European capitals are working on "pretty precise plans" for potential military deployments to Ukraine as part of post-conflict security guarantees that will have the full backing of US capabilities, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told the Financial Times.
Ms Von der Leyen also told the publication that the EU will also maintain funding for the training of Ukrainian soldiers after any peace agreement is reached.
She said the EU's existing funding streams to Ukraine, including budgetary support, would need to remain during peacetime in Ukraine, adding that it would "explore new funding streams".
Ms Von der Leyen accompanied Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk during a visit to the fence at the Poland/Belarus border.
It comes as the Kremlin said that European powers were hindering US President Donald Trump's efforts to achieve peace in Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov added that Russia would continue its operation in Ukraine until Moscow saw real signs that Kyiv was ready for peace.
Mr Peskov told Russian state media reporters that the "European party of war" was continuing to hinder US and Russian efforts on Ukraine.
He said that Russia was grateful to Mr Trump for these efforts and that Moscow would continue the "special military operation" as it had so far seen no "reciprocal" moves from Ukraine aimed at peace.
Russian overnight drone attack cuts power to thousands in Odesa
Meanwhile, a Russian drone attack overnight damaged four power facilities near the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa, leaving more than 29,000 customers without electricity this morning, the region's governor and power firm DTEK said.
Hardest hit was the port city of Chornomorsk, just outside Odesa, where residential houses and administrative buildings were also damaged, said Oleh Kiper, the governor of the broader Odesa region, on the Telegram messaging app.
"Critical infrastructure is operating on generators," Mr Kiper said, adding that one person had been injured as a result of the attack.
Russian drones also targeted Ukraine's northern Chernihiv region this morning, damaging energy infrastructure and leaving 30,000 households without electricity, including part of the city of Nizhyn, said local governor Viacheslav Chaus.
Zelensky vows to retaliate after power outage strikes
President Volodymyr Zelensky has vowed to retaliate by ordering more strikes deep inside Russia.
"We will continue our active operations in exactly the way needed for Ukraine's defence. The forces and resources are prepared. New deep strikes have also been planned," Mr Zelensky said on X after meeting Ukraine's top general, Oleksandr Syrsky, without giving further details of the plans.
Accreditation: Reuters
