Burnham to host Zelensky on Monday and reaffirms unwavering support for Ukraine

Volodymyr Zelensky stated that he plans to hold a trilateral meeting before the onset of autumn, emphasizing the need for intensive work on this issue. He noted that if it depended only on him, the meeting would have taken place in July, but acknowledged that many things depend on other factors.

Diplomatic Contacts and Visits

Earlier, the Ukrainian leader spoke with ambassadors of Donald Trump—Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, who may visit Moscow in the near future. A Kremlin representative, Dmitry Peskov, raised the issue of the upcoming visits by Kushner and Witkoff to Russia, expressing hope that the American negotiators would be relieved of their duties regarding negotiations with Iran so they could continue the dialogue in Moscow.

Zelensky's Warnings About Russia

Despite signs of diplomatic rapprochement between Moscow and Washington, Zelensky warned that Ukrainian authorities predict an increase in attacks from Russian President Vladimir Putin until autumn, as well as the announcement of new mass mobilization. According to the Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform, Zelensky warned that Russia is preparing to expand the war.

The Ukrainian leader also stated that the Russian army has not missed a day without attacking civilian populations, which, in his opinion, indicates whom they are fighting against and what they are defending. He thanked European partners for their support, including the adoption of the 21st package of sanctions against Russia.

New EU Sanctions Package

Zelensky expressed gratitude to all leaders and countries of Europe for their support, stating his intention to cooperate with partners outside the EU so that they too would include new sanctions in their legal systems, as the synchronization of measures is of paramount importance. The new European Union sanctions package includes measures to restrict Russia's economic opportunities and income, particularly targeting the energy, financial, and transport sectors, as well as individuals and organizations involved in supporting the war in Ukraine.

Details of Sanctions Measures

Initially, sanctions negotiations were blocked due to disagreements among member states regarding the proposed measures and their potential economic impact. One of the main points of contention was the restriction on the transfer of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) to third countries, which Greece objected to, given that the Greek shipping company Dynagas continues to transport Russian LNG.

According to European sources, the reached agreement provides for a limited exemption to allow the transfer of LNG to third countries and related purchases under contracts concluded before February 24, 2022—the date of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. However, the expansion of these operations by EU operators will be limited, and the exemption can be reviewed annually by the EU Council. Furthermore, the 21st sanctions package extends the existing maximum price cap on Russian oil for another 12 months and includes comprehensive restrictions on the financial sector, as well as new measures concerning cryptocurrencies.