Russian invasion

Negotiations
Trump to reporters: “Divide Donbas as it is”

Donald Trump believes that the Donbas in Ukraine should be divided between Ukraine and Russia to end the war. He tells reporters aboard Air Force One, AP reports.

– Let’s divide it as it is. It’s divided right now. I think 78 percent of the territory has already been taken by Russia. We can leave it as it is now, Trump says, adding that the parties “can negotiate later.”

According to NBC News, Russia has taken control of about 88 percent of the Donbas, which consists of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Donbas is a resource-rich region and is often described as a militarily important target.

Trump tells reporters that he and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj did not discuss what should happen to Donbas during their meeting at the White House on Friday. However, according to sources to the Financial Times, Trump is said to have urged Zelenskyj to give up the entire Donbas region to Russia.

Zelenskyj critical of meeting in Budapest – but will attend if invited

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj believes that Budapest is not the best place for a meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, given Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's pro-Russia stance.

Zelenskyj will, however, attend if invited.

- If it can lead to peace, it doesn't matter which country arranges the meeting, he told reporters in Kyiv after returning from the White House.

The Ukrainian leader had to return home without the arms promises from Trump that he had hoped for. 

Sanctions
EU countries agree: Russian gas to be removed by 2028

EU energy ministers have agreed to ban all imports of gas from Russia, according to a press release.

The proposal involves a gradual ban on both liquid and pipeline gas from Russia, with a complete ban from January 1, 2028.

“Although we have made efforts to remove Russian gas and oil from Europe in recent years, we are not there yet. That is why it is crucial that the Danish presidency has now secured support from Europe’s energy ministers,” says Denmark’s Minister of Energy and Climate Lars Aagaard.

This will allow negotiations to begin with the European Parliament.

Approximately 15 percent of the EU’s imports of liquid natural gas come from Russia, which means a monthly cost of around 500-700 million euros, writes Bloomberg.