Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the complete and unprecedented synchronization of sanctions measures with international partners in the fight against the aggressor country, Russia
According to him, the main goal is not only to intensify pressure on the Russian energy sector but also to broadly block financial channels and mechanisms that allow the Kremlin to wage a prolonged and brutal war against Ukraine. In his report on his personal Facebook page after conducting a meeting and consultations with representatives of the international community, Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine and its allies are working in close synchronized coordination. "Our goal is to fully align and confirm sanctions decisions at the national level in accordance with the sanctions packages adopted by the European Union and other global actors. This means all measures must be coordinated to significantly complicate the Russian regimes’ access to resources and financial mechanisms," he stated. Zelenskyy also shared plans to expand sanctions against key figures within Russia’s shadow fleet, including captains and commanders involved in the supply and logistics operations, as well as Russian terminals engaged in oil shipments. According to the president, such steps should be synchronized with international partners to enhance their effectiveness and create highly targeted restrictions. The meeting also paid special attention to new strategic directions in sanctions policy aimed at making it more difficult for Russia to prolong the war. This includes bans in the fields of finance, cryptocurrencies, international payment schemes, and equipment used in weapon manufacturing. Separate discussions focused on measures to ban the import of components and technologies to Russia, preventing the regime from obtaining the necessary resources to sustain the war effort. According to sources, the European Union is planning to approve the 18th package of sanctions against Russia as early as next week. The draft of this package includes new restrictions and measures, such as lowering the upper limit of the price for Russian oil. Specifically, the European Commission proposes reducing this cap from $60 to $45 per barrel, aiming to diminish Moscow’s income from energy exports. However, it should be noted that the approval process is complicated by the fact that the G7 countries currently do not support such an initiative, and the EU does not plan to unilaterally lower the price without the consent of its partners. Overall, Ukrainian authorities continue to seek to intensify sanctions globally, striving to make Russia’s war effort as difficult as possible and to create additional geopolitical and economic barriers. Zelenskyy emphasized that coordinated actions at the international level are key to achieving the strategic goal — to end Russian aggression sooner and to ensure long-term security in Ukraine and Europe as a whole.