European Council extends Russian sanctions as drone activity reported over Russia and Kyiv

The European Council has extended economic sanctions against Russia until summer 2027. This decision follows Russia's claim of intercepting 660 Ukrainian drones overnight across over a dozen regions, including Moscow. Meanwhile, explosions were reported in Kyiv, with the Ukrainian air force indicating a missile was directed at the capital. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated Kyiv's intent to conduct "preemptive attacks" on Russian territory. The Kremlin, through spokesperson Dmitri Peskov, asserted that Ukrainian strikes stem from deteriorating front-line conditions, claiming Russian forces are advancing "along the entire front" and predicting "irreversible" outcomes for Kyiv. A first installment of a €90 billion European loan has also been disbursed to Ukraine. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk called for "mutual respect" and "understanding of history" between Poles and Ukrainians at a reconstruction conference in Gdansk.

Sources: Le Monde — International