The three leaders spoke to reporters in Brussels before the Ukraine session on the second day of an EU summit.
Costa said the EU’s support for Ukraine remained as strong as ever.
“This is no time to withdraw the support to Ukraine. This is no time to relieve Russia’s sanctions. Now it is time to increase our support, to increase our pressure,” Costa said.
He said stronger pressure was necessary to push Russia toward accepting a genuine ceasefire, entering negotiations and ending the war.
“Now is the time for peace. It is not the time to continue the war,” Costa said.
He also told Zelenskyy that EU support would extend beyond the war and toward Ukraine’s future membership in the bloc.
“You can count on us not only to support you in the war, but, even more importantly, for your future as a member of the EU,” he said.
Costa said two additional negotiating clusters in Ukraine’s EU accession process had been opened this week and that the process should continue.
He praised Ukraine’s government and parliament for continuing reforms and accession negotiations despite the war.
Von der Leyen also thanked the Ukrainian parliament for reforms that allowed the two additional clusters to be opened.
She said the EU aimed to open the final two negotiating clusters by the end of the year.
Von der Leyen said Zelenskyy’s frequent visits to Brussels reflected the close relationship between the EU and Ukraine and the intensive work under way on membership.
Von der Leyen said discussions would focus on helping Ukraine prepare for winter as Russia continued targeting energy and water infrastructure.
“We will support you as we have done in previous winters,” she told Zelenskyy.
She said the EU supported U.S. President Donald Trump’s initiative for a ceasefire on attacks against energy infrastructure but argued that Russia had not observed it “for even one minute” and had instead intensified its attacks.
Von der Leyen said the EU was therefore working on a 22nd sanctions package against Moscow.
“One thing is absolutely clear: We will not lift any sanctions until Russia stops the war,” she said.
She added that discussions would cover Ukraine’s financial, budgetary and military needs for both 2026 and 2027.
Zelenskyy said EU support had been critical since the start of the war and that Kyiv was counting on it to continue.
He said Ukraine’s energy needs were at the top of the agenda and reiterated that Kyiv wanted the war to end as quickly as possible.
“Right now, we see no signals from the Russian side that they are ready to end this war,” Zelenskyy said.
“That is why we have to prepare a winter package. This is not only about energy, but also air defense and financing.”
Zelenskyy said discussions on Ukraine’s needs for 2027, as well as 2026, were among the key issues at the summit.
He also thanked Ukraine’s parliament and government for adopting reforms under intense Russian attacks.
Zelenskyy welcomed the opening of two more EU negotiating clusters and said Ukraine would work to open the final two by the end of the year.
“We will do everything we can to open the last two clusters by the end of the year,” he said. “I am sure we will achieve this.”
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