Ukraine marks third anniversary of war

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas also highlighted what she claimed was pro-Russian positions being taken up by the Trump administration

- Agencies

KYIV: A dozen leaders from Europe and Canada were in Ukraine's capital on Monday to mark the third anniversary of Russia's invasion.

The visitors, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau were set to attend anniversary events and discuss supporting Ukraine with President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The anniversary was being marked as US policies on Russia and Ukraine shift under President Donald Trump.

European Union foreign ministers have given the greenlight to new sanctions against Russia which are entering force on the third anniversary of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Among the latest sanctions endorsed on Monday are measures targeting Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" of ships that it exploits to skirt restrictions on transporting oil and gas, or to carry stolen Ukrainian grain.

The EU said 74 vessels were added to its list.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the new measures also target "those who support the operation of unsafe oil tankers, videogame controllers used to pilot drones, banks used to circumvent our sanctions, and propaganda outlets used to spout lies."

Asset freezes and travel bans were imposed on 83 officials and entities.

More than 2,300 officials and entities have been hit since the invasion began, including Russian President Vladimir Putin.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier says "peace and freedom in Europe demand of us that we support Ukraine resolutely."