New European Sanctions Await Russia… France Seeks U.S. Coordination

2nd May 2025

1 minute read

New European Sanctions Await Russia… France Seeks U.S. Coordination

European sanctions threaten Russia if no ceasefire agreement is reached in Ukraine.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot told Agence France-Presse on Thursday that “Europeans are preparing a new series of sanctions against Russia, which they wish to coordinate with the United States if Moscow continues to reject any ceasefire in Ukraine.”

The European Union, consisting of 27 member states, has already imposed several rounds of sanctions on Russia since the war in Ukraine began. It also stated earlier this year that no sanctions will be lifted unless Russian troops withdraw unconditionally.

Speaking in Washington, the French minister referred to a Republican senator who recently proposed tightening U.S. sanctions on Moscow: “We Europeans will support this American initiative with our 17th sanctions package. Yesterday, Wednesday, I pledged to Lindsey Graham that we would seek to coordinate the two sanction packages, both in terms of content and timing.”

While Washington is working toward a ceasefire, Barrot made a pointed criticism of the Russian president in his interview with AFP: “We must face the truth: I believe it is now abundantly clear that the only obstacle to peace in Ukraine today is Vladimir Putin.”

Barrot expressed satisfaction with his talks with his U.S. counterpart, Marco Rubio, saying: “We had a candid discussion that allowed for close coordination and alignment on our goals regarding regional and international crises. We want to work and coordinate together.”

U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said Barrot and Rubio met on Thursday “to advance the peace process in Ukraine.”

Since his return to the White House last January, U.S. President Donald Trump has been working to broker an agreement to end the war between Russia and Ukraine, ongoing since February 2022.