US drafting 19th sanctions package on Russia after Trump–von der Leyen talks
Photo: Ursula von der Leyen announces next round of sanctions against Russia (Getty Images)
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said after talks with US president Donald Trump that joint efforts will be stepped up to increase economic pressure on Russia.
She announced this in a post on social network X.
Von der Leyen described her conversation with Trump as "good." She said the European Commission will soon present its 19th package of sanctions targeting cryptocurrencies, banks, and energy.
"Russia’s war economy, sustained by revenues from fossil fuels, is financing the bloodshed in Ukraine. To put an end to it, the Commission will propose speeding up the phase-out of Russian fossil imports," she wrote.
Earlier, Bloomberg reported, citing a European diplomat, that the new EU sanctions package would be announced later, as Europe seeks to coordinate its approach with the G7. According to the diplomat, the delay is linked to Trump’s demand for stronger European measures as a condition for advancing US restrictions.
Trump has said he is ready to impose "big" sanctions on Russian oil exports if Europe takes similar steps. Purchases of Russian energy by China and India remain a key source of funding for Moscow’s war against Ukraine.
