In a significant escalation of economic pressure, the European Union announced a new wave of sanctions against Russia on Thursday, building upon the punitive measures recently imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump targeting the Russian oil industry. This coordinated effort aims to sever the financial lifelines fueling Moscow’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine and compel President Vladimir Putin to engage in peace negotiations. The sanctions mark a victory for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has persistently advocated for stronger international action against Russia. Speaking in Brussels, Zelenskyy expressed cautious optimism, stating, ‘We waited for this. God bless, it will work. And this is very important.’ Despite U.S.-led peace initiatives, the conflict, now in its fourth year, shows no signs of abating, with European leaders increasingly alarmed by Russia’s aggressive posture. The war has devolved into a grueling stalemate, with Ukrainian forces holding their ground against Russia’s larger military along a 1,000-kilometer front line. Meanwhile, Russian strikes on Ukraine’s power grid and Ukrainian counterattacks on Russian oil refineries have intensified, underscoring the war’s devastating toll. The EU’s latest sanctions target Russian oil and gas, the shadow fleet of aging tankers evading restrictions, and Russia’s financial sector. Additionally, new measures will limit the movement of Russian diplomats within the EU. Zelenskyy urged other nations to join the sanctions, emphasizing their global significance. The decision, which took nearly a month to finalize, reflects the EU’s ongoing struggle to maintain unity in its response to the Kremlin. This marks the 18th package of sanctions imposed by the EU since the war began, though Moscow has demonstrated resilience in circumventing such measures. Concurrently, Trump’s efforts to broker peace remain stalled, with Putin refusing to compromise and even ordering strategic nuclear drills as a stark reminder of Russia’s military might.
EU joins US in heaping more sanctions on Russia to push Putin into Ukraine peace talks
