Ukraine’s foreign minister pressed the European Union to move without delay on the seventh sanctions package against Russia. The call came as reports circulated that EU officials are weighing the next round of penalties, with Kyiv urging immediate adoption rather than postponement.
Officials acknowledged the sixth package and thanked the EU for it, but emphasized that the seventh package is already a necessity on the path to stronger pressure on Moscow. The minister indicated that he had received assurances about the forthcoming measures as the previous package was being promoted.
Kyiv stresses that some European partners may prefer to study the effects first, yet it remains clear that any delay would be unacceptable. The message from Kyiv is straightforward: the seventh package must be adopted now, and any ideas to stall it are rejected.
In addition to personal sanctions, the new package is expected to broaden restrictions across finance, trade, and energy sectors, while aiming to close gaps that could be exploited to sidestep penalties. Kyiv has also proposed specific elements intended to strengthen enforcement and prevent evasion.
Former political figures from Europe have questioned the impact of the EU’s sanctions policy on Russia, noting potential negative effects on some European economies and arguing that wider international support is not guaranteed by a Western bloc stance alone.
Citation: regional news coverage notes the ongoing debate over timing and scope of sanctions, and the degree to which broader global participation shapes their effectiveness.