European Union leaders gathered in Brussels on May 30, 2022, to address a contentious issue: a proposed embargo on Russian oil. However, the talks were hindered by Hungary's reluctance to agree to the measure.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged the 27-nation bloc to adopt more sanctions against Moscow, including an oil embargo, to counter Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
"All quarrels in Europe must end, internal disputes that only encourage Russia to put more and more pressure on you," Zelensky told the emergency EU summit via video-link.
Despite Zelensky's plea, EU diplomats have drafted a watered-down agreement that would exempt pipeline oil from the ban, in an attempt to unblock talks on the bloc's sixth round of Russian sanctions.
US President Joe Biden stated that the US would not send rocket systems to Ukraine that could hit Russian territory, despite Kyiv's urgent requests for such weapons and extensive US military aid for Ukraine since the war began.
France's new foreign minister, Catherine Colonna, visited Kyiv and pledged to boost military aid to Ukraine to help it counter Russia's invasion. Colonna said that France would continue to reinforce arms deliveries to Ukraine in the coming weeks.
As the conflict in Ukraine continues, Russian forces have been relentless in their artillery and missile barrages on cities in the Donbas region. Ukrainian forces, however, have pushed back in the southern region of Kherson, forcing Moscow to send reserves to the area.
At least five people died following strikes on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine's separatist-controlled city of Donetsk, according to Russian investigators.
