Overview

• Roberta Metsola arrived in Kyiv on Sept. 17 to discuss Ukraine’s EU path and increased pressure on Russia with President Volodymyr Zelensky and other senior officials.
• Ukrainian Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk welcomed her to the capital, marking her fourth visit since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
• The European Parliament passed a non-binding resolution urging the launch of the first cluster of accession talks, and although the Commission has backed opening negotiations, Hungary is blocking formal progress.
• The European Commission is expected to unveil a 19th sanctions package targeting Russian crypto assets, banks, and energy.
• After a call with U.S. President Donald Trump, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU will seek to speed up the phase-out of Russian energy purchases originally slated for end-2027, while Zelensky warns of two more heavy Russian offensive campaigns.