October 2, 2023 - Russia-Ukraine news

Not all 27 European Union foreign ministers are present in Kyiv, despite an earlier statement by the bloc's foreign policy chief outlining plans for their "historic" meeting in the Ukrainian capital Monday, CNN understands.

CNN is working to confirm how many foreign ministers have traveled to Kyiv.

Several foreign ministers have already made on-camera addresses on the sidelines of the meeting, including those from Bulgaria, Romania, the Netherlands, Portugal, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Italy, Croatia and France.

In a series of posts on X, formerly Twitter, Borrell said earlier the event in Kyiv would be the "first ever meeting of all 27 Member States outside the EU."

"We are convening a historic meeting of EU Foreign Ministers here in Ukraine, candidate country and future member of the EU," Borrell said. "We are here to express our solidarity and support to the Ukrainian people."

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Monday that he "respects the choice" of the Slovakian people and it is "too early to judge" how the election victory of a pro-Kremlin figure in the country would impact Ukraine.

Former Slovakian prime minister Robert Fico is poised to begin coalition talks after his SMER party won parliamentary elections Saturday, in what could pose a challenge to NATO and European Union unity on Ukraine.

Some context: Bratislava has been one of Kyiv's biggest backers since Russia's invasion began last year, but its future support has been thrown into doubt after Fico won the chance to regain the leadership.

Speaking after his victory, Fico said he “will do everything” in his power to kickstart Russia-Ukraine peace talks. “More killing is not going to help anyone,” he said. Negotiations are unlikely to be welcomed in Ukraine, as for now they would likely involve proposals in which territory is ceded to Russia — a non-starter for Kyiv.

Kyiv is working with Washington after Congress did not include new Ukraine aid in a last-minute deal to avoid a government shutdown, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Monday.

Though US President Joe Biden lauded the deal reached by lawmakers, he also acknowledged the lack of new funding for Ukraine, vowing Washington “will not walk away” from Kyiv. Meanwhile, a bipartisan group of leaders in the US Senate also promised to vote on more aid for Ukraine.

Kuleba said Monday that Ukraine was "now working with both sides of Congress to make sure that [the decision] does not repeat again, under any circumstances."

Speaking alongside Kuleba ahead of a European Union foreign ministers' meeting in Kyiv Monday, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the bloc will continue to support Ukraine and is “discussing with our American allies and friends for them too to continue supporting Ukraine."

The meeting of EU foreign ministers in Kyiv Monday, is a “historic event” that sends a strong "message of support" for Ukraine, the war-torn country's foreign minister said.

Speaking alongside EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said holding a meeting of the EU's Foreign Affairs Council outside of the bloc's borders for the first time sends "a message in itself."

Borrell said the EU ministers would study a peace plan put forward by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

“This is the kind of brainstorming that we need to do among us — and together with [Ukraine] — in order to look at the situation of the war against Ukraine, how the EU is supporting Ukraine, and how we will continue to do that,” Borrell said.

He added that the EU foreign ministers had come to Kyiv to show "their commitment and the commitment of the European Union to continue to support Ukraine in the war of aggression of Russia against Ukraine.”

European Union foreign ministers will hold a "historic" meeting in Kyiv on Monday to offer support to Ukraine, the bloc's foreign policy chief said.

In a series of posts on X, formerly Twitter, Josep Borrell said it would be the "first ever meeting of all 27 Member States outside the EU."

At least three people, including three members of the same family, were wounded after Russian shelling struck Kherson city in southern Ukraine on Sunday evening, Ukrainian officials said.

Among those injured were a 13-year-old girl, her 12-year-old sister and their mother, according to the Kherson prosecutor’s office.

Sunday's attack was followed by another early Monday, which sparked a fire, said Oleksandr Prokudin, head of the region's military administration.

Details of the damage are being established, he said.

Some context: Kherson city is the provincial capital of Kherson, one of four Ukrainian regions annexed illegally by Russia just over a year ago. The frontline city was captured by Russian forces during the early days of the invasion and has come under sustained attack by Moscow's forces since it was liberated by Ukrainian troops in November last year.

In an address Sunday on a Ukrainian holiday honoring veterans and fallen soldiers, President Volodymyr Zelensky said "victory will come" in the country's war against Russia as he stressed the importance of unity and optimism.

“Our unity must enable us to go all the way to drive the occupier out of our land, and it will," Zelensky said during a ceremony in Kyiv to mark Day of the Defenders. "Never again will Ukraine pay with the future of its children, its sovereignty, and its will for illusory promises of peace."

Meanwhile, Ukraine said it is working with the United States after Congress did not include new wartime aid in a last-minute deal to avoid a government shutdown. President Joe Biden vowed, however, that American support would continue.

“I hope my friends on the other side keep their word about support for Ukraine. They said they’re going to support Ukraine in a separate vote,” Biden said. “We cannot, under any circumstance, allow American support for Ukraine to be interrupted.”

Catch up on the latest here:

The United States may have avoided a government shutdown on Saturday — but the lack of additional funding for Ukraine in the spending bill has left some residents in the war-torn nation nervous.

Though US President Joe Biden lauded the deal reached by lawmakers, he also acknowledged the lack of new funding for Ukraine, vowing Washington “will not walk away” from Kyiv. Meanwhile, a bipartisan group of leaders in the US Senate also promised to vote on more aid for Ukraine.

For some in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, the drama that has engulfed Congress for the past week is little more than noise as the war rages on.

Kostiak said the fight over funding Ukraine is due to the political realities of the 2024 US presidential election, but he believes the possibility that Washington would stop helping Ukraine is slim.

“The US budget has been suspended 20 times in history, and never once has it led to any serious consequences,” the serviceman said. “So I don’t see this as a big problem for Ukraine.”

Natalia and Serhii Krasnoshchoks, an English teacher and an entrepreneur, were similarly optimistic.

Mykhailo Chendei, a store administrator, told CNN he believed it would be “impossible” for the US to withdraw aid entirely — but “now it’s an internal American issue.”

Read more Ukrainian reactions here.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said "victory will come" in the country's war against Russia in an event celebrating the country's soldiers.

In an address marking Day of the Defenders, Ukraine's national holiday honoring veterans and fallen soldiers, Zelensky stressed the importance of unity and optimism as the fight continues.

“Our unity must enable us to go all the way to drive the occupier out of our land, and it will," he said. "Never again will Ukraine pay with the future of its children, its sovereignty, and its will for illusory promises of peace.

“Courage, resilience, unity are the things we must not lose in order to not lose Ukraine.”