Ukraine urges EU to adopt stricter Russia sanctions
EU member states should consider the proposals outlined in the US senators' bill on sanctions against Russia when developing new European sanction packages.
This statement was made on Tuesday, May 20, in Brussels, by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.
The minister reiterated that the sanctions bill was drafted by a group of US senators led by Republican Lindsey Graham. "A key proposal from the Ukrainian side is that the main elements of the bill put forward by Lindsey Graham should be incorporated into future European sanction packages," Sybiha stated. He added that this specifically refers to sanctions targeting the energy and banking sectors.
The minister reaffirmed Ukraine's stance, asserting that his country "will never recognize the territories currently under temporary occupation." He further stated: "We will not accept any limitations imposed on the Ukrainian army. There will be no restrictions on Ukraine's foreign policy either. We will make no compromises that undermine Ukraine's sovereignty or territorial integrity."
The US Senate's Sanctions Bill
On April 1, a bipartisan group of 50 US senators, led by Lindsey Graham and Democrat Richard Blumenthal, unveiled a bill proposing new sanctions against Russia if it refuses a ceasefire in Ukraine, according to a DW correspondent.
The document proposes imposing punitive 500% customs tariffs on US imports from countries that purchase oil, gas, uranium, and other products from Russia. Experts suggest that such secondary sanctions could significantly impact nations like China, India, and Turkey.
The bill's proponents assert that the new sanctions enjoy broad bipartisan support in both the US Senate and the House of Representatives. However, on May 19, President Donald Trump announced he would not impose new sanctions on Russia following a phone call with Vladimir Putin, despite no ceasefire having been reached in Ukraine.
Previously, Graham and Blumenthal have also put forward joint initiatives concerning Russia. In September 2022 and June 2024, they proposed designating Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism. In March 2025, they urged the confiscation of over $300 billion in frozen Russian assets and their transfer to Ukraine. However, none of these initiatives have been adopted.
The European Union has approved its 17th package of sanctions against Russia, according to an announcement by European diplomacy chief Kaja Kallas. Currently, the only confirmed detail is the inclusion of "approximately 200" vessels belonging to Russia's "shadow fleet" on the list of sanctioned entities. Other official information has not yet been released, the BBC notes.
In parallel, the British government issued a more comprehensive statement and updated its own sanctions list. According to London, the new measures target entities supporting "Russia's war machine, energy exports, information warfare, and financial institutions contributing to the financing of the invasion of Ukraine."
In a Telegram post, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that he thanked European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the entire European Union for the 17th package of sanctions. Zelensky referred to it as "a step in the right direction."
Translation by Iurie Tataru
