United States and Europe Unite to Pressure Putin: Prospects for Peace Negotiations and Sanctions Strategy
As Russia’s aggression against Ukraine continues to cause destruction and human suffering, European countries together with the United States are preparing to intensify their efforts to apply pressure on Vladimir Putin’s regime.
European foreign ministers are currently discussing a new pressure strategy that includes the implementation of additional sanctions, economic restrictions, and targeted tariffs against Russian exports.
The goal is to force the Kremlin to return to the negotiating table and end the ongoing war, which has now lasted over a year, before a “deadline” set by U.S.
President Donald Trump.
Observers note that such measures must be supported not only by the EU but also by the U.S.—without their joint participation, initiatives risk losing effectiveness.
The ministers emphasize that sanctions aim to exert maximum pressure while leaving room for diplomatic resolution.
Currently, preparations are underway for the 19th package of sanctions, focusing on Russia’s energy and financial sectors, with possible new tariffs to weaken the Russian economy.
Importantly, without US support, diplomatic efforts are unlikely to succeed, as Washington leads the broader strategic coordination on this crisis.
Meanwhile, France and other nations are calling for strengthened security guarantees for Ukraine, including the potential deployment of European military contingents in Ukraine should a peace agreement be reached.
It is believed that only a unified approach can persuade Russia to return to negotiations, which seem increasingly unlikely due to ongoing missile strikes on Ukrainian cities and unpredictable Kremlin statements.
Ukrainian officials, therefore, urge for more aggressive measures and intensified pressure on Putin to involve him in peace talks and accept a ceasefire.