Friedrich Merz:

Achieving independence from the United States is a priority.

United States is relatively indifferent to Ukraine's future.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov:

United States wants a quick ceasefire in Ukraine without a comprehensive and long-term solution, and we have explained to them in detail that this is unacceptable from our point of view.

Ukrainian drones attacked Russia’s Ryazan Oil Refinery, leading to explosions and a subsequent fire.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Costa have arrived in Kyiv.

Official results and electoral map of German federal election 2025.

The border between Cold War era West Germany and East Germany are once again clearly visible.

Macron and Starmer want to persuade Trump not to continue bilateral talks with Russia on the war in Ukraine.

In exchange, they will offer Europe's commitment to ensuring Ukraine's future security.

Source: The Times

EU Foreign Policy Chief Kallas will meet US Secretary of State Rubio in the US on Tuesday.

Zelensky allegedly shouted as he struggled with Trump's pressure while meeting with Trump's envoy in his office during talks in Kiev. According to the Financial Times, Zelensky shouted during a private meeting with the Trump envoy as tensions escalated over the future of Ukraine's most important strategic alliance.

‘He was very angry,’ a person present said of the Ukrainian president.

Source: FT

Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau, Lithuanian and Latvian Presidents Nauseda and Rinkėvičs, Estonian Prime Minister Michał, and Spanish Prime Minister Sánchez also arrived in Kiev.

NEW: Syria's Foreign Minister Shaibani to visit Ankara today for talks with Turkish officials, two sources said.

Source: Reuters

A report marking the third anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine has found that the EU spent more on Russian fossil fuels than on financial aid to Ukraine in 2024.

According to estimates from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (Crea), the EU purchased €21.9bn (£18.1bn) worth of Russian oil and gas in the war’s third year, despite ongoing efforts to reduce reliance on the fuels that help finance Vladimir Putin’s war effort.

This expenditure surpasses the €18.7bn in financial aid the EU allocated to Ukraine in 2024, as tracked by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).

Source: Guardian

Von der Leyen promised Kyiv a new tranche of aid of €3.5 billion in March.

The leaders of Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Sweden also arrived in Kiev.

NEW: EU foreign ministers on Monday approved a 16th package of sanctions against Russia, two diplomats said, Reuters reported.

The European Union is not yet discussing sending "peacekeepers" to Ukraine, said the head of European diplomacy Kaja Kallas.

"In order to send peacekeepers, you first need peace," she said.

A $1 trillion Ukraine Recovery Fund will soon be announced, backed by the U.S. (40%), Russia (40%), and China (20%), with additional contributions from Gulf states and others, Ukrainian official Oleksiy Arestovych claimed on his X account.

According to Arestovych the fund will receive $350 billion from frozen Russian assets, with the U.S. and China adding major investments in mineral extraction, infrastructure, and development.

The EU has included 48 individuals and 35 legal entities in the sanctions list as part of the 16th package of sanctions against Russia. EU also imposed sanctions against 74 vessels that are part of Russia's shadow fleet.

EU Foreign Policy Chief Kallas:

Statements coming from the US regarding Ukraine clearly contain Russian narratives.

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militants claim to have shot down an Ilyushin cargo plane over Nyala, South Darfur, early this morning. If confirmed, this would mark the second Ilyushin downed in Darfur.

Local media reported that a loud explosion was heard near the Russian Consulate in Marseille, France.

The Sudanese army says it has broken the RSF siege on El-Obeid, a key strategic city in North Kordofan.

El-Obeid has been surrounded by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since the war began in April 2023. The army announced reopened access to the city and linked up with troops east of the area. The city is a vital crossroads, connecting Khartoum to Darfur, where the RSF has gained significant ground.