EU foreign chief plans fresh sanctions against Russia

The European Union plans to significantly increase sanctions against Russia in the coming months, according to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. The existing sanctions have already inflicted substantial financial damage on Russia, with the war machine losing over €1 trillion. Kallas stated that the new sanctions would be the most extensive since the war began and would immediately increase the number of sanctioned Russian entities by a third.

She emphasized that the pressure on Russia must continue to grow until Moscow ceases its aggression in Ukraine. At present, Kallas did not provide further information on the timing or specifics of the new sanctions package. In July, the EU implemented its most recent sanctions against Russia in response to the conflict, targeting the country's banking sector and cryptocurrency networks.

Recent deadly attacks, including drones and missiles striking civilian infrastructure on both sides, have highlighted the escalating intensity of the war. As fighting along the front lines has nearly reached a stalemate and negotiations have been suspended, both sides have ramped up their long-range strikes behind the enemy lines, resulting in the highest civilian death toll since the war's inception in 2022.