EU to Coordinate Sanctions with the U.S. to Pressure Putin into Peace Talks, von der Leyen Says
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has revealed that the European Union is ready to align its sanctions against Russia with those of the United States, aiming to intensify pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to enter peace negotiations.
The Gaze reports on this with reference to Politico.
Ursula von der Leyen confirmed that the EU is actively exploring how to synchronize its 18th sanctions package with U.S. measures in order to increase diplomatic leverage.
The upcoming EU sanctions will predominantly target Russia's energy sector, a crucial pillar of its economy, as well as attempt to halt the flow of financial resources supporting the Kremlin’s war efforts.
“Our foremost priority is to sanction Russia’s energy exports and dry up its financial support systems,” von der Leyen explained.
As part of the 18th sanctions package, the EU is expected to impose additional restrictions on companies involved with the Nord Stream gas pipelines, a key energy channel linking Russia with Germany. Furthermore, there are plans to further lower the price cap on Russian oil to reduce Russia's ability to generate revenue from its energy exports.
Following a meeting with U.S. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, von der Leyen expressed approval of his initiative to tighten sanctions on Russia. A bipartisan bill introduced by Graham proposes imposing punitive tariffs of up to 500% on goods imported from countries that continue purchasing Russian energy and other products.
While von der Leyen initially suggested that these tariffs could be included in the sanctions package, her spokesperson later clarified that the 500% tariffs would not be part of the EU’s forthcoming measures. Instead, the EU intends to coordinate its efforts with the U.S., utilizing alternative methods to maximize the effectiveness of sanctions without creating direct duplication.
Nevertheless, the European Commission remains committed to ensuring a unified and strategic approach to sanctions, aiming to escalate economic pressure on Russia and, in turn, urge Putin to reconsider his position and participate in peace talks.
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