Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga called on his international partners to quickly strengthen sanctions pressure on the Russian Federation in response to the recent large-scale airstrikes carried out overnight from June 9 to June 10
This appeal came immediately after Russian forces hit Ukraine with a series of powerful strikes, using hundreds of drones and ballistic missiles, resulting in significant destruction and human casualties. According to the Ukrainian diplomat, the night before Tuesday was one of the most intensive in terms of air aggression since the war began, with Russia launching a massive series of attacks. Kyiv and Odesa were heavily targeted, including a maternity hospital in the capital and residential buildings across Ukraine. Civilian casualties occurred, with dozens wounded, many of them children. Citizens found themselves under fire in their homes, a stark evidence of the absence of any signs of a ceasefire or diplomatic efforts from Russia. "But the main thing is that Russia refuses to take constructive steps towards peace and openly ignores any efforts to achieve it," – emphasized the minister in his statement. He believes that this is why it is already necessary to tighten sanctions against the aggressor country to stop the bloodshed and reduce its ability to finance military operations. Sybiga highlighted that priority areas include blocking Russian banks, lowering the gas price ceiling set by the G7, and implementing secondary sanctions against those helping Moscow circumvent existing restrictions. "These sanctions are absolutely vital not only for Ukraine but also for our partners around the world," – noted the head of Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry. According to him, such economic measures can slow down financial flows necessary to sustain the regime in Moscow, immediately affecting its capacity to conduct prolonged hostilities. Additionally, it is important to ensure further supplies of air defense systems to protect Ukrainian cities and strategic facilities from new attacks. It is worth recalling that over the past few days, media and official statements have actively emphasized Russia’s rejection of any diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in particular, pointed out that the United States, especially their leader in the fight for freedom – President Donald Trump, should impose additional sanctions on Moscow, considering its aggression against Ukraine and global security as a whole. Significant attention is also given to interparliamentary cooperation in the US. A bill has already been registered in the Senate, authored by Democrat Richard Blumenthal and Republican Lindsay Graham, proposing to introduce additional economic sanctions. Specifically, plans include imposing a 500% tariff on goods imported from countries purchasing Russian oil, as well as strengthening financial pressure on countries supporting Moscow’s war effort. However, among political elites, there are disagreements regarding the methods and extent of sanctions pressure. According to sources in the media, incumbent President Trump expresses concerns about the possible escalation of economic measures against Russia and advocates for easing existing restrictions. Publicly, he states that he is ready to impose new sanctions "if necessary," but at the same time seeks to reduce their severity to avoid harming US interests and economic ties. Overall, Ukrainian officials and diplomatic circles emphasize the need for a swift and decisive response to new challenges, intensifying sanctions policies and supporting military efforts to counter Russian aggression. Every day of delay could cost thousands of lives and property; victory is only possible if there is unity and firm action in foreign policy and economic measures.