The EU President Ursula von der Leyen, said the 27-nation bloc will allot an emergency fund to purchase “lethal weapons, fuel, protective equipment and medical supplies” to be later sent to Ukraine.

Ukraine has become the spearhead of the West in its goal of further expanding NATO towards the Russian borders, which on Thursday invaded Kyiv with the goal of shielding the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People´s Republics.

In this context, Ms. Von der Leyen stated Russian aircraft, both commercial and private, will not be able to fly over European skies. These sanctions will be added to those issued recently including those ones against deputies and banks.

The EU also announced new sanctions against Belarus, in particular banning exports of cement, iron, steel, and other sectors, arguing that Minsk is an “accomplice” of Moscow. mh/pll/jha/wmr