Ukraine signalled its readiness for fast-track European Union membership in Kyiv on Tuesday (24 February), as European leaders pledged continued political and financial backing and insisted Russia would gain nothing at the negotiating table.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy opened his address by thanking European nations for their sustained support in the face of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
“Europe has stood with us throughout these difficult years, and our people trust Europe. They know we are not alone. In many ways, all of this is thanks to your personal efforts, your work and friendship,” he said.
However, Zelenskyy cautioned that there was “still much to be done” as the war enters its fifth year.
Zelenskyy reiterated Ukraine’s readiness for accelerated EU membership despite anticipating obstruction from Moscow.
"That's why we know we don't want to have the same (as) we have now," he said, highlighting the ongoing challenges Ukrainians face after Russia’s full-scale invasion.
"That's why they will do it. But we are ready for fast-track, we are ready for reforms," he added, underscoring Kyiv’s determination to meet EU accession criteria.
Zelenskyy also highlighted the importance of a security guarantee for Ukraine and expressed hope that the country could join the EU by 2027.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reaffirmed the bloc’s commitment, stating that the EU has provided Ukraine with €200 billion in military and financial assistance - “more than any other partner”.
She announced an urgent €90 billion “steel porcupine” loan aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s defence capabilities. The funding, she explained, would support “the production, development and securing of advanced defence equipment for the brave Ukrainian forces, ranging from drones and missiles to ammunition”.
Zelenskyy said he had also discussed changes to EU legislation with von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa that would allow Ukraine to stop Russian tankers and seize the oil they transport, adding: “It’s doable.”
He stressed that the EU’s 20th sanctions package against Russia must be “strong and efficient” and adopted as soon as possible.
European Council President António Costa insisted that Moscow must not secure any concessions in future negotiations.
“Russia must come to the negotiation table in a serious way and accept that it will not win this war,” Costa said.
“After four years of aggression, Ukraine has held firm and Russia has not achieved its objectives,” he added, describing attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure during the winter as “unacceptable.”
Zelenskyy called for the swift adoption of the 20th EU sanctions package and highlighted new Ukrainian measures targeting Russian maritime operations and defence supply chains.
European leaders reiterated that their political and financial support for Kyiv would continue, maintaining that Russia would not be allowed to translate battlefield aggression into diplomatic advantage.
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Russia launched a barrage of drones and missiles at Ukraine overnight on Saturday (7 March), damaging infrastructure and killing at least 10 people, including two children, in the northeastern city of Kharkiv, Ukrainian officials said.
Russian attacks on Ukraine’s second largest city in the early hours of Saturday (7 March) killed 10 people, including two children. Kharkiv mayor, Ihor Terekov, said 10 residents died after a Russian ballistic missile hit a five storey apartment block in the city.
Ukraine has accused Hungary of taking seven employees of a state-owned bank hostage in Budapest.
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Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is a hardline cleric with strong backing from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. His rise signals continuity in Tehran's anti-Western policies.
Global oil prices surpassed $119 a barrel on Monday (9 March, 2026), an almost four year high, as the Middle East conflict rumbled on.
Trump says the United States "don’t need people that join wars after we’ve already won," targeting his criticism at UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Israel continues to fire missles at strategic sites in Iran and Gulf regions report more strikes from Iran.
China has urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their dispute through dialogue after Chinese envoy Yue Xiaoyong met Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, as fighting between the two neighbours entered its eleventh day.
Iran named Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father Ali Khamenei as supreme leader on Monday (9 March), signaling that hardliners remain firmly in charge, as the week-old U.S.-Israeli war with Iran pushed oil above $100 a barrel.
U.S. President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke by phone on Sunday as tensions between Washington and Westminster deepened over the conflict involving Iran. The call came less than a day after Trump criticised Britain’s response to U.S. strikes on Iranian targets.
Norwegian police are searching for a suspect after an explosion at the U.S. embassy in Oslo on 8 March caused minor damage but no injuries, in what authorities say may have been a deliberate attack linked to the Middle East crisis.
An explosion damaged a synagogue in the Belgian city of Liège early on Monday (9 March) in what authorities said was an antisemitic attack that caused damage but no injuries.
The Group of Seven (G7) finance ministers will meet on Monday to discuss a global rise in oil prices and a joint release of oil from emergency reserves coordinated by the International Energy Agency, the Financial Times reports.
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