Chris Powers

The 21st sanctions package was supposed to be agreed on on July 15, but two EU officials confirmed to the Kyiv Independent that Greece was refusing to compromise on its hardline position against proposals to stop EU countries trading LNG to third countries.

The EU also announced a 10-billion-euro ($11 billion) funding plan for additional drones, missiles, and fighter aircraft for Ukraine.

They also agreed that temporary protection would not be granted to new applicants who are not complying with their military obligations in Ukraine.

"I many times claimed that Moldova is the best student in my class, now I change my rhetoric because it is the best performer in my class," Marta Kos said after Chisinau opened the external relations cluster on July 14.

The European Commission is preparing a combined defense support package for Ukraine worth up to 18 billion euros ($21 billion), with announcements on this expected during von der Leyen's visit, TVP World reported.

The EU's enlargement commissioner, Marta Kos, told journalists that the newly opened cluster covers external relations, defense, and the tackling of hybrid threats.

"This agreement will help ensure Ukraine gets the support it needs to defend itself against Russian aggression, while backing British defense companies, supporting skilled jobs and strengthening our national security," said British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on July 13.

"I can't offer you any guarantees," the EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas told the Kyiv Independent when asked if she can offer any guarantee that the price cap on Russian oil will not lapse on July 15.

The listings include the company VK, which owns the social media website VKontakte, its daughter company Communication Platform LLC, which developed Max, and the latter's head, Elena Bagudina.

The package of support was agreed hours after a Russian overnight attack in which a Russian drone crashed in Moldova, and is 20 million euros ($23 million) more than officials were expecting Chisinau would receive.

"Every time we make a sanctions pact, it gets a little harder," said Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen.

The new sanctions are part of the EU's largest-ever package of measures, and the first time Romania has proposed specific restrictions against Russia.

Moldova is set to receive 100 million euros ($114 million) from the EU to bolster its air defenses, two officials told the Kyiv Independent.

The next step unlocks a to-do list of reforms to align Ukraine and Moldova's foreign policies with EU norms.

As Russia continues its war of conquest against Ukraine, causing thousands of deaths, international sports organizations are eyeing to welcome Russian athletes and teams back into international competition. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided to lift its suspension on Russian participation on July 7, provoking angry reactions from Ukraine and across Europe. Russia had been banned from participating in Olympic sports since 2022, following the start of its all-out war, and was furt