EU should 'hold a mirror to itself' on Russia sanctions before criticizing others — Latvian minister on Trump diesel deal

The EU should first examine its own application of sanctions before criticizing others, according to Latvia's Foreign Minister Baiba Braze. Braze made her remarks on October 12 in response to a U.S. agreement to purchase Russian diesel. She urged the EU to review its actions, stating, "Let's look at ourselves. The EU first took out two big Russian oligarchs, the biggest ever supporters of (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's regime, from the sanctions."

Braze's comments came ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg. The Latvian minister emphasized that the EU must hold itself accountable before criticizing others, given the recent delisting of Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from EU sanctions by Slovakia, Luxembourg, and France. The EU is expected to vote on two new sanctions packages, one targeting individuals involved in the illegally occupied Ukrainian territory election and another listing 1,600 individuals related to Moscow's military-industrial complex.

Latvian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys also criticized the EU's decision to delist the two oligarchs, noting that Russia's actions in Ukraine and Europe intensified as a result. Lithuania's Foreign Minister echoed Braze's stance, stressing the need for Europe to support Ukraine. Germany's European Affairs Minister Gunther Krichbaum called the Trump deal with Russia "not our way," warning that every euro or dollar spent on Russian energy contributes to Putin's weapons production.

The EU's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, urged the U.S. to impose additional sanctions to end the war in Ukraine.