EU and U.S. plan coordinated sanctions in response to Russia
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Thursday to the AFP agency that European countries are preparing new sanctions against Russia. He noted that they also want to coordinate them with the United States in case of further Russian resistance to a ceasefire in the war against Ukraine.
Barrot was speaking in Washington to AFP after discussions with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The French Foreign Minister emphasized that this concerns the 17th package of European Union sanctions against Moscow. He explained that he met with Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who proposed tightening U.S. restrictions on Russia. They discussed coordinating these efforts but did not specify what would be subject to the sanctions.
New sanctions on Russia? Talks in the U.S
The French Foreign Minister said that Russian leader Vladimir Putin is the "only obstacle" to peace in Ukraine. "Vladimir Putin's Russia has not taken any actions nor sent any signal that it is ready for a ceasefire or peace, which President Donald Trump and the Europeans, as well as the Ukrainians, are striving for," said Barrot. He emphasized that Ukraine agreed to a full ceasefire and signed a resources agreement with the U.S..
Putin has made no efforts nor sent any signal that he is ready for a truce and peace, which U.S. President Donald Trump, European countries, and of course Ukraine are striving for," said the head of French diplomacy. Barrot, speaking about the American-Ukrainian resources agreement, did not rule out that France could also enter an economic agreement with Ukraine.
