The European Union is preparing a sanction against Russia.

Macron announces new sanctions against Russia:

French President Emmanuel Macron has revealed that the European Union is preparing a fresh set of sanctions against Russia. These new penalties aim to push Moscow toward an unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine. Macron said the sanctions would be introduced “in the coming days” in a televised interview.

EU’s 18th sanctions package in the works:

France is leading efforts to finalize what will be the EU’s 18th package of sanctions against Russia. This package builds on recent meetings between EU foreign ministers and the European Commission. European Affairs Minister Jean-Noël Barrot confirmed that if President Vladimir Putin continues to reject peace negotiations, the EU will increase pressure by hitting harder at Russia’s energy and banking sectors.

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European support for peace talks:

The European Union called out for a peace deal after Macron and EU leaders visited Kyiv. During the trip, they called for immediate peace negotiations. A potential summit in Istanbul is being discussed. European leaders are hopeful that such a meeting could spark real dialogue and bring the conflict closer to a peaceful resolution.

Debate over frozen Russian assets:

The Russian assets have been frozen across Europe. One major point of contention within the EU remains how to deal with the €200 billion in frozen Russian assets. Some member states argue for seizing the funds to support Ukraine. Macron has voiced his opposition, pointing out that there is no clear legal path for doing so. EU leaders agree that the assets should remain frozen until Russia ends its aggression and agrees to pay for the damage caused during the war.