Next week, Ukraine will urge the European Union to take a more active and independent stance on imposing sanctions against Russia, as the United States hesitates over new restrictions. This issue is outlined in a 40-page recommendation document that includes proposals for the confiscation of assets belonging to sanctioned individuals, with the subsequent transfer of these assets to Ukraine.
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Additionally, Ukraine will insist on the introduction of sanctions against foreign companies that provide technologies aiding Russia, and plans to implement secondary sanctions against buyers of Russian oil, particularly India and China. In the “White Paper,” the country asks the EU to consider making decisions on sanctions based on a majority principle to avoid blockages by individual states.
Ukraine’s Actions on the International Stage
During his visit to Brussels on May 20, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha called on the G7 countries to lower the price cap on Russian oil to $30 per barrel. He also emphasized the need to increase pressure on Russia’s banking system, particularly on the Central Bank of the Russian Federation.
US Position on New Sanctions
In the United States, there is currently a reluctance to impose new sanctions against Russia, as President Donald Trump believes this could lead to Moscow’s withdrawal from peace negotiations. The NYT notes that new sanctions could hinder business and trade opportunities with Russia.
However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged that the situation could change if Senator Lindsey Graham’s proposed bill, which includes tough sanctions in case it becomes “clear that” the Russians are not interested in signing a peace treaty, emerges. The EU hopes for Congressional approval of new sanctions against Russia that would involve lowering the price cap on oil.