EU prepares new Russia sanctions as US calls invasion a "strategic failure"

The European Commission is set to introduce its 21st package of sanctions against Russia this week, targeting financial institutions in third countries, particularly in Central Asia, for allegedly assisting Russian banks in circumventing existing restrictions. Concurrently, a US representative to the UN declared Russia's invasion of Ukraine a "strategic failure." Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin "wasted an opportunity to exit a failing war" by rejecting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's peace negotiation proposal. Zelenskyy recently engaged in diplomatic discussions in the United Kingdom and reportedly invited Roman Abramovich to Kyiv to relay a message to Putin about a potential direct meeting. Separately, allegations have emerged regarding Rosatom employees' involvement in the occupation of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant. In other news, a powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the southern Philippines, resulting in at least 19 fatalities, over 200 injuries, and a one-meter tsunami.

Sources: Громадське, Радіо Свобода, Суспільне Новини, Українська правда