Ukraine's new army chief has vowed to step up the counteroffensive against Russia as European Union diplomats gathered in Brussels to try to sign off a 21st package of sanctions, following earlier failed attempts, according to the Guardian's live coverage.
Key facts
- Ukraine's new army chief has vowed to step up the counteroffensive against Russia, according to the Guardian.
- EU diplomats met in Brussels to try to finalise a 21st package of Russia sanctions, after previous attempts failed.
- The Venice Biennale said it would challenge an EU decision to withdraw a grant of €2 million (about $2.2 million) over Russia's return to its 2026 edition, Reuters reported.
- The Italian government criticised the move, while the European Commission warned it would suspend or terminate funding if the Russian pavilion returned.
Ukraine’s newly appointed army chief has pledged to intensify the country’s counteroffensive against Russian forces, according to the Guardian’s live coverage, as European diplomats worked to agree a fresh round of sanctions on Moscow.
Senior diplomats met in Brussels in an attempt to sign off the European Union’s 21st package of sanctions against Russia, the Guardian reported. The talks followed previous failed attempts to finalise the measures.
In a separate development over Russia’s continued presence in European cultural events, the Venice Biennale said it would challenge an EU decision to withdraw a grant of €2 million (about $2.2 million), Reuters reported. The grant was pulled in response to Russia’s return to the Biennale’s 2026 edition, which the Commission linked to continuing aggression in Ukraine.
The Italian government sharply criticised the EU’s move to withdraw the funding, according to the same reporting.
The European Commission warned that it would suspend or terminate funding if the Russian pavilion returned to the event.
Why it matters
The push for a 21st sanctions package shows the EU is still seeking to tighten economic pressure on Russia, though the earlier failed attempts underline the difficulty of reaching agreement. The dispute over the Venice Biennale grant shows how the standoff over Russia extends beyond the battlefield into cultural and diplomatic arenas.
Frequently asked questions
What sanctions package is the EU trying to agree?
According to the Guardian, EU diplomats meeting in Brussels are attempting to sign off the bloc's 21st package of sanctions against Russia, after previous attempts failed.
Why is the Venice Biennale in dispute with the EU?
The European Union decided to withdraw a €2 million grant in response to Russia's return to the Biennale's 2026 edition. The Biennale said it would challenge the decision, and the European Commission warned it would suspend or terminate funding if the Russian pavilion returned, according to Reuters.
What did Ukraine's new army chief say?
Ukraine's new army chief vowed to step up the country's counteroffensive against Russia, according to the Guardian.