EU foreign policy chief calls for continued sanctions on Russia

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called for the bloc’s sanctions on Russia to be continued, according to a report in New York. She stated that the EU is working on a new package of sanctions as member states aim to extend the current ones. Kallas emphasized that sanctions are a crucial aspect of the response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine.

She told reporters that officials aim to finalize the extension swiftly to maintain stability. Kallas reiterated that the EU maintains its stance on the sanctions, adding that discussions on a new package are ongoing. However, negotiations are still taking place to remove certain individuals from the EU’s blacklist, with France and Slovakia pushing for Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov to be removed.

If Usmanov were to be lifted, Luxembourg insisted that Mikhail Fridman should also be removed. These negotiations will continue in Brussels in an effort to extend sanctions on nearly 3,000 other individuals and entities involved in the war.