STORY: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Brussels welcomed on Thursday (October 23) new sanction packages by the U.S. and the EU and called for more pressure to force Russia to negotiate a ceasefire.

"The 19th package is very important... but American sanctions are also very important, and this is a good signal to other countries in the world to join the sanctions," Zelenskiy told reporters upon his arrival for a summit of EU leaders in Brussels.

He also told reporters in Brussels that a ceasefire was possible in Russia's war on Ukraine but that more pressure would be needed on Moscow to make it happen.

EU countries on Thursday (October 23) will agree on meeting the financial needs of Ukraine in 2026 and 2027, EU Council President Antonio Costa said.

"Today we will take the political decision to ensure the financial needs from Ukraine to 2026 and 2027," Costa said before the summit.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: ARRIVAL OF UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY AT EU SUMMIT / SOUNDBITES OF ZELENSKIY AND EU COUNCIL PRESIDENT, ANTONIO COSTA, ON 19TH EU SANCTIONS AND TRUMP'S SANCTIONS ON RUSSIA

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (OCTOBER 23, 2025) (EUROPEAN UNION – Access all)

1. UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT, VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY, ARRIVING FOR EU SUMMIT

2. ZELENSKIY AND EUROPEAN COUNCIL PRESIDENT, ANTONIO COSTA, LAUGHING AND WALKING

3. ZELENSKIY AND COSTA WALKING TOWARDS JOURNALISTS

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT, VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY, SAYING:

"This decision of the 19th package of sanctions is crucial for us. Thank you so much. And today it goes together with yesterday's decisions of (U.S.) President (Donald) Trump on energy, also a sanctions package. We waited for this. God bless, it will work. And this is very important."

5. ZELENSKIY

6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT, VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY, SAYING:

"I think that, of course, it's more tough sanctions on Russia. The 19th package is very important of European leaders, of the EU. But American sanctions are also very important. This is a good signal to other countries in the world to join the sanctions. You know that not only energy, we need a shadow fleet, etc. And continue. And continue until (Russian President Vladimir) Putin will stop this war. So these decisions are very important."

7. ZELENSKIY AND COSTA ANSWERING JOURNALISTS' QUESTIONS

8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT, VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY, SAYING:

"Ceasefire is possible, of course, and I think all of us need a ceasefire. But we need more pressure on Russia for a ceasefire."

9. ZELENSKIY

10. ZELENSKIY LISTENING WHILE COSTA ANSWERING QUESTION

11. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COUNCIL PRESIDENT, ANTONIO COSTA, SAYING:

"Today, in the morning, we approved already the 19th package of sanctions, targeting the shadow fleet, banking, and energy sector of Russia. And today, in this European Council, we will take the political decision to ensure the financial needs of Ukraine for 2026 and 2027, including for the acquisition of military equipment."

12. ZELENSKIY

13. VARIOUS OF ZELENSKIY AND COSTA WALKING AWAY