EU initiates new sanctions as Putin stays away from Ukraine peace talk

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Friday announced that the Union is initiating plans for new sanctions on Russia as President Vladimir Putin stayed away from the peace talk with Ukraine in Turkey.  .

“We’re working on a new package of sanctions,” von der Leyen said, arriving at a meeting of European leaders in Tirana.

These measures would be in addition to sanctions endorsed by EU countries earlier this week.

They are to include sanctions on Nord Stream 1 and 2, listing more vessels of the co-called Russian shadow fleet, lowering the oil price cap and more sanctions on the financial sector, von der Leyen said.

“We want peace, and therefore, we have to increase the pressure on President Putin till he is ready for peace,” she added.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in Tirana that Ukraine’s allies “will act together in relation to sanctions” should there be no ceasefire.

“It’s really important, therefore, that we have absolute unity with our allies,” he stressed.

“I think that what we saw yesterday and overnight is yet more evidence that Putin is not serious about peace.

“He’s been dragging his heels,’’ Starmer added. (dpa/NAN)