Europe and US consider new sanction package as Russia resists
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot stated on Thursday to the AFP agency that European countries are preparing new sanctions against Russia. He noted that they also wish to coordinate these with the United States in the event of continued 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 emphasised that this involves 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 targeted by the sanctions.
New sanctions on Russia? Talks in the USA
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 emphasised that Ukraine agreed to a full ceasefire and signed a resources agreement with the USA.
"Putin has made no efforts, nor sent any signal, that he is ready for a truce and peace, which President (USA) 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 into an economic agreement with Ukraine.
