The European Union on Monday hit Russia with a new round of sanctions aimed at curbing its war effort on the third anniversary of the Kremlin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
"This new round of sanctions not only targets the Russian shadow fleet but those who support the operation of unsafe oil tankers, videogame controllers used to pilot drones, banks used to circumvent our sanctions, and propaganda outlets used to spout lies," EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas said.
A dozen leaders from Europe and Canada visited Ukraine's capital Monday to mark the anniversary of Russia's invasion in a show of support by some of Kyiv's most important backers for the nation at war.
Kallas on Monday insisted that the US cannot seal any peace deal to end the war with Russian President Vladimir Putin without Ukraine or Europe being involved.
Kallas highlighted what she claimed were pro-Russian positions being taken up by the Trump administration.
“You can discuss whatever you want with Putin. But if it comes to Europe or Ukraine, then Ukraine and Europe also have to agree to this deal,” Kallas told reporters in Brussels, where she is chairing the meeting of EU foreign ministers.
US President Donald Trump has sought to follow through on his campaign promises to end the war quickly, though his methods for doing so have alarmed many in Ukraine and Europe who believe that his approach is too conciliatory toward Russia and Putin.
