C T Online Desk: European Union leaders agreed late Monday to ban more than two-thirds of Russian oil imports, tightening economic screws on the country even as Moscow’s forces made gains in the eastern Donbas region of war-ravaged Ukraine.
The compromise deal, meant to punish Russia for its invasion three months ago, cuts “a huge source of financing for its war machine,” European Council chief Charles Michel tweeted.
“Maximum pressure on Russia to end the war,” he said.
Leaders of the 27-nation bloc had met to negotiate the long-sought deal earlier Monday in Brussels, amid concerns raised by Hungary and other neighboring countries reliant on Russian fuel.
The agreement also includes plans for the EU to send 9 billion euros in “immediate liquidity” to Kyiv, Michel announced.
On the ground, Russian forces pressed their offensive in Donbas.
“The situation in Severodonetsk is as complicated as possible,” Lugansk regional governor Sergiy Gaiday said on Telegram, saying the entire region was under continuous bombardment — “air bombs, and artillery, and tanks. Everything”.
As Europe announced its pressure on Moscow, Washington took a cautious line regarding weaponry for Ukraine.
US President Joe Biden said he would not send rocket systems to Ukraine that could hit Russian territory, despite urgent requests from Kyiv for such weapons and extensive US military aid since the war began.
In Washington, Biden told reporters: “We are not going to send to Ukraine rocket systems that can strike into Russia.”
– US envoy arrives –
Ukraine has received extensive US military aid, with legislators approving another $40 billion (37.1 billion euros) assistance package in May.
Biden’s comments came as Washington’s new ambassador to Ukraine, Bridget Brink, arrived in Kyiv to fill a position vacant since 2019, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Monday on Twitter.
France’s new Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said while visiting Kyiv that Paris was ready to boost military aid to Ukraine to help it counter Russia’s invasion.
France will “continue to reinforce arms deliveries,” Colonna said at a news conference with her Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba.
