Europe and U.S. coordinate to hit Russia with new sanctions
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot stated to the AFP agency on Thursday that European countries are preparing new sanctions against Russia. He highlighted the intent to coordinate these actions with the United States in case of continued Russian resistance to a ceasefire in the war against Ukraine.
Barrot was speaking in Washington to AFP following 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 also met with Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who proposed tightening U.S. restrictions on Russia. They discussed coordinating these efforts but did not specify the sanctions' targets.
New sanctions on Russia? Talks in the USA
The French Foreign Minister stated that Russian leader Vladimir Putin is the "only obstacle" to peace in Ukraine. "Vladimir Putin's Russia has neither taken any actions nor sent any signals indicating readiness for a ceasefire or peace, which President Joe Biden, the Europeans, and the Ukrainians are striving for," said Barrot. He emphasized that Ukraine agreed to a full ceasefire and signed a resources agreement with the USA.
Putin has made no efforts, nor sent any signals, indicating he is ready for a truce and peace, which President Biden, 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 the possibility of France entering into an economic agreement with Ukraine as well.
