European Commission pushes for stronger sanctions on Russia in bid to end Ukraine conflict

The European Commission is confident that the continued pressure of sanctions against Russia, together with the preparation for the 17th sanctions package, will contribute to a resolution of the conflict in Ukraine.

This was stated by Anitta Hipper, the official spokesperson for the EU’s foreign policy service, during a press briefing in Brussels on April 11, Caliber.Az reports citing Russian media.

While speaking to reporters, Hipper emphasized that the European Union was doing “everything possible to keep Ukraine strong,” stressing that the country must maintain a position of strength.

“That’s why we provide support, that’s why we have adopted 16 sanctions packages and are working on the 17th. And that’s why we are supporting Ukraine in achieving a lasting, just, and comprehensive peace,” she said.

Five EU countries, including Germany, Italy, Poland, France and Spain, as well as Great Britain, declared their readiness to impose new sanctions on Russia due to the Ukrainian conflict. European Council President António Costa vowed that the EU will continue to impose pressure on Russia through sanctions ahead of a security meeting in Paris in March.

The EU has progressively imposed restrictive measures against Russia since March 2014, initially in response to the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol. Since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine in 2022, the EU expanded the sanctions, which were in response to the Russian recognition of the non-government-controlled Ukrainian areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts.

The previous package of sanctions, unveiled in February 2025, saw the Union "ramping up" the pressure on the country’s so-called "shadow" fleet as well as curbing attempts to circumvent the measures.

By Nazrin Sadigova