EU preparing 22nd Russia sanctions package, Ukraine funding plan

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced Thursday that they were preparing the 22nd sanctions package against Russia and a plan for Ukraine's financial needs ahead of 2027.

Von der Leyen told reporters at the beginning of the European Political Community (EPC) summit in Dublin that they were preparing the 22nd sanctions package and a proposal on how to cover the financial needs of Ukraine in 2027.

"We will come with the sanctions package and the proposal for the financial needs before the next European Council," she said.

She also welcomed the peace talks in Abu Dhabi and the Europeans' representation to safeguard the bloc's interests.

"We will support Ukraine, be it in wartime or be it in peacetime," von der Leyen added.

EU foreign policy chief calls for 'right sequencing' in peace talks

"There should be a right sequencing first to have a ceasefire so that the bombing of civilians really stops, and then sit down, talk over the peace agreement," EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas also told reporters.

She noted that only then can they also talk about the peace and security architecture of Europe and underlined the need to ensure that Russia keeps to its obligations.

"Right now, taking the focus to the European security architecture is actually diverting the attention away from where it actually should be, which is ceasefire stopping the killing in Ukraine," Kallas added.

She also commented on Britain rejoining the European Union, highlighting that she would "very much like" it but warning that the bloc had "trauma" from their leaving.

"So the negotiations will not be that easy. But I think we can take the little steps, and I'm confident that if we are together, we are much stronger when it comes to the economy, but when it also comes to security," Kallas added.