The EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, has confirmed that the bloc will move forward with preparations for a 19th round of sanctions on Russia, insisting there should be no concessions in peace negotiations until Moscow agrees to a “full and unconditional” ceasefire in Ukraine.
Speaking on Monday after an emergency meeting of EU foreign ministers ahead of the upcoming Trump-Putin summit in Alaska, Kallas called for “transatlantic unity” and stressed that the order of steps was crucial: first a complete ceasefire with strong monitoring and security guarantees, then further talks.
This push comes less than a month after the EU adopted its 18th sanctions package, which targeted Russian banking, energy, and a “shadow fleet” allegedly moving oil to skirt restrictions. Moscow condemned the measures, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov labeling them illegal and noting that Russia had adapted to the curbs, which he described as a “double-edged sword” harming both sides.
