In an interview with AFP, Barrot stated that the EU will support the new sanctions, which are being prepared at the initiative of US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham. “We Europeans will support this American initiative with the 17th package of sanctions and I promised Lindsey Graham yesterday that we will try to harmonize both the content and the timing of these two packages,” he stated.
The French minister emphasized that the “only obstacle” to peace in Ukraine is Russian President Vladimir Putin. Recalling that the Kiev government accepted an unconditional ceasefire and signed an agreement with the United States on critical minerals, Barrot stated: "Vladimir Putin's Russia has made no effort. They have not given any signal that they are ready for a ceasefire and peace,"
Referring to the possibility of economic cooperation between France and Ukraine on rare earth elements and critical minerals, Barrot noted that negotiations are ongoing in this field and possible opportunities are being evaluated.
On the other hand, Senator Lindsey Graham announced that a new sanctions bill will be implemented if Russia does not start serious negotiations for a ceasefire. Graham's bill is supported by 72 US senators. The bill would impose a 500% tariff on countries that purchase Russian oil, natural gas, uranium or petroleum products. It would also ban Americans from investing in Russian sovereign debt.
“I want a just and honorable end to the war, and I think Trump is the best person to achieve that goal, but these sanctions show that the Senate sees Russia as the primary threat,” Graham stated.
US State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce confirmed the previous day that Washington was ready to impose more severe sanctions against Russia.
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