The president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskypraised this Thursday the new package of sanctions imposed by the United States on the Russian oil industry, describing them as a strong message addressed to the Kremlin in the context of the war.
From Brussels, Zelensky insisted on the need to maintain international pressure to force Moscow to negotiate.
“It is a strong and necessary message that the aggression will not go unanswered.”“, the president wrote on the social network X before meeting with leaders of the European Union.
The Ukrainian president affirmed that the sanctions come “at a very relevant time” and indicated that coordination between Washington and Brussels is key to blocking resources destined for the russian military apparatus.
The Donald Trump Administration announced this Wednesday the freezing of the assets of oil companies Rosneft and Lukoil in the United States and imposed a ban on all business between American companies and these Russian giants. The sanction caused an immediate rise of more than 5% in international oil prices.
Trump had delayed adopting new restrictions for several months, waiting for diplomatic progress in contacts with Vladimir Putin. The Republican president finally decided to move forward with the new package after the attempt to relaunch the dialogue in Budapest.
“Patience is exhausted“US officials noted about the process.
For her part, from Moscow, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharovadescribed the sanctions as “counterproductive” and assured that Russia “will continue to confidently develop its economic potential, including energy.”
China also expressed its opposition to the sanctions, defending the path of diplomacy and dialogue to end the conflict.
In parallel, the European Union announced additional restrictions targeting the call “ghost fleet” of tankers that Russia uses to avoid previous sanctions and channel the export of its crude oil. According to EU estimates, the trade managed by this network represents more than 35 billion dollars annually for the Russian budget and finances up to 40% of its war spending in Ukraine.
European leaders also raised limit travel of Russian diplomats and increase the list of companies and vessels sanctioned in the region.
During the summit in Brussels, Zelensky backed the proposal to use frozen Russian assets in Europe to finance the reconstruction of his country and meet the cost of the war. The initiative, still under discussion, would allow generating a fund of up to 140,000 million euros with resources immobilized since the beginning of the invasion, although it encounters resistance from countries such as Belgiumwhich safeguards most of these funds.
The Belgian Prime Minister, Bart Deweverwarned that his country will not agree to assume all the legal risk if Russia takes the case to international justice and called for “sharing the risk” among all member states. He insisted on the need for transparency regarding funds hidden in banks in other European countries.
“Russia brought war to our country and they have to pay for this war”Zelensky stressed.
The Ukrainian president insisted that financial assistance and toughening sanctions are essential to tip the balance and favor eventual negotiations.
In the military scenario, the tightening of sanctions coincides with new Russian bombings in Ukraine which left several fatalities, including two journalists.
He NATO Secretary General Mark Ruttestated during his visit to the White House that he is confident that economic pressure will end up bringing Putin to the dialogue table.
“It may not be today or tomorrow, but we will get there,” he said.
The coordinated strengthening of sanctions and the debate over the use of frozen assets mark a new stage in the West’s joint effort to reduce Russia’s ability to sustain war, as kyiv maintains that allies must remain determined to reach a diplomatic and military turning point.
(With information from EFE)
