"No progress": Zelenskyy says EU is blocking a 90 billion euro aid package and new sanctions

"No progress": Zelenskyy says EU is blocking a 90 billion euro aid package and new sanctions

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in his evening address on March 7, reported on the situation regarding the preparation of the 20th sanctions package against Russia, as well as a 90 billion euro aid package for Ukraine. 

“So far, there is no progress on the 20th EU sanctions package against Russia for this war. There is no movement on the 90 billion euro aid package for Ukraine. And although Europe recognizes that this is vitally important for us, the blockade of the package persists,” Zelenskyy said.

He noted that the coming days, essentially the entire next week, will be dedicated to joint work with Europeans to ensure that the decisions needed to protect Ukraine are actually implemented. 

The president also mentioned that there is information about Russian assistance to the Iranian regime: there are reports that Russians are providing intelligence to the regime in Iran to adjust strikes against Americans. There are also data on Russian components in «Shaheds» used in the Middle East, “which is against both Arab countries and Americans in the region.” 

As the head of state pointed out, each such fact indicates that we are dealing with regimes that are not just connected to each other, but that exist thanks to each other – the Russian and Iranian regimes – and kill in a virtually coordinated manner both here in Europe and there in the Middle East. That is why, the president emphasized, the defence must also be coordinated. 

“We, for our part, are working to help protect against «Shaheds.» And it is entirely fair to expect that our defence will also receive appropriate assistance and that Russia will feel the consequences not only for prolonging this war against us but also for attempting to escalate that other war,” Zelenskyy said.