Ukraine is set to pitch a larger number of recommendations to the European Union next week as to how the bloc can continue to ramp up economic pressure on Moscow through sanctions, Reuters reported on May 21.
The additional
recommendation
penned in the white paper come as U.S. President Donald Trump continues to
refuse
to adopt additional sanctions on Russia — even as Moscow continues to refuse to accept a 30-day ceasefire.
The New York Times
reported
on May 20, citing a White House official, that Trump refuses to impose sanctions on Russia as it may hinder future business and trade opportunities with Moscow.
Trump previously said the U.S. would join partners in imposing
“further sanctions”
if Russia does not agree to an unconditional ceasefire. Despite numerous threats, Trump has never followed through on imposing additional sanctions against Russia.
“Today, in practice, Washington has ceased participation in nearly all intergovernmental platforms focused on sanctions and export control,” the white paper read, according to Reuters. “On the contrary, it should catalyse the EU to assume a leading role in this domain.”
Reuters reported that Ukraine will propose to the EU that the bloc speed up the seizure of frozen Russian assets to provide to Kyiv. The additional proposed sanctions would also target foreign companies that assist Russia through the use of technology, and “the introduction of secondary sanctions on purchasers of Russian oil”.
The proposal from Kyiv arrives as EU member states consider the
implementation
Of an 18th round of sanctions against Russia.
Speaking to reporters in Brussels on May 20,
Lithuanian
Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys said that harsher sanctions must be imposed as Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to reject a 30-day ceasefire proposal. Budrys further called on the
EU to target
Russia’s energy, liquid natural gas (LNG), oil, and nuclear fuel exports as well as financial institutions.
President Volodymyr Zelensky also made comparable statements in his address.
evening address
On May 20, they called for the EU to impose further sanctions targeting “Russian oil, the tanker fleet, every element of their energy infrastructure funding the conflict, all associated banks, all financial mechanisms, and Russia’s military sector.”
In its pitch to the EU next week, Kyiv will also encourage the EU to make decisions on future sanctions through a majority vote, not unanimous decision.
In previous decisions,
Hungary
And Slovakia have tried to obstruct sanction packages, stating their doubts about backing Ukraine.
Politico
reported
On May 20, the EU announced a shift in priority from offering development aid to concentrating on strategic objectives such as enforcement.
sanctions
against Russia and building
defense
Partnerships, with resources being reallocated to align with these priorities.
Read also:
The EU plans to reduce its diplomatic staff and focus more on enforcing sanctions against Russia, according to POLITICO.
Read also:
According to the NYT, Trump opted not to implement sanctions against Russia because it could impact business prospects with Moscow.
