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Trump and EU are considering tough sanctions against Russia!
US President Trump and the EU are planning tougher sanctions against Russia. EU negotiations are ongoing, the aim is to put pressure on Putin.
Trump and EU are considering tough sanctions against Russia!
The international community is once again faced with the challenge of responding to Russia's aggressive foreign policy. At the suggestion of US President Donald Trump, who is ready to impose further sanctions against Russia, the European Union is planning a 19th sanctions package. This is a direct response to recent Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukraine, including an attack on an EU office in Kiev. Such attacks have sparked widespread outrage, particularly from senior EU officials who have advocated for tougher dealings with Russia. oe24 reports, that when asked about the second phase of sanctions, Trump responded with “Yes, I am.”
In recent years, the EU has imposed a large number of sanctions against Russia, which are now to be further tightened in a new package. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen sharply criticized Russian diplomacy and questioned the credibility of Putin's peace approach. At the same time, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is calling for a decisive response from Europe to protect civilians in Ukraine. Tagesschau highlights that 18 sanctions packages have already been decided since February 2022, and the 19th is currently being prepared.
Details of the new sanctions
The upcoming sanctions package could include far-reaching measures, including tariff increases, import bans and sanctions against third countries that benefit from Russia's actions. Particular attention is being paid to the Russian shadow fleet and the financial sector to prevent cryptocurrency transactions. Loud Federal Ministry of Economics Companies that are at least 25 percent owned by Russian actors will be banned from operating in the future.
Additionally, Trump's Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent believes additional pressure on Russia could ultimately lead to peace talks. The value of banned imports from Russia is now around 91 billion euros, and the EU has banned over 400 ships from the so-called shadow fleet from its ports. While some criticize that the sanctions are not a silver bullet against Russia's aggressive warfare, effective measures are already showing results, such as a 30 percent drop in Russian revenue in a week. Tagesschau points this out.
The coming challenges
Despite these efforts, the effectiveness of the sanctions remains controversial. Critics warn of the difficulties of consistent enforcement and the lack of a harmonized approach in the EU. Maria Shagina of the International Institute for Strategic Studies notes that sanctions should not be used as the only means of resolving the conflict. The discussion about the Russian Central Bank's 210 billion euros, which were frozen, also illustrates the complexity of the current situation and the challenges in dealing with the extensive economic interconnections.
Overall, the current geopolitical situation shows that international sanctions represent a central instrument in the fight against Russia's aggressive actions. However, it remains to be seen whether the new measures can bring about the desired changes.