EU poised to escalate sanctions on Russia amid stalled talks
The European Union plans to tighten sanctions against Russia if there is no progress in resolving the conflict in Ukraine this week, stated German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Chancellor Merz announced that the EU is prepared to enforce stricter measures against Russia if progress towards ending the war in Ukraine is not evident in the coming days.
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"We are awaiting approval from Russian President Vladimir Putin and have agreed that if there is no tangible progress this week, we intend to collaborate at the European level to significantly increase sanctions," said Merz during a press conference with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Berlin.
Sanctions to cover the energy and financial sectors
Merz emphasized that sanctions could target key areas such as the energy sector and financial markets. The head of the German Chancellery, Thorsten Frei, noted on WELT TV that Vladimir Putin must clearly understand the resolve of both Europeans and Americans.
Frei also mentioned that a ceasefire is essential to begin meaningful talks.
"It is difficult to envision how discussions about resolving this challenging situation can proceed if the civilian population is being attacked at the same time," stated the CDU politician.
Appeal for a ceasefire
On Saturday, leaders from Ukraine, Poland, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom urged Moscow to unconditionally accept a 30-day ceasefire, threatening sanctions on the Russian energy and banking sectors. The ceasefire proposal also received support from U.S. President Donald Trump.
Vladimir Putin suggested direct talks with Ukraine on Sunday to address ending the war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his readiness for negotiations in Turkey, where he will be awaiting Putin.
