EU summit: Sanctions won't ease until Russia stops war. von der Leyen

The European Union will maintain its sanctions regime against Russia until Moscow ceases its war of aggression against Ukraine, Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa reassured Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday.

Their comments were an unmistakable rebuke to US President Donald Trump for easing sanctions on Russia to strike a diesel supply deal with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. The deal has infuriated Ukraine and unsettled European allies.

"One thing is absolutely clear. We will not lift any sanctions unless Russia stops the war," the president of the European Commission said on Friday morning.

"This is no time to relieve Russia's sanctions. Now is the time to increase our support and increase our pressure," Costa, the president of the European Council, said.

Zelenskyy thanked European leaders for their continued support, pointedly describing them as "real leaders" who had stood by Ukraine since the beginning of the war.

"We don't see (any) signals from (the) Russian side that they are ready for this to end this war," the Ukrainian president said. "That's why we have to prepare for the winter. Winter package. It's not only energy, (but) it's also air defence and fundings."

Meanwhile, Trump has once again attacked Zelenskyy, calling his strategy to strike Russian oil refineries a "disgrace" and demanding new elections in the country.

"I find Zelenskyy to be more difficult to deal with than Putin," Trump told Newsmax.

The bitter row is set to take centre stage on the second day of the EU summit.

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