European Union Backs Ukraine Following US Criticism Over Russian Refinery Strikes
European leaders committed military, energy and financial assistance to help Kyiv survive the winter while Washington pushes to halt attacks on Russian oil facilities.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy secured pledges of military, financial, and energy assistance from European Union leaders on the second day of a summit in Brussels. The summit addressed Ukrainian defense needs after tensions rose between Kyiv and Washington over Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa met with Zelenskyy and reaffirmed their backing. Zelenskyy said Ukraine wants to end the war quickly but sees no signs of Russian readiness for peace. He asked for a winter package covering air defense, energy infrastructure, and funding.
Von der Leyen said the bloc supported a proposed energy ceasefire, but Russia did not observe it. She confirmed the EU is preparing a 22nd sanctions package against Moscow and stated the bloc will not lift sanctions until Russia halts the war.
Ukraine faces a military spending gap of roughly $27 billion. Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal said the EU will likely structure a new loan facility to address the deficit. Costa said the bloc remains committed to coordinating unified financial and military assistance for Kyiv.
The summit followed public criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump regarding renewed Ukrainian drone strikes against Russian oil facilities. Trump called the attacks a disgrace and warned they raised global energy prices ahead of U.S. midterm elections.
Washington previously negotiated an energy understanding with Moscow regarding Russian diesel supplies and urged Kyiv to stop targeting refineries. U.S. authorities exerted pressure on Ukraine by reducing missile attack intelligence sharing and limiting satellite communications. Zelenskyy temporarily paused the strikes at U.S. request, but restarted them after Russian attacks hit Ukrainian infrastructure.
Recent Russian missile and drone strikes killed three people and cut power to roughly 270,000 homes in western Ukraine's Volyn region. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov claimed Ukraine's refinery strikes placed Kyiv in direct conflict with American peace efforts.
European diplomats planned to advise Zelenskyy during closed-door sessions to avoid public disputes with Washington. European governments plan to focus immediate aid on supplying specialized generators, grid repair supplies, and air defense munitions.
The European Commission is finalizing the 22nd sanctions package targeting Russian supply chains, while member states negotiate emergency loan mechanisms for Ukraine's budget. EU leaders will convene again in December to negotiate the multiannual financial framework and defense spending rules.
