Ukraine says EU to approve new sanctions on Russia next week

The European Union is expected to seek approval for a new, limited package of sanctions against Russia next week in response to Moscow's large-scale overnight attack on Kyiv on July 2, Vladyslav Vlasiuk, Ukraine's presidential commissioner for sanctions policy, has stated.

Speaking to reporters, Vlasiuk said the latest missile and drone attack on Ukraine had prompted a swift response from the EU, which had already announced plans to prepare additional sanctions, Caliber.Az reports, citing Ukrainian media.

According to him, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas had made it clear that words of condemnation alone were no longer sufficient and had announced plans to impose further restrictions on companies supporting and financing Russia's military-industrial complex.

"Next week, the EU will seek to approve a small sanctions package. It will include additional legal entities linked to Russia's military-industrial complex, including enterprises, companies and other entities that the Ukrainian side has thoroughly analysed, verified and proposed to our European partners for inclusion on the sanctions list," Vlasiuk noted.

He added that every large-scale attack on Ukrainian cities and civilians should be met not only with a strong military response on the battlefield but also with immediate economic measures.

"We must systematically and consistently increase the cost of war for Russia by depriving its military-industrial complex of the technologies and resources needed to produce weapons. We expect these decisions to be approved by our international partners as soon as possible," he stressed.

Russia launched a large-scale overnight attack on Kyiv with ballistic missiles and drones in the early hours of Thursday, July 2. At least 18 people were killed, and another 85 were injured.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov