ISTANBUL 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday welcomed the European Union’s progress toward adopting its 19th sanctions package against Russia, saying it targets the “key engines of the war economy.”

“It targets the key engines of the war economy: energy revenues, finance, high-tech inputs, and the military-industrial base. This is an important step that will intensify pressure on Russia’s war machine and have a tangible impact,” Zelenskyy said in a statement on Telegram.

He also praised the EU’s preparatory work on a mechanism to use revenues from frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine.

“This is a crucial move that will strengthen our defense, resilience, and recovery,” he added.

“We thank the EU for its leadership and unity. We count on swift adoption of the 19th package, and we expect other partners to mirror and expand these steps. Sustained pressure is essential to force Russia toward peace and accountability,” the Ukrainian leader said.