Brussels is preparing to adopt its 19th sanctions package against Russia as European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas underscored the necessity of sustained pressure on Moscow to bring it to the negotiating table. Speaking ahead of the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg, Kallas expressed scepticism about Russia’s willingness to negotiate peace, stating, “Russia only understands strength and only negotiates when it’s really put to negotiate. So right now we don’t see it yet.” The new sanctions package is expected to be finalised later this week, with a leaders’ summit scheduled for Thursday to further discuss the matter.

The ongoing diplomatic endeavour follows previous rounds of sanctions aimed at curbing Russia’s economic and military capabilities in reaction to its invasion of Ukraine. The EU’s 18th package, adopted on July 18, 2025, targeted multiple sectors including energy revenues, banking, and the military-industrial complex. It introduced measures such as sanctions against companies associated with the Russian Direct Investment Fund, prohibitions on certain banking software, and expanded export restrictions to impede Russia’s military operations. These sanctions also sought to strengthen the EU’s ability to prevent circumvention of restrictions.

Kallas also highlighted efforts to clamp down on Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” a network of vessels assisting Moscow in bypassing oil-export restrictions. The EU has intensified scrutiny of these operations since the 15th sanctions package last December specifically targeted this shadow fleet, adding significant listings related to Russia’s military-industrial complex and including sanctions against Chinese actors involved in circumvention efforts. The 17th package, adopted in May 2025, further expanded restrictions on these vessels and capped revenues from Russian energy imports as part of a broader strategy to throttle the Russian economy’s wartime funding.

Kallas’s remarks were made in the context of heightened geopolitical tensions, including Russia’s war in Ukraine and the recent ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. The EU also flagged the importance of ensuring humanitarian aid reaches civilians in Gaza, emphasising that the ceasefire is only a first step toward sustainable peace.

Regarding the diplomatic front, Kallas remarked on the recent US-Russia meeting in Budapest between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. She expressed a preference that Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky should be the one to negotiate directly with Putin, reflecting Kyiv’s central role in peace efforts. Highlighting Zelensky’s call for more robust US pressure on Russia, Kallas said that if the US used its leverage effectively, this could help bring Russia to the negotiating table. The International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for Putin adds another layer of complexity, with Kallas noting the incongruity of his presence in Europe amid such charges.

Moscow, through Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, accused the EU of engaging in active subversive efforts to disrupt potential peace talks, blaming Western European nations and “former American ultra-liberal attitudes” for obstructing negotiations. This assertion stands in contrast to the EU’s narrative that greater pressure on Russia is essential for peace.

In addition to addressing Russia, the EU's foreign policy strategy looks beyond Europe. Ahead of the upcoming Indo-Pacific ministerial meeting in November, the EU is reaching out to partners in the region, particularly in light of concerns over China’s weaponisation of supply chains, signalling the EU’s commitment to counterbalance growing economic and geopolitical risks worldwide.

The EU has maintained a steady trajectory with an escalating series of sanctions packages since February 2025, each aimed at tightening the economic noose on Russia while closing loopholes and preventing the evasion of restrictions. As the 19th package looms, these measures continue to represent the bloc’s broader strategy to increase the costs for Russia’s military aggression and support Ukraine’s defence, while navigating complex international diplomatic waters.

Source: Noah Wire Services