New European sanctions on Russia soon to support Ukraine

The European Union's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced yesterday, Tuesday, that the EU is preparing a new package of sanctions targeting the Russian economy, confirming that this package will be ready by next month.

Her statements came after an emergency online summit held by the European Council to discuss developments in the war in Ukraine.

Kallas explained that "the unity among EU leaders during the summit was palpable," noting that the security of Ukraine and the sanctions imposed on Russia will be at the top of the agenda for the upcoming meeting of EU foreign and defense ministers.

She added via the platform "X" (formerly Twitter): "President Vladimir Putin of Russia cannot be trusted to fulfill any promise or commitment.

Therefore, the security guarantees provided to Ukraine must be strong and credible enough to deter Russia from regrouping its forces and launching new attacks."

These developments come a day after an extraordinary summit that brought together the leaders of Ukraine, the EU, and U.S. President Donald Trump in the U.S. capital, Washington, as part of escalating Western political and military coordination in support of Kyiv.

In this context, European Council President Antonio Costa confirmed that it is essential to move forward on the path of Ukraine's accession to the EU, emphasizing the importance of Europe being a key part of any future peace negotiations, alongside Ukraine, Russia, and the United States.

Costa spoke to reporters from Lisbon via a video call, revealing details of the Washington summit discussions, and considering that "the possibility of a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, even if slim, is a positive development in itself."

For its part, American sources and others from NATO announced that military leaders in the alliance will meet today, Wednesday, to discuss the latest developments in the Ukrainian war.

This meeting comes at a time when Washington and European countries are finalizing the details of a long-term security guarantee package for Ukraine, in a move aimed at enhancing its defensive capabilities and deterring any potential Russian attacks in the future.

The rapid Western political and military movements confirm that the Ukrainian crisis remains a top priority on the European and Atlantic agendas, amid ongoing fighting and fears of a new Russian escalation.