Category: Europe-Asia

BRUSSELS, Belgium (NPA) — President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has congratulated the Ukrainian Parliament and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the swift ratification of key agreements tied to the European Union’s €90 billion support package for Ukraine.

Von der Leyen disclosed on Thursday that the approval of the documents clears the way for the first tranche of disbursements expected in June 2026.

“This hard work paves the way for the first disbursements in June,” she stated.

The European Commission president revealed that she held a telephone conversation with Zelenskyy on Wednesday, during which she reaffirmed Europe’s continued support for Ukraine amid the ongoing war with Russia.

According to her, Europe remains committed to strengthening Ukraine’s defence capabilities as Russian forces intensify aerial assaults and military operations across the country.

“Air defence and drone and counter-drone capabilities are among Europe’s most urgent defence priorities, and Ukraine will be fully integrated into these efforts,” von der Leyen said.

She noted that the Ukraine Support Loan would significantly contribute to Kyiv’s military and economic resilience, with €28.3 billion expected to be released this year alone to support Ukraine’s defence needs.

The EU chief also said discussions with Zelenskyy covered Ukraine’s path toward membership of the European Union, adding that the coming weeks would be critical in advancing the accession process.

Responding to the development, Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to members of the Ukrainian Parliament for promptly ratifying the agreement with the European Union.

The Ukrainian president said the €90 billion package would strengthen the country’s resilience, support reconstruction efforts, and enhance its capacity to defend its sovereignty against Russian aggression.

“The funds will strengthen our resilience and help protect the lives of our people, rebuild what has been destroyed by Russian strikes, and defend our independence,” Zelenskyy stated.

“This was one of the most important votes — one that demonstrates the constructive nature of our joint work and our readiness to hear one another. Unity in Ukraine is what always works for Ukraine,” he added.

Zelenskyy also thanked European partners for what he described as unwavering support for Ukraine’s defence, diplomacy, and recovery efforts.

“Ukraine is defending Europe with all its strength, and full support for Ukraine will certainly strengthen all of Europe as well,” he said.

The latest development comes as Russia continues to intensify missile and drone attacks across Ukraine in what analysts describe as some of the heaviest bombardments since the war began in February 2022 following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

This week alone, Russian strikes reportedly targeted several Ukrainian cities, damaging energy infrastructure, residential buildings, and military facilities while causing civilian casualties.

Since the outbreak of the war in 2022, Ukraine has increasingly sought long-term strategies to resist Russian military pressure by strengthening domestic defence production, expanding drone technology, and deepening military cooperation with Western allies.

Kyiv has also accelerated efforts to develop homegrown military capabilities aimed at sustaining its resistance and protecting its sovereignty amid the prolonged conflict.

MOSCOW, Russia (NPA) — Russia says it has successfully conducted another test of its Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile system, describing the weapon as one of the most powerful strategic deterrence platforms in the world.

The announcement was made on Tuesday by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs through its official Telegram channel following a report presented to President Vladimir Putin by Commander of the Strategic Missile Forces, Sergei Karakayev, via videoconference.

According to the Russian government, development of the Sarmat missile system began in 2011, while details of the programme and its capabilities were first publicly unveiled in 2018.

Russian officials claimed the missile possesses capabilities exceeding those of many existing strategic missile systems, including an operational range of more than 35,000 kilometres.

The statement further claimed that the Sarmat missile can travel along both ballistic and suborbital trajectories, enabling it to bypass existing and future missile defence systems.

Moscow also described the missile as more powerful than the Soviet-era Voevoda missile system currently in service, alleging that the total yield of its warhead is more than four times greater than that of comparable Western systems.

While Russian officials highlighted the missile’s long-range capability, independent verification of some of the performance claims remains limited. Military analysts generally estimate that intercontinental ballistic missiles launched from Russia toward the mainland United States could reach targets within approximately 20 to 30 minutes, depending on trajectory and launch conditions.

Speaking after receiving the report, President Vladimir Putin said Russia resumed efforts to modernise its strategic deterrence systems in the early 2000s following the withdrawal of the United States from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in 2002.

“We were forced to think about ensuring our strategic security in the new reality and preserving the strategic balance of forces,” Putin said.

According to him, Russia subsequently began developing advanced weapons systems capable of overcoming missile defence networks.

Putin also referenced several other strategic weapons programmes currently deployed or under development by Russia, including the Avangard intercontinental-range missile system, the Kinzhal hypersonic missile and the Oreshnik medium-range missile system.

He added that work was nearing completion on the Poseidon unmanned underwater vehicle and the Burevestnik global-range cruise missile, both powered by compact nuclear propulsion systems.

The latest announcement comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions between Russia and Western countries over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and broader security concerns in Europe.

KYIV, Ukraine (NPA) — Russian drone attacks resumed across Ukraine following the expiration of a three-day truce between Moscow and Kyiv, with explosions and air raid alerts reported in the Ukrainian capital overnight.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia launched more than 200 attack drones against Ukraine after the temporary ceasefire came to an end.

According to Zelenskyy, the attacks targeted multiple regions across the country, including Kyiv, Dnipro, Zhytomyr, Mykolaiv, Sumy, Kharkiv and Chernihiv.

“Russia itself chose to end the partial silence that had lasted for several days,” Zelenskyy said in a statement on Monday.

He stated that Russian forces also carried out more than 30 air strikes and dropped over 80 aerial bombs along frontline areas during the renewed offensive.

The Ukrainian president said air defence systems intercepted several of the drones, but confirmed that civilian infrastructure suffered damage in a number of locations.

“Energy facilities, apartment buildings, and a kindergarten were damaged, and there was also a strike on an ordinary civilian locomotive on the railway,” he said.

Zelenskyy added that several people were injured in the attacks, while fatalities were also recorded.

“People have been reported injured as a result of these strikes. And, unfortunately, there are fatalities. My condolences to the family and loved ones,” he added.

The Ukrainian leader accused Moscow of escalating the conflict and reiterated Kyiv’s position that Russia must take concrete steps toward ending the war.

“We have said that we will respond in kind to all Russian steps. Russia must end this war, and it is Russia that must take the step toward a real, lasting ceasefire,” Zelenskyy said.

He also called for continued international pressure on Moscow, insisting that sanctions against Russia should remain in place and be strengthened until a sustainable peace agreement is achieved.

“It is important that there be no easing of pressure and that partners do not stand aside, but continue working together for security, justice, and a reliable peace,” he said.