“We Will Keep Increasing the Pressure”: Von der Leyen on Ukraine Aid and New Russia Sanctions

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said NATO leaders will discuss providing additional air defense systems to Ukraine during the alliance's summit in Ankara on July 7–8, following Russia's latest large-scale aerial attack on Kyiv.

In a statement published on X, von der Leyen condemned the overnight strike, during which Russia launched more than 400 drones and missiles at the Ukrainian capital.

“Last night, the Russian regime once again blindly attacked civilians from the air, with over 400 drones and missiles attacking the capital,” she wrote.

She said the attack underscored Ukraine's urgent need for stronger air defenses.

According to von der Leyen, European leaders will address the issue of supplying additional air defense systems during the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara.

The European Commission president also highlighted the European Union's continued financial support for Ukraine, noting that Kyiv received more than €4 billion last week under the EU's €90 billion loan program.

“More is coming very soon. And we are working hard to seal the deal on the 21st sanctions package in the next days. We will keep increasing the pressure until Russia ends the bloodshed,” von der Leyen added.

Her remarks come as Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov called on Ukraine's partners to temporarily transfer Patriot interceptor missiles from their existing stockpiles until newly contracted supplies begin arriving next year.

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War in Ukraine

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“The simplest solution for our partners is to temporarily allocate these missiles from their own stockpiles. This will save countless lives of our citizens. We cannot allow cautious bureaucracy to become a barrier to protecting human life,” Fedorov wrote.

Russia launched a large-scale missile and drone assault on Ukraine overnight on July 6, causing widespread damage across Kyiv. The attack sparked multiple fires, damaged residential and commercial buildings, and left residents trapped inside a high-rise apartment building in the capital's Podilskyi district. Head of the Kyiv City Military Administration Tymur Tkachenko later said the attack had killed 12 people and injured 49 others.

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