Ukraine, EU summit: sanctions against Russia extended for a further 12 months

The attack comes just a few days after a large-scale Russian raid on Kyiv that killed five people and injured 35. The attack on 15 June also damaged the Cathedral of the Dormition at the Kiev Caves Lavra, an 11th-century monastery and UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is one of Ukraine’s most important religious and cultural sites.

Ukraine’s ability to protect its cities from Russian ballistic missiles depends to a large extent on its dwindling stocks of Patriot interceptors – ammunition for the US-manufactured air defence system, which remains the only weapon proven to be effective against ballistic threats.

All Moscow airports have been closed due to a massive drone attack. This was announced by the Ministry of Transport. “At present, Sheremetyevo, Vnukovo, Domodedovo and Zhukovsky airports are neither accepting nor dispatching flights. The restrictions are necessary to ensure flight safety. This is a priority,” reads the Ministry of Transport’s statement on Telegram. According to the Telegram channel Shot, as many as 527 flights have been cancelled or delayed at Moscow’s airports.

“Several Ukrainian drones” have attacked an oil refinery on the outskirts of Moscow. This was reported by the mayor of the Russian capital, Sergey Sobyanin, as quoted by TASS. Sobyanin added, in a post on his channel on the ‘Max’ messaging app, that measures are being taken to deal with the consequences of the attack.

“We need a single special envoy for Europe” in any negotiations with Russia. This was stated by the Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, at a press briefing following the meeting of EPP leaders. “He must be chosen by all 27 Member States; we need a single voice to represent Europe,” he added.

Bulgaria will veto the 21st package of sanctions against Russia if Russian Patriarch Kirill remains on the list. This was stated by the Bulgarian Prime Minister, Rumen Radev, to journalists in Brussels on the sidelines of the European Council meeting. The Bulgarian Prime Minister stressed, however, that Bulgaria would not stand in the way of the EU’s joint decisions on Ukraine. “We will support the negotiation process for Ukraine’s accession to the EU,” concluded Rumen Radev.

At the European Council meeting currently taking place in Brussels, the discussion on Ukraine has just concluded, having lasted two hours longer than planned. “The leaders of the 27 member states unanimously adopted the summit conclusions on Ukraine and decided to extend the sectoral sanctions against Russia for 12 months,” said the spokesperson for the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa.

This is the first time that the extension of sanctions – which is usually decided on a six-monthly basis – has been applied for a year. In any case, this is a political endorsement. The formal decision, in fact, rests with the ministerial configurations of the EU Council.

The summit agenda provides that, following the discussion on Ukraine, the issue of global macroeconomic imbalances will be addressed, with an implicit reference, in particular, to the EU’s growing trade deficit with China.