EU Council chief insists sanctions on Russia must remain in place

EU Council President António Costa has emphasized that sanctions on Russia must remain in place, even as European leaders convene in Paris on March 27 to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine. 

Ahead of the Paris summit, Costa took to X to express his position: "The best way to support Ukraine is to stay consistent in our objective to reach a just and lasting peace. This means keeping up the pressure on Russia through sanctions." 

As the latest report by American media notes, Costa's firm stance on sanctions stands in contrast to US President Donald Trump's diplomatic efforts to negotiate an end to the conflict, with Trump viewing temporary ceasefires as a critical step towards a comprehensive peace deal, per Caliber.Az.

Russia has been seeking to remove the Western sanctions imposed due to its invasion of Ukraine, which have severely impacted its economy. The EU has referred to its sanctions package as "massive and unprecedented," underscoring the significant pressure placed on Russia.

Earlier this week, the White House announced its intentions to work with Russia to restore access to global markets for agricultural and fertilizer exports, and to improve access to ports and payment systems for such transactions. This decision stems from an agreement made on March 25 in Riyadh, in which Russia was given assurances in exchange for supporting a 30-day truce in the Black Sea and a temporary ceasefire concerning energy infrastructure, both of which Ukraine had also agreed to.

The Kremlin warned on March 25 that any potential deal regarding the Black Sea could only proceed after sanctions targeting the Russian Agricultural Bank and other financial entities involved in the food and fertilizer trade are lifted, and their access to the SWIFT international payment system is restored.

During his visit to Paris on March 26, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Moscow of trying to impose additional conditions on what should be an "unconditional agreement." He argued that it is premature for the US to ease sanctions on Russia, emphasizing that Ukraine continues to engage in discussions with international partners, including the US, Asian countries, and the EU, to prepare new sanctions packages.

In Paris, Ukraine's allies gathered to discuss ways to bolster Kyiv’s position, particularly in strengthening its military as it pushes for a ceasefire with Russia. The summit also explored proposals to deploy European troops in Ukraine alongside a potential peace deal. French President Emmanuel Macron is hosting the summit, which includes nearly 30 countries, as well as NATO and EU leaders.

This summit comes at a critical point in the over three-year war, with intensified diplomatic efforts to broker ceasefires. These efforts have been fueled by pressure from Trump, who is pushing for an end to the fighting. Despite these diplomatic initiatives, the conflict continues.

By Tamilla Hasanova