Top EU officials visit Ukraine, talk more sanctions

Sanctions are “eroding” Russia’s economy, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said Thursday, and the European Union will be adding more of them. In addition to its 10th package of sanctions, the EU and its partners will add another price cap on Russian petroleum products, Von der Leyen said during a meeting in Kyiv. The added sanctions will go into effect by Feb. 24, the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. A Friday summit of EU and Ukrainian officials will include fighting Ukrainian corruption. Corruption is an obstacle to Ukraine joining the EU, and Ukraine has begun an anti-corruption campaign. 

What’s happening on the ground? Rescue workers are digging through the rubble of an apartment building in the Donetsk province after a Russian missile hit it on Wednesday. At least three people died and 21 are wounded. Rescuers are still looking for at least one survivor. The Ukrainian presidential office said Russian shelling across the country has killed at least eight civilians since Tuesday. 

  Dig deeper: Read John Dawson’s report in WORLD Magazine on how cutting ties with Russian energy is affecting the EU.