EU prepares to approve 17th sanctions package against Russia - Bloomberg
Photo: The EU prepares to agree on the 17th package against Russia (Getty Images)
Today, May 14, the European Union countries are expected to reach a preliminary agreement on the 17th package of sanctions against Russia for its war against Ukraine, Bloomberg reports.
According to the media outlet, the main focus is on the so-called shadow fleet of Russian oil tankers, as well as on individuals and legal entities who help the Kremlin circumvent oil restrictions and sanctions pressure.
It is expected that the new pressure from the EU will be synchronized with diplomatic events: in particular, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced his readiness for direct talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Türkiye as early as this Thursday.
At the same time, Zelenskyy noted that he has little faith that the Russian President will actually attend the meeting.
The United States is also preparing for dialogue - President Donald Trump is sending Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Türkiye to take part in the negotiations.
In addition, against the backdrop of upcoming talks, some EU member states are calling on the European Commission to more actively seek ways to overcome Hungary's resistance, which is blocking Ukraine's progress toward EU membership.
Sanctions against Russia
On May 8, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held an important phone conversation with US President Donald Trump. After the conversation, Trump stated on his blog on the Truth platform that if Russia violates the ceasefire, the United States, along with its partners, will impose new sanctions.
This position was supported by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who on May 9 emphasized that a ceasefire is a necessary condition for concluding a "real peace treaty." Otherwise, according to Merz, Russia must be prepared for new sanctions.
At the same time, Poland is actively working on the adoption of the EU's 17th sanctions package against Russia, which is to be passed by July 1. The new package includes restrictions on the export of chemicals and the imposition of sanctions against Russian companies.
