Kyiv in sanctions push as NATO states on Europe\u2019s eastern flank take preventive action after Moscow\u2019s air incursions.<\/p>\n
Published On 20 Sep 202520 Sep 2025<\/p>\n
Click here to share on social media<\/p>\n
share2<\/p>\n
Ukrainian Volodymyr Zelenskyy is preparing to meet US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City next week in a bid to urge him to impose stronger sanctions on Russia.<\/p>\n
The Ukrainian president shared his plans on Saturday, as Russia intensified attacks on his country following air incursions into Europe\u2019s eastern flank that have sparked anxiety over a potential spillover of the ongoing war in Ukraine.<\/p>\n
Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list<\/p>\n
The announcement, reported by the AFP news agency, came the day after the European Union presented its 19th sanctions package.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe now expect strong sanctions steps from the United States as well \u2013 Europe is doing its part,\u201d Zelenskyy posted on X on Saturday.<\/p>\n
\nThis week brought us closer to finalizing the 19th sanctions package \u2013 we expect its approval soon. We will quickly synchronize the package in Ukraine. Russia\u2019s energy resources are being restricted. The infrastructure of the \u201cshadow fleet\u201d will face new pressure. Cryptocurrency\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/JzgvsQQHHQ<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Volodymyr Zelenskyy \/ \u0412\u043e\u043b\u043e\u0434\u0438\u043c\u0438\u0440 \u0417\u0435\u043b\u0435\u043d\u0441\u044c\u043a\u0438\u0439 (@ZelenskyyUa) September 20, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Trump already signalled last week that he was ready to impose \u201cmajor sanctions<\/a>\u201d on Russia, which has so far evaded his attempts for a ceasefire, but only if all NATO allies agree to completely halt buying oil from Moscow.<\/p>\n
Zelenskyy is also expected to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine to prevent future Russian attacks after an eventual truce, though Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that he would not accept the presence of Western troops in Ukraine.<\/p>\n
Moscow stepped up attacks on Ukraine overnight, firing 40 missiles and some 580 drones in one of the biggest barrages of Russia\u2019s war on its neighbour, killing at least three people and wounding dozens.<\/p>\n
Preventive operations in east<\/p>\n
NATO countries took measures to strengthen defences on Europe\u2019s eastern flank after Russian drone incursions in Poland<\/a> and Romania<\/a> over the past two weeks, and unprecedented reports of three Russian fighter jets<\/a> entering Estonian airspace on Friday.<\/p>\n
Poland\u2019s army said that Polish and allied aircraft were deployed early on Saturday in a \u201cpreventative operation\u201d to ensure the safety of Polish airspace after Russia launched air strikes targeting western Ukraine, near the Polish border.<\/p>\n
The United Kingdom said that its fighter jets had flown their first NATO air defence sortie to patrol Polish skies and defend against potential aerial threats from Russia as part of the alliance\u2019s Eastern Sentry mission.<\/p>\n
On Saturday, Russia\u2019s Ministry of Defence denied that its aircraft flew into Estonia\u2019s airspace the day before, but Estonian officials said the 12-minute violation was confirmed by radar and visual contact.<\/p>\n
Colonel Ants Kiviselg, the commander of Estonia\u2019s Military Intelligence Centre, said that it still \u201cneeds to be confirmed\u201d whether the border violation was deliberate.<\/p>\n