EU weighs new approach to sanctions against Russia, Irish FM says

The European Union is exploring a new approach to sanctions against Russia that would move away from large, comprehensive packages in favour of smaller, more frequent measures, Irish Foreign Minister Helen McEntee has stated.

In an interview with Euractiv, she said, unfortunately, Russia carried out the largest number of attacks on civilian infrastructure and people since the start of the war, most recently in Kyiv, Caliber.Az reports.

McEntee acknowledged that reaching agreement on new sanctions has become increasingly difficult as the measures have begun affecting the economies and industries of EU member states.

"It’s very clear that the more sanctions we’ve progressed and the more packages we’ve progressed it does become more difficult because you are increasingly interlinked when it comes to individual economies and industries and sectors within member states," she noted.

She stressed that the EU must strike a balance between maximising pressure on Russia while minimising economic harm to its own member states.

"Because so much, so many people and so many entities and individuals have been sanctioned, it does become more complex, the longer you go on but that’s not a reason not to do it," McEntee added.

McEntee's remarks come as US President Donald Trump has signalled a greater willingness to increase economic pressure on Russia. Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House on Tuesday in a meeting both sides described as positive.

Zelenskyy, who has publicly called for a 22nd EU sanctions package against Moscow, also welcomed bipartisan support in the U.S. Senate for legislation that would authorise Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100% on major importers of Russian energy.

"This bill is very important," Zelenskyy said. "Sanctions pressure on Russia is very important. It’s not only about money, how to stop [Russia from] financing this war, but it’s also a big signal to Europe [and] a big signal to Ukraine."

Ireland, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, recently secured a compromise on the bloc's 21st sanctions package imposed since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The agreement followed contentious negotiations, particularly with Greece, which sought to shield its domestic shipping industry from the new restrictions.

The difficult talks, during which several proposals by the European Commission—including tighter visa restrictions for Russians and limits on fish imports—were either watered down or abandoned, have prompted EU officials to reconsider how best to maintain pressure on Moscow.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has proposed that the EU impose new targeted sanctions every time Russia carries out attacks on civilians or civilian infrastructure in Ukraine.

The EU already imposes sanctions on individuals on a rolling basis, separate from its 21 standalone sanctions packages, which have targeted Russian energy exports, financial institutions, military-industrial companies, and other sectors.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov