EU Energy Ministers Meet to Discuss Russian Gas, Sanctions

FILE - Tanks for producing bio gas are pictured at the harbor in Hamburg, Germany, on April 19, 2022. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)
FILE - Tanks for producing bio gas are pictured at the harbor in Hamburg, Germany, on April 19, 2022. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)
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EU Energy Ministers Meet to Discuss Russian Gas, Sanctions

FILE - Tanks for producing bio gas are pictured at the harbor in Hamburg, Germany, on April 19, 2022. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)
FILE - Tanks for producing bio gas are pictured at the harbor in Hamburg, Germany, on April 19, 2022. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)

European Union energy ministers will meet Monday to discuss Russia’s decision to cut gas supplies to Bulgaria and Poland, and debate planned new sanctions over Moscow’s war on Ukraine.

The 27 nation-bloc has imposed five rounds of sanctions on Russian officials, oligarchs, banks, companies and other organizations since Russian troops invaded Ukraine in February, The Associated Press said.

The European Commission is working on a sixth round of measures which could include oil restrictions, but Russia-dependent countries like Hungary and Slovakia are wary of taking tough action.

The EU’s executive branch could announce its new sanction proposals later this week. The measures would have to be approved by the member countries; a process that can take several days.

The energy ministers will also look at what steps to take should Russia ramp up its pressure by cutting gas supplies to other countries.



Kremlin Says Putin Sent Trump a Message on Ukraine Ceasefire Idea, Talks of 'Cautious Optimism'

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a joint news conference with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko following their talks at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, March 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a joint news conference with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko following their talks at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, March 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
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Kremlin Says Putin Sent Trump a Message on Ukraine Ceasefire Idea, Talks of 'Cautious Optimism'

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a joint news conference with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko following their talks at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, March 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a joint news conference with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko following their talks at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, March 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

The Kremlin said on Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin had sent US President Donald Trump a message about his proposal for a ceasefire in Ukraine via Trump's special envoy and that there were grounds for "cautious optimism."
Putin held late night talks in Moscow with Steve Witkoff, Trump's envoy, to discuss the US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire with Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. Kyiv has already accepted the idea.
Peskov said Putin had conveyed "signals" to Trump via Witkoff, and had received information from the American about US thinking on Ukraine.
"There are certainly reasons to be cautiously optimistic. You heard a very important statement yesterday from President Putin, who was answering a journalist's question. He said that he supports President Trump's position in terms of a settlement, but he voiced some questions that need to be answered together," said Peskov.
"So, yes, indeed, there is still a lot to be done, but nevertheless, the president expressed solidarity with Mr. Trump's position."
Peskov said Russia and the US would work out the timing of a phone call between their two presidents once Witkoff had briefed Trump.