EU Says Sanctions on Russia to Remain Until Lasting Peace in Ukraine

The European Union will keep sanctions on Russia in place until peace is secured in Ukraine, Arianna Podesta, the Commission’s deputy chief spokesperson, said on Tuesday.

The Gaze reports this, referring to European Pravda and Reuters.

“Sanctions have a dual effect: they restrict Russia’s capacity to wage war against Ukraine and at the same time push Putin to sit down at the negotiating table. And we see that this is working… Europe will continue to maintain this pressure until we achieve a just and lasting peace for Ukraine,” stated Podesta at a briefing in Brussels.

She pointed to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s remarks on August 17, when she vowed that “as long as bloodshed continues in Ukraine, Europe will continue diplomatic and, in particular, economic pressure on Russia – we will keep strengthening sanctions.”

Podesta confirmed that the Commission is preparing its 19th package of sanctions against Russia, expected to be ready in early September. 

EU foreign ministers will discuss the draft at a meeting in Copenhagen on August 29–30.

Meanwhile, the British government said on Tuesday that European leaders, meeting virtually as part of the “Coalition of the Willing,” also discussed additional sanctions to increase pressure on Putin. 

London said the leaders’ planning teams would meet with U.S. counterparts in the coming days to advance proposals for security guarantees for Ukraine and to prepare for a possible reassurance force if hostilities end.

As The Gaze reported earlier, the expansion of the “shadow fleet” of tankers used to move sanctioned oil has slowed sharply this year, as tougher Western measures against Russia’s energy exports make it harder to acquire suitable vessels.