Putin: Kyiv Has No Chance In Counteroffensive, EU Agree To New Sanctions

Comments from Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking on Russia state television, hitting wires downplaying the effectiveness of Ukraine's ongoing counteroffensive.

• Putin's comments, per Interfax: "We're seeing a lull in the Ukrainian counteroffensive... Ukraine suffering heavy losses," and "could lose fighting capacity as a result."
• Putin concedes that, "Ukraine still has offensive potential," but says Kyiv "understands it has no chance in its counteroffensive.

Reuters reporting that the EU has adopted its 11th package of sanctions against Russia after an extended period in limbo while the bloc addressed concerns from members.

• Bloomberg reported earlier this month that "one area of concern was a mechanism to target third countries that aren’t doing enough to prevent Russia from evading sanctions."
• EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen appeared to suggest that those concerns had been resolved, tweeting a short time ago: "I welcome the political agreement on our 11th sanctions package. It will deal a further blow to Putin’s war machine with tightened export restrictions, targeting entities supporting the Kremlin. Our anti-circumvention tool will prevent Russia from getting its hands on sanctioned goods."