Brussels: Europe and the Arabs

The European Union has decided to extend restrictive measures targeting those responsible for undermining or threatening Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence for another six months, until September 15, 2026. This comes as at least four people were killed and 15 others injured in a joint Russian missile and drone attack on the Kyiv region of Ukraine overnight, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy yesterday.

According to a European statement distributed in Brussels, the sanctions lists will continue to apply to approximately 2,600 individuals and entities targeted in response to Russia's ongoing and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine. The current restrictive measures include travel restrictions, asset freezes, and prohibitions on providing funds or other economic resources to the listed individuals and entities.

In the context of the sanctions review, the Council of the EU member states also decided not to renew the listings of two individuals and to remove five deceased individuals from the lists. Following February 24, 2022, in response to Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine, the European Union significantly expanded its sanctions against Russia to substantially weaken its economic base, deprive it of vital technologies and markets, and significantly reduce its capacity to wage war.

As stated in the text endorsed by 25 Heads of State or Government at the European Council meeting on December 18, 2025, the EU reaffirms its unwavering and consistent support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. The EU, in coordination with like-minded partners and allies, will continue to provide comprehensive political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military, and diplomatic support to Ukraine and its people.

The EU remains determined to maintain and intensify pressure on Russia to end its brutal war of aggression and engage in serious negotiations towards peace. On the ground, at least four people were killed and 15 others wounded in a combined Russian missile and drone attack on the Kyiv region of Ukraine overnight, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, as reported by the Brussels-based news network Euronews. The head of the regional administration, Mykola Klashnyk, stated that three of the wounded were in critical condition, two of whom were undergoing surgery. He indicated that the attack targeted four districts, damaging residential buildings, educational institutions, businesses, and vital infrastructure, with damage reported at approximately 30 locations, according to his information.

Zelensky confirmed that the primary target of the overnight strikes was "the energy infrastructure of the Kyiv region," explaining that Russia launched 430 drones and 68 missiles, while Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 402 drones and 68 missiles. Zelensky added that rescue and debris removal operations were underway in the Kyiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Dnipro, and Mykolaiv regions.

For its part, the Russian Defense Ministry confirmed on Saturday that the overnight strikes targeted energy and industrial facilities serving the Ukrainian armed forces, as well as military air bases.

Peace talks falter amid Middle East war

The Russian strikes came days after the United States postponed peace talks between Russia and Ukraine scheduled for this week, citing the escalating war in the Middle East as the reason for the decision.

Russia is already benefiting from the sharp rise in global energy prices and may be hoping that the war being waged by the United States and Israel against Iran will divert attention from Ukraine and deplete Western arsenals.

On Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on Kyiv's Western partners to devote "100 percent attention" to bolstering the production of air defense missiles, warning in a social media post that Russia would seek to exploit the war in the Middle East to inflict greater destruction in Europe, particularly in Ukraine. Zelenskyy stated, "We must fully understand the true level of the threat and prepare accordingly. In Europe, we need to develop the production of air defense missiles, especially those capable of countering ballistic threats, as well as all the other systems necessary to effectively protect lives."

The Ukrainian president also expressed concern that the temporary easing of US sanctions on Russian oil would provide Moscow with new revenue to finance its war effort, adding, "This easing alone by the United States could provide Russia with approximately ten billion dollars for the war. This certainly does not contribute to peace."

Kyiv is awaiting White House approval for a major drone production agreement it proposed last year, at a time when several countries are accelerating the modernization of their air defenses after the war with Iran exposed significant vulnerabilities in their systems. On the night of Saturday, Ukrainian drones attacked an oil refinery and a port in Russia's southern Krasnodar region, local officials said.

Krasnodar authorities said the attack targeted the Kavkaz port, which is used for shipping liquefied natural gas and grain, injuring three people and damaging a service vessel and port infrastructure.

A later report stated that one person was hospitalized.

Drone debris also caused a fire at the Avivsky oil refinery, though no injuries were reported. The refinery likely sustained damage from the debris.

The Russian Defense Ministry announced that its air defenses intercepted and destroyed 87 Ukrainian drones overnight in several locations.

Earlier this week, both Russia and Ukraine claimed to have made progress on the front lines. Ukraine said it had pushed back Russian forces in several locations, while the Kremlin asserted that its offensive in Ukraine was making progress.  Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine is one of the bloodiest conflicts in Europe since World War II, displacing millions of people and killing hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians on both sides.