EU leaders spar over seven-year budget, agree to regret US move on Russian diesel

EU leaders meeting in Brussels this week clashed over a proposed 141-billion-euro cut to the bloc's next long-term budget, with frugal states wanting deeper cuts and 17 cohesion countries saying the cuts already go too far; Council president António Costa wants a deal by year-end. On energy, Italy and Greece pushed for fiscal flexibility to cushion prices as gas trades near its highest since 2022, while six states' call for a windfall tax on energy firms failed to gain support. Leaders added a line to their summit conclusions regretting Washington's decision to let Russian diesel sales resume until April 2027.

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