European Commissioner for Defence Andrius Kubilius has stated that Ukraine's recent military successes, particularly against Russian maritime vessels and energy infrastructure, are strengthening Kyiv's position and could compel Vladimir Putin to enter negotiations. In an exclusive interview with Euronews, Kubilius said: “Such kind of development should be a clear argument for Putin and his surroundings – that he is not able to achieve any significant development in his war aims, and that is the moment when real negotiations on just peace should start.” The Lithuanian commissioner stressed that continued European support for Ukraine is essential not only for Kyiv's defence but also for preparing the continent against potential future aggression.
Military Mobility and Drone Cooperation
Kubilius is set to participate in trilogues at the European Parliament on military mobility, a package of measures aimed at reducing bureaucracy and improving infrastructure to enable rapid movement of troops and equipment across Europe in wartime. He described it as “a revolutionary package” that needs to be implemented as quickly as possible.
Meanwhile, President Ursula von der Leyen and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed an EU-Ukraine drone deal in Kyiv, which von der Leyen called “a truly historic step.” The agreement aims to combine Ukraine's advanced drone expertise with Europe's industrial capacity to create a major drone manufacturing hub. During the signing, a Russian drone triggered an air raid siren, forcing the delegation into an underground shelter before Ukrainian forces shot it down and proceedings resumed.
Brussels is also preparing a new €10 billion military package under the €90 billion loan, which for the first time will include a dedicated share for purchasing PAC-3 Patriot interceptors—critical for Ukraine to counter Russian ballistic missiles. However, the loan's stringent “Made in Europe” requirements necessitate a derogation to allow procurement of the US-made systems.
Accession Talks and Sanctions Stalemate
Von der Leyen's visit also focused on Ukraine's EU accession process. Both leaders pushed to open remaining negotiation clusters “as soon as possible,” a marked shift from their February meeting when Zelenskyy insisted on membership by 2027—a demand von der Leyen firmly rejected. This time, the 2027 date was absent, to the relief of the European Commission. As Euronews correspondent Jorge Liboreiro noted, “The focus is now on the clusters.”
EU ambassadors failed again to agree on the 21st package of sanctions against Russia. To avoid a disastrous revision of the oil price cap, they delayed the review until next Thursday, buying time to resolve differences. Von der Leyen and Zelenskyy acknowledged that compromises are necessary to exhaust Moscow's war machine.
In a separate development, EU foreign ministers adopted a paper accusing China and Russia of “reshaping the global order in line with their interests,” marking some of the bloc's strongest criticism of Beijing to date. The document, drafted by the European External Action Service, condemns a “return to a sphere-of-influence logic.”
Zelenskyy's Reshuffle Sparks Outrage
President Zelenskyy's dismissal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has triggered widespread public anger. Fedorov, a popular figure in Ukrainian civil society, was reportedly removed due to clashes with Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi over military reforms and mobilisation. Fedorov confirmed his dismissal on social media, stating, “It was a great honour to serve the Ukrainian people as Defence Minister.”
For the first time since protests over anti-corruption watchdog independence last summer, calls have emerged for peaceful demonstrations on Thursday morning in Kyiv and other cities, with organisers urging citizens to “show the president that we are against constant reshuffles in the government and replacing effective ministers with convenient opportunists.” The protests are scheduled to begin at 9:01 am local time, immediately after the daily minute of silence for fallen soldiers.
For more on the reshuffle, see Zelenskyy Dismisses Popular Defence Minister Fedorov Amid Military Reform Dispute and Ukraine Reshuffles Government as EU Prepares New Support Package.
