Brief
EU leaders urge continued aid to Ukraine as US‑Ukraine ties strain
European Council President Antonio Costa and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for increased support and pressure on Russia at the Brussels summit.
By Felo News Desk · Published
European Union leaders on Friday urged continued military aid and sanctions against Russia during the second day of a summit in Brussels attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, according to Al Jazeera.
What happened
The summit, held on 16 October 2026, saw EU officials stress the need to keep arming Ukraine and to maintain pressure on Moscow as winter approaches. European Council President Antonio Costa, standing beside Zelenskyy, said, "This is no time to withdraw support to Ukraine… now it is time to increase our support, to increase our pressure." Zelenskyy thanked the EU leaders and referred to them as “real leaders,” a comment interpreted as a jab at U.S. President Donald Trump.
What the reports add
The article notes that the summit occurs amid a deepening rift between Washington and Kyiv. Trump had announced a weekend deal that Kyiv and Moscow would not target each other’s energy facilities, a pact Zelenskyy abandoned on 15 October, accusing Russia of failing to honour it. The report also highlights Trump’s suspension of sanctions on Russian oil products and a separate diesel‑supply deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which Zelenskyy said would fund the war.
What was said
"This is no time to withdraw support to Ukraine," Antonio Costa told reporters, as reported by Al Jazeera.
"This diesel deal will never be enough to offset the impact of the Strait of Hormuz on global markets," Zelenskyy said on the sidelines of the summit.
"Putin does not want peace talks at the moment, in any form," Zelenskyy added.
How it came about
The summit follows weeks of tension after Trump’s public criticism of Zelenskyy and his announcement that the United States would suspend sanctions on Russian oil products. Earlier EU support was documented in Felo News’ coverage of Zelensky’s European rally on 15 October, where he sought stronger pressure on Russia amid strained US ties.
Key facts
- EU leaders called for increased military aid and sanctions against Russia at a Brussels summit on 16 Oct 2026. (aljazeera.com)
- Antonio Costa said it was not time to withdraw support for Ukraine. (aljazeera.com)
- Zelenskyy called EU leaders "real leaders" and criticised Trump’s diesel deal with Russia. (aljazeera.com)
- Trump announced a weekend deal that Ukraine and Russia would not target each other's energy facilities, which Zelenskyy abandoned on 15 Oct. (aljazeera.com)
- Zelenskyy asked the EU for an additional €70 billion for defence and resilience in 2027. (aljazeera.com)
Sources
- [1] aljazeera.com — originally reported as “EU rallies in support of Ukraine amid Trump standoff”
