European Commission President after massive Russian attack: Reinforcement of Ukraine's air defences needed

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said that Ukraine needs additional air defence systems following Russia's latest large-scale attack, adding that the issue will be discussed at the NATO summit, which opens in Ankara, Türkiye, on Tuesday 7 July.

Von der Leyen responded to Russia's latest large-scale strike on Ukraine by calling for additional air defence capabilities to be supplied to Kyiv.

She also noted that last week the European Union transferred the first €4 billion to Ukraine under a €90 billion support package, which will be used to procure Ukrainian-made drones.

The European Commission president pledged that even more funding would follow soon and announced that a new package of sanctions against Russia would also be approved.

"And we are working hard to seal the deal on the 21st sanctions package in the next days. We will keep increasing the pressure until Russia ends the bloodshed," she said on X.

According to European Pravda, the European Union aims to approve its 21st package of sanctions against Russia by 15 July, ahead of the deadline for renewing the price cap on Russian oil.

Among the proposed measures is a ban on former Russian combatants who fought against Ukraine from entering the EU.

It has also been reported that Italy and Bulgaria have expressed concerns over plans to impose sanctions on Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, as part of the new sanctions package.