EU announces new sanctions on Russia after Putin skips Ukraine talks

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced Friday that the European Union is preparing a new package of additional sanctions against Moscow.

This decision comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin did not travel to Turkey for planned negotiations with Ukraine.

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

Von der Leyen stated that these forthcoming measures would build upon the sanctions endorsed by EU member states earlier this week. The new sanctions are slated to target the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines, include more vessels belonging to the so-called Russian shadow fleet, further lower the oil price cap, and impose additional restrictions on Russia’s financial sector.

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

“We want peace, and therefore, we have to increase the pressure on President Putin until he is ready for peace,” von der Leyen emphasized.

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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, also present in Tirana, echoed this sentiment, stating that Ukraine’s allies “will act together in relation to sanctions” if a ceasefire is not achieved.

“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.

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

The announcement signals a continued effort by the EU and its allies to exert economic pressure on Russia in response to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the lack of progress in diplomatic negotiations.