EU to end Russian gas imports, Trump comments on Ukraine war - Monday brief
RBC-Ukraine collage
The European Union has approved a ban on Russian natural gas imports to the bloc from the end of 2027. US President Donald Trump does not believe Ukraine will win the war with Russia, but does not rule out such a possibility.
Read more about what happened on Monday, October 20.
Zelenskyy not ruling out 'bad scenario' from Trump-Putin meeting in Budapest
"If it is an invitation in a format where we meet as three. Or shuttle diplomacy: President Trump meets with Putin and President Trump meets with me. Then, in one format or another, we will agree," he said.
At the same time, Zelenskyy does not rule out that the meeting in Budapest may go according to a "bad scenario." For example, that Trump and Putin might try to reach an agreement behind Ukraine's back and put forward unacceptable conditions for Kyiv.
Trump makes new statement on possibility of Ukraine winning war
US President Donald Trump does not believe that Ukraine will win the war against Russia, but he does not rule out the possibility, the US leader made this statement during a meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
"Well, they (the Ukrainians - ed.) could still win it. I don't think they will, but they could still win it. I never said they would win it. I said they could win. Anything can happen," Trump said.
According to him, the war is a "very strange thing," with "a lot of bad and good things happening."
Zelenskyy holds talks with Macron, meeting expected soon
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron and agreed to meet in the near future, Zelenskyy reported.
"We discussed with Emmanuel all the current aspects of diplomacy and our recent contacts with partners. I am grateful for the support. We agreed to meet in the near future," the president said.
EU countries agree to end Russian gas imports by the end of 2027
The EU Council has adopted a common position on the gradual phase-out of Russian gas imports under the REPowerEU plan, which envisions a complete abandonment of Russian energy resources by January 1, 2028, according to the EU Council press service.
"An energy independent Europe is a stronger and more secure Europe. Although we have worked hard and pushed to get Russian gas and oil out of Europe in recent years, we are not there yet," said Danish Minister for Climate, Energy, and Utilities Lars Aagaard.
