EU foreign policy chief calls for continued sanctions on Russia

On Monday, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called for continued sanctions on Russia in response to its war on Ukraine. She stated that sanctions are a core pillar of the bloc's response to the conflict, aimed at depriving Moscow of funding. Kallas emphasized the need for stability with sanctions in place for a longer period, speaking on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

The EU aims to swiftly extend sanctions on nearly 3,000 individuals and entities related to the war. However, negotiations to finalize the extension failed to reach a consensus, with some member states pushing for the removal of Russian oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from the EU's blacklist. France and Slovakia advocated for the removal of both individuals, while Luxembourg insisted on lifting sanctions for both if one was to be removed.

Latvia's objection prevented the pact from gaining final approval, with Kallas stating that Europe faces a rapid increase in sabotage attacks and airspace violations as Russia seeks to pressure Europe into reducing support for Ukraine.