Latest News

Commission: EU envoy to Washington for talks about Russia sanctions

David O'Sullivan, European Union's Sanctions Envoy, is in Washington along with a team to discuss additional sanctions against Russia with U.S. colleagues.

On Sunday, U.S. president Donald Trump said that he was prepared to move into a second phase, which is the closest thing he's come to suggesting that he may be about to increase sanctions against Moscow for its war in Ukraine.

EU Council President Antonio Costa stated that new sanctions are being closely coordinated with U.S. officials and they hope for better cooperation following several disappointments in the early part of the year when Trump pursued peace talks with Russian president Vladimir Putin.

The United States is not joining the other Group of Seven (G7) nations - the EU and Britain - to lower the price cap for Russian crude oil, before sanctions are imposed at $47.60 per barrel. Trump announced steep tariffs against U.S. imports of Indian goods, in part because India is a major buyer of Russian energy.

The EU is currently working on a 19th set of sanctions against Russia. EU diplomats say that the package will likely include additional listings of Chinese firms, Russian banks, and vessels from Moscow's "shadow fleet" which evades sanctions. It may also include a ban on transactions involving Russian oil.

Kremlin says

On Monday, he said that sanctions will never force Russia to change its course.

(source: Reuters)