Russia kills four Ukrainians on eve of fourth war anniversary | Russia-Ukraine war News
EU Foreign Ministers Gather in Brussels Amid Escalating Attacks in Ukraine
BRUSSELS — European Union foreign ministers convened in Brussels on Monday to deliberate on a new financial package for Ukraine and a 20th round of sanctions against Russia, as renewed violence in Ukraine resulted in multiple fatalities.
Local officials reported at least four deaths linked to recent Russian strikes, which have intensified on the eve of the fourth anniversary of the ongoing conflict, the largest in Europe since World War II. In the Odesa region, two individuals died when drones attacked industrial sites and civilian infrastructure, according to Governor Oleh Kiper, who shared details on the Telegram messaging app. The assault also inflicted damage on production facilities, storage buildings, and vehicles.
In a notable incident, a Russian drone struck an apartment building without detonating, prompting psychological support services to assist residents. Kiper confirmed that fires ignited by the attacks were extinguished by emergency responders.
The southeastern city of Zaporizhia faced over 750 attacks affecting 44 settlements, resulting in two fatalities, as reported by regional Governor Ivan Fedorov. In Kharkiv, a missile strike in the Kholodnogirsky district occurred, though Mayor Ihor Terekhov provided no immediate casualty figures, as assessments of the damage were underway. Ukrainian forces claimed to have intercepted 105 Russian drones, while Russia stated it downed 152 Ukrainian drones overnight.
At the Brussels meeting, EU ministers are set to discuss a proposed loan of 90 billion euros ($106 billion) for Ukraine, aimed at supporting the government’s financial needs through the end of 2027. This funding, initially agreed upon in December, has faced complications as Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto announced Hungary would block the loan unless Russian oil exports through the Druzhba pipeline resume. Ukrainian officials indicated that the oil flow has been disrupted due to Russian bombardments since late January.
With Hungary and Slovakia receiving oil via the pipeline, both nations contend that Ukraine is intentionally obstructing the resumption of deliveries.
Prior to the meeting, Poland’s Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski criticized Hungary’s stance as “shocking.” Estonia’s Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna emphasized that the sanctions should not be held up due to the pipeline’s status, stating, “If we do not apply sanctions on Russia, then Russia will be happy.” German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul expressed astonishment at Hungary’s position but remained optimistic about reaching a consensus among EU members.
Discussions in Brussels will also address sanctions that include a ban on maritime services related to Russian crude oil exports, along with additional financial restrictions designed to limit Russia’s capacity for international transactions.
