EU top diplomat proposes most extensive sanctions against Russia, expanding blacklist by one third

Published Aug 17, 08:30 AM UTC

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has announced plans to propose the most extensive sanctions against Russia since the start of the war in Ukraine, aiming to increase the number of sanctioned Russian entities by one third. In an interview with Die Welt, Kallas urged Europe to toughen its stance in response to Russia's intensified summer bombing of Ukraine, warning that weak responses would encourage further aggression. The proposal comes weeks after the EU adopted a watered-down sanctions package, following objections from Greece over measures targeting Russian LNG transfers. Kallas noted that existing sanctions have deprived Russia's war machine of over €1 trillion and currently target 3,000 individuals and entities. The EU has adopted 21 rounds of sanctions since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.