The European Commission on Thursday said a negotiated trade solution with the United States was within reach, even as EU members voted to approve counter-tariffs on 93 billion euros ($109.01 billion) of U.S. goods in case the talks collapse.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that he has not spoken with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen following the adoption of a controversial law that places the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) under the control of the Prosecutor General.

"China has an influence on Russia, like the European Union has an influence on Ukraine," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.

Negotiations between the EU and the United States to strike a last-minute trade deal are "ongoing," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Thursday, with only eight days to go before new US tariffs on the bloc take effect.

European leaders have called for a more balanced relationship with China during a summit with President Xi Jinping in Beijing.

The European Commission has expressed concern over changes to the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which may weaken the powers of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO).