EU leaders recommit to support Ukraine as they and NATO see divisions emerging in Russia

By RAF CASERT
Associated Press

BRUSSELS (AP) — NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have taken center stage at the European Union summit. They underscored the importance the 27 EU leaders attach to protecting their eastern flank from Russian aggression and beefing up Ukraine’s defense capabilities. In a statement issued early Friday after the meeting ended, the leaders reaffirmed their willingness “to provide sustainable military support to Ukraine for as long as it takes.” Zelenskyy addressed the gathering by video link and Stoltenberg made a summit appearance. But the biggest seat at the table was reserved for something that’s not officially on the agenda: the fallout from the stunning weekend mutiny in Russia. Zelenskyy said the mutiny showed “cracks and divisions within the Russian system.”