EU Will Maintain Russia Sanctions Irrespective of US Position, Says Commissioner
According to Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis, the EU will maintain its independent sanctions policy, irrespective of Washington's stance.. source:TROIB RTS
TroibNews 
The European Union is focused on developing a new set of restrictions against Russia, according to EU Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis.
The bloc intends to maintain its sanctions regime, even if the United States opts to relax its own measures. Dombrovskis indicated that the EU is working on a 16th round of sanctions against Russia, which is expected to be announced next week to mark the third anniversary of Russia's military operations in Ukraine, initiated on February 24. Since 2022, the EU, alongside the US, has implemented several rounds of sanctions aimed at isolating Russia by removing it from the Western financial system and freezing its foreign reserves.
When asked whether the EU would consider lifting its sanctions in light of potential easing by the US as part of a deal for a ceasefire in Ukraine, Dombrovskis reaffirmed that Brussels would maintain its independent approach to sanctions.
“It’s very clear with the moves of the current Trump administration that the EU will have to take issues related to the EU’s security more in its own hands. It also concerns the sanctions policy as you know the work continues on preparing the 16th package,” he elaborated.
In the previous month, the EU extended existing sanctions against Russia until the end of July. These measures already cover a wide range of sectors, including trade embargoes, travel bans, and individual sanctions targeting Russian businessmen and officials.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot noted in an interview with Franceinfo that the forthcoming sanctions package will largely focus on the energy sector. He stated that the aim of the new measures is to “force [Russian President] Vladimir Putin to sit down at the negotiating table,” and stressed that the EU will continue to “raise the cost of the war” for Moscow. This package will also address nations that assist in circumventing the sanctions, according to Barrot.
Earlier this year, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban urged the EU to lift its sanctions on Russia to better align with the policies of the new US administration. Budapest has consistently criticized the EU’s strategy regarding the Ukraine conflict as ineffective in resolving hostilities and detrimental to its member states.
Orban recently suggested that Russia would eventually be "reintegrated" into the global economy and the European energy framework post-conflict.
Moscow, for its part, has denounced Western sanctions as illegal, asserting that they have not succeeded in destabilizing its economy or isolating it from the global financial system.
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
The bloc intends to maintain its sanctions regime, even if the United States opts to relax its own measures. Dombrovskis indicated that the EU is working on a 16th round of sanctions against Russia, which is expected to be announced next week to mark the third anniversary of Russia's military operations in Ukraine, initiated on February 24. Since 2022, the EU, alongside the US, has implemented several rounds of sanctions aimed at isolating Russia by removing it from the Western financial system and freezing its foreign reserves.
When asked whether the EU would consider lifting its sanctions in light of potential easing by the US as part of a deal for a ceasefire in Ukraine, Dombrovskis reaffirmed that Brussels would maintain its independent approach to sanctions.
“It’s very clear with the moves of the current Trump administration that the EU will have to take issues related to the EU’s security more in its own hands. It also concerns the sanctions policy as you know the work continues on preparing the 16th package,” he elaborated.
In the previous month, the EU extended existing sanctions against Russia until the end of July. These measures already cover a wide range of sectors, including trade embargoes, travel bans, and individual sanctions targeting Russian businessmen and officials.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot noted in an interview with Franceinfo that the forthcoming sanctions package will largely focus on the energy sector. He stated that the aim of the new measures is to “force [Russian President] Vladimir Putin to sit down at the negotiating table,” and stressed that the EU will continue to “raise the cost of the war” for Moscow. This package will also address nations that assist in circumventing the sanctions, according to Barrot.
Earlier this year, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban urged the EU to lift its sanctions on Russia to better align with the policies of the new US administration. Budapest has consistently criticized the EU’s strategy regarding the Ukraine conflict as ineffective in resolving hostilities and detrimental to its member states.
Orban recently suggested that Russia would eventually be "reintegrated" into the global economy and the European energy framework post-conflict.
Moscow, for its part, has denounced Western sanctions as illegal, asserting that they have not succeeded in destabilizing its economy or isolating it from the global financial system.
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
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