France is spearheading a renewed European effort to impose sweeping new sanctions on Russia, linking economic pressure to the urgent push for a ceasefire in Ukraine.
France has taken the lead in rallying European Union partners to prepare new sanctions on Russia as hopes for a breakthrough in Ukraine peace efforts hinge on a proposed 30-day ceasefire.
Following a high-stakes weekend of diplomatic talks, French officials are pushing for “massive” penalties that would target Russia’s oil and financial sectors should President Vladimir Putin reject the terms of a ceasefire and refuse to engage in peace negotiations.
French Minister for European Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot confirmed Monday that EU leaders had formally asked the European Commission to prepare further sanctions beyond the 17th package already in development.
Speaking in Normandy after a call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and European counterparts, Barrot said: “What we are preparing are additional sanctions which target the energy and financial sector. We asked this weekend for the European Commission to prepare new more important sanctions to force Russian President Vladimir Putin into a peace logic".
France insists on ceasefire as Russia agrees to direct talks with Ukraine
Unconditional ceasefire
This diplomatic effort follows a key visit to Ukraine by leaders from France, Germany, the UK and Poland, who subsequently held a video conference with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and other world leaders.
The group called for an “immediate, complete and unconditional” ceasefire to pave the way for direct peace talks.
Despite the united front, Russia has yet to respond to an invitation from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to meet in Istanbul on Thursday.
The proposed talks would also include potential participation by US President Donald Trump, who has offered to travel to Turkey in a bid to support negotiations.
Barrot underscored that for talks to move forward, hostilities must cease: “For serious discussions to happen, there needs to be a ceasefire. It is not possible to negotiate amid air strikes and drones.” He issued a stark warning: “We are preparing powerful and massive sanctions if [Putin] doesn’t accept a ceasefire".
Putin proposal for direct talks with Kyiv 'not enough' says France's Macron
Russian assets remain frozen
These new penalties – coordinated with a US sanctions bill proposing 500 percent tariffs on countries importing Russian oil – are designed to significantly tighten the economic screws on Moscow.
Foreign ministers from across Europe echoed the urgency in London this week, issuing a joint statement with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas demanding “unimpeachable progress” from Russia towards a “just and lasting” peace.
“So far, Russia has shown no serious intention to make progress. It must do so without delay,” the ministers from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and the UK said.
They reiterated their support for Ukraine’s ceasefire call and warned of “ambitious measures” to cut off Russian war financing, including disrupting the so-called ghost fleet used to bypass sanctions and enforcing stricter price caps on oil exports.
The ministers also reaffirmed their resolve to keep Russian sovereign assets frozen until the Kremlin ends its aggression and pays reparations.
Kallas said: “We must put pressure on Russia because it is playing a game. And to put pressure on them, we must use the tools at our disposal”.
Ukraine and allies call on Russia to accept 30-day truce
Putin 'has a path'
France’s Minister for Europe, Benjamin Haddad, also attending the London talks, said the precondition for any peace process is “an unconditional truce in the air, at sea and on land for 30 days.” Time, he warned, is running out.
The upcoming EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels on 20 May is expected to formalise the 17th sanctions package, which will expand measures on Russia’s shadow oil fleet.
“If Putin wants peace, he has a path. If not, he’ll face the full weight of our economic response,” Barrot said.
