EU leaders Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa on Friday (October 16) assured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy their support "as strong as ever" as they arrived together for a second day of the European Union summit in Brussels,

The leaders hugged and tapped each other on the back as they stood in front of reporters.

"You can count on us", EU Council President Costa told Zelenskiy in front of microphones.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen added that "Russia is trying everything to destroy the energy and water infrastructure, but we stand by your side."

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (OCTOBER 16, 2026) (EUROPEAN UNION - Access all)

1. PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL ANTONIO COSTA WELCOMING UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY AT THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL BUILDING, THEY EMBRACE

2. VARIOUS OF COSTA, ZELENSKIY AND PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION URSULA VON DER LEYEN WALKING THROUGH COUNCIL BUILDING AND APPROACHING PRESS

3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL, ANTONIO COSTA, SAYING:

"Our message to President Zelenskiy is very simple. The support of the European Union to Ukraine remains as strong as ever. This is no time to withdraw support to Ukraine. This is no time to relieve Russia's sanctions. Now it's time to increase our support."

4. WHITE FLASH

5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL, ANTONIO COSTA, SAYING:

"Then, dear Volodymyr, you can count on us not only to support you in war, but most importantly for your future as a member of the European Union."

6. WHITE FLASH

7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, URSULA VON DER LEYEN, SAYING:

"Of course we will speak about "winterization", so how to support Ukraine in the upcoming winter. Russia is trying everything to destroy the energy and water infrastructure, but we stand by your side. We will support you as we did in other winters. We will overcome."

WHITE FLASH

8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, URSULA VON DER LEYEN, SAYING:

"Of course, we supported President Trump's energy ceasefire, but we've seen that Russia did not respect it, not a single minute. Instead, Russia escalated, and therefore we have to increase the pressure on Russia. We're working now on the 22nd sanctions package and one thing is absolutely clear: we will not lift any sanctions unless Russia stops the war."

9. WHITE FLASH

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

"Really, our agenda is energy needs; this is point number one. And of course, we want to end this war as quickly as possible. We don't see any signals from the Russian side that they are ready to end this war. That's why we have to prepare for the winter."

11. VARIOUS OF COSTA, ZELENSKIY AND VON DER LEYEN WALKING AWAY