Ahead of the Alaska Summit .. The European Union Signals New Sanctions Against Russia

The European Union's High Representative for Security and Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, announced that Brussels is working on preparing a new package of sanctions against Russia, coinciding with the strengthening of military and political support for Ukraine, just before the anticipated summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska in mid-August.

Borrell stated, in a statement following a video conference that brought together European foreign ministers, that the EU countries "agree on increasing military support for Ukraine, supporting its path to join the European Union, in addition to imposing additional sanctions on Moscow".

He added that the member states expressed their support for the U.S. steps aimed at achieving a "just peace", indicating the EU's readiness to provide diplomatic support to the U.S. president, alongside continuing military and financial assistance to Kyiv within what he described as the "coalition of the willing".

According to a joint European statement, EU leaders confirmed their support for U.S. efforts for settlement, but they are committed to intensifying pressure on Moscow.

This comes at a time when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed concern last week about the possibility of reaching agreements between Washington and Moscow regarding Ukraine without Kyiv's participation, while the U.S. administration is considering officially inviting him to attend the summit, describing the matter as "under consideration" and "entirely possible".