The Ukrainian president has stated that peace talks with Russia need "more momentum" and has asked the new Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, Rustem Umerov, to "intensify" the process. The Kremlin assures to "fully agree" with Volodymyr Zelensky's statement and to be in favor. The agreements reached in the second meeting in Istanbul are being implemented. Yesterday, there was an exchange of fallen soldiers' bodies in the war that has lasted over three years.
Times are in favor of Ukraine. The lifting of Slovakia's veto on the 18th package of EU sanctions against Russia has allowed the approval for the Twenty-Seven to buy Russian oil at the new cap of $46 per barrel compared to the current $60 and increase pressure on the so-called "ghost fleet" with which Russia exports oil.
US President Donald Trump has threatened his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, with tougher sanctions if a peace agreement is not reached within 50 days after approving the delivery of weapons to Kiev through NATO.
The EU's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, says that "one of the toughest sanction packages against Russia" has been approved, and for the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, it means "attacking the heart of Russia's war machinery."
The Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orbán, rejected the EU's budget plan for 2028-2034 for considering it "pro-Ukraine" and warned that it would lead the bloc to ruin.
Russian air defenses destroyed 73 Ukrainian drones overnight, including three heading towards Moscow, leading to the temporary closure of three out of four airports: Domodedovo, Zhukovsky, and Vnukovo.
A new nighttime attack with 35 Russian drones left six dead and several injured in the regions of Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk.
Russia says the new EU sanctions will be "counterproductive"
In response to the EU's approval of the 18th package of sanctions against Russia, the Russian government stated that the measures will be "counterproductive," according to Afp.
"Each package adds a negative effect for the countries that join" those sanctions, said the Russian government spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, who added that the measures will be analyzed "to minimize the consequences."
These sanction packages began to be adopted by the EU shortly after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2023, and the bloc has since added restrictions, insisting on their effectiveness.
According to a statement distributed by the EU's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, "each sanction weakens Russia's ability to wage war. The message is clear: Europe will not back down in its support for Ukraine."
Six dead in Ukraine in new Russian nighttime attacks
Russian attacks caused at least six deaths in various regions of Ukraine during Thursday night to Friday, according to authorities, despite the ultimatum issued by Donald Trump to Moscow, reports Afp.
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, the attacks were concentrated in "frontline territories in the east of the country," with a total of 35 explosive drones of the Shahed type, of Iranian manufacture, of which 11 were intercepted.
However, this number of drones is significantly lower compared to other recent nights. In recent weeks, Moscow has repeatedly launched record-breaking aerial attacks against Ukraine.
Three people died in drone attacks targeting the Dnipropetrovsk region, declared Friday morning by Serguii Lisak, governor of this central region, via Telegram.
In the Donetsk, eastern regions, and Jersón and Zaporiyia, both located in the south, several Russian attacks caused three deaths and several injuries, according to local authorities.