EU begins push for new sanctions against Russia, Kallas says

The European Union is already moving toward a fresh round of pressure on Moscow, with its 21st sanctions package now under discussion just a day after the bloc approved its 20th set of measures over Russia’s war in Ukraine.

“We’re really pushing to go on with the 21st package of sanctions,” Ms Kallas told reporters ahead of an informal summit of EU leaders in Cyprus.

“It sends a very clear signal to Russia that they can’t outwait us. It also sends a clear signal to Russia that Ukraine is more important to us than it is to them, and we will keep on supporting them,” she said.

Watch: Sanctions send very clear signal to Russia, says Kallas

The renewed sanctions push came a day after the EU signed off on a €90bn loan for Ukraine, ending a delay caused by Hungary’s outgoing prime minister Viktor Orbán.

The package is intended to meet roughly two-thirds of Ukraine’s funding needs over the next two years. Economists had warned that, without the loan being released by June, Kyiv could begin running short of funds, forcing severe reductions in public services.

Only half of the €90bn will be disbursed to Ukraine this ⁠year, with the remainder coming in 2027.

Most of the money is set aside for military spending, while about €17bn ‌per year is allocated to broader budget needs, including health and education.

Two killed in Russian strikes on Odesa

As EU leaders pressed ahead with financial and political backing for Kyiv, Russian strikes hit Ukraine’s southern city of Odesa, killing two people and injuring 14 others, according to emergency services.

“Residential buildings and civilian infrastructure came under attack,” said a statement on the State Emergency Service of Ukraine’s official Telegram channel on Friday.

It noted the strikes hit a three-storey residential building and destroyed at least two 2-storey buildings.

“In total, as a result of the Russian attack, 2 people were killed and 14 were wounded”, it said.

The statement said 16 residents were evacuated from a residential building, and more than 140 rescuers were deployed at the strike sites.

Russia has intensified its drone and missile bombardments in recent months, repeatedly targeting Ukraine’s energy system and worsening power disruptions.

Earlier this month, at least nine people were killed in Odesa, targeted by “several waves of missiles and drones throughout the night,” the head of the local military administration, Sergiy Lysak, said at the time.

Zelensky to visit Saudi Arabia, meet crown prince

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is due to travel to Saudi Arabia today for talks with crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, a senior official in Kyiv said, in what will be his second visit to the country in as many months.

Mr Zelensky has deepened ties with several Gulf states during the US-Israeli war with Iran, securing defence agreements – including with Riyadh – built around sharing Ukraine’s experience in bringing down drones after four years of sustained Russian attacks.

Kyiv also sent dozens of military specialists and drone interceptors to several countries in the region, where they were used to destroy incoming Iranian drones. Ukrainian officials have promoted the country’s anti-drone systems as the best in the world.

In a visit last month, Mr Zelensky said the two sides had “reached an important arrangement” on air defence.

The deal envisaged a decade-long cooperation on defence, including on establishing joint production lines, Mr Zelensky said after the last visit.

Saudi Arabia has preserved good relations with both Kyiv and Moscow, and has also hosted talks with US officials seeking a path toward ending the Russian invasion.