EU agrees on new sanctions rollover as Russia claims territorial gains

The Russian Ministry of Defence claimed on Sunday that its forces had captured Velyka Novosilka, a town in the east Ukrainian Donetsk region.

The town is a key defensive hub on the frontlines for the Ukrainian army, and if confirmed, it being occupied by Russian forces would mean a significant gain for Moscow.

Analysts have long predicted that it’s only a matter of time until Russian forces capture the settlement, which lies only 15 kilometres from the neighbouring Dnipropetrovsk region and 20 kilometres from the border with the Dnipro region.

Ukrainian forces withdrew from certain parts of Velyka Novosilka to avoid encirclement, the 110th Separate Mechanised Brigade said on its official Telegram channel Sunday. The brigade is active in that patch of the frontline.

The brigade said that though their forces are roughly equal in terms of artillery and drones, the Russians have a huge advantage in manpower.

“Our units, using the weather conditions, skilfully withdrew from areas where there was a threat of encirclement. This does not mean that we have completely left the city, the fighting in Velyka Novosilka continues. All actions are aimed at minimising our own losses and maximum damage to the enemy,” the statement said.

The brigade said the withdrawal would make it difficult for Russian troops to advance, as a river in the area would act as an obstacle for further advance.

Heavy fighting in the Donetsk region has put Ukrainian troops in a "quite difficult" situation, soldiers warned last week, adding that more weapons are urgently needed to fend off Russian aggression and territorial advances.

EU agrees to rollover sanctions against Russia

On Monday, EU foreign ministers agreed to roll over sanctions against Russia.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said in a post on X, "This will continue to deprive Moscow of revenues to finance its war. Russia needs to pay for the damage they are causing."

Speaking to reporters ahead of the meeting with EU foreign ministers, Kallas praised US President Donald Trump for putting pressure on Russia to end the war in Ukraine.

The EU renews its sanctions every six months, and the deadline for the latest extension expires on Friday.

Sanctions include bans on trade with Russia in energy, technology, finance, luxury goods, transport and broadcasting, among others, as well as measures that freeze Russia's central bank assets.

Renewing the sanctions is usually a formality, but recent anti-sanction rhetoric from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has cast doubt on their renewal. Ultimately, Hungary dropped its veto threat. The rollover requires unanimity from all 27 member states to be approved.

With the Trump administration questioning the future of US aid to Ukraine and stressing the need to quickly broker a peace deal, both Moscow and Kyiv are seeking battlefield successes to strengthen their negotiating positions ahead of any prospective talks.

For the past year, Russian forces have been waging an intense campaign to punch holes in Ukraine’s defences in the eastern Donetsk region. The sustained and costly offensive has compelled Kyiv to give up a series of towns, villages and hamlets.