According to French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, the European Union countries, in coordination with the USA, will adopt the 18th package of sanctions in the «near future». «We intend to make Putin retreat and agree to a ceasefire», — Barrot is quoted by the French TV channel TF1. He also recalled that instead of the 30-day ceasefire proposed by US President Donald Trump, Russia increased the number of strikes on Ukrainian cities fivefold. «This cannot continue any longer, it must stop», — declared the French minister.
The restrictions are expected to hit Russian oil revenues and «financial players» — both from Russia and from countries cooperating with it.
As Barrot reported, the EU sanctions will be implemented based on proposals from France in coordination with American congressmen.
At the end of June, new sanctions against Russia were announced by American Senator Lindsey Graham. In particular, it involves imposing a 500 percent tariff on goods from countries that purchase energy resources from Russia.
Since the beginning of the war, the European Union has already adopted 17 packages of sanctions. The attempt to agree on the 18th package in June was blocked by Slovakia and Hungary.