EU to Impose Fresh Restrictions on Russia
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine continues to strain relations between Russia and the West, with the European Union (EU) proposing an ambitious 18th sanctions package to tighten financial and economic pressure on Moscow. This package, aimed at pushing Russia back to the negotiation table, includes measures such as lowering the price cap on Russian oil, expanding sanctions on financial institutions, and banning transactions related to the Nord Stream gas pipelines.
However, the adoption of this package remains stalled, primarily due to resistance from EU member states Hungary and Slovakia, which seek unrestricted access to cheaper Russian gas. EU leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, are urging these countries to approve the sanctions without delay, and the EU economy chief is pressing member states to back the new restrictions for maximum effectiveness.
At the July 2025 Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome, key European leaders reaffirmed their long-term commitment to Ukraine, underscoring both military and financial support, as well as continuing to back sanctions as a crucial leverage tool against Russia.
Meanwhile, the situation on the ground in Ukraine remains tense. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced that Ukraine will provide "full information" about the course of the war and Russia's military capabilities to US special envoy Keith Kellogg, with the goal of achieving a "full understanding in America" of what is needed "to force Russia to peace."
Zelenskyy's government is also taking steps to counter Russian attacks, with Ukrainian companies developing weapons for individual soldiers to counter attacking drones, including a 360-gram single-use "net launcher" that shoots a net and entangles the propellers of the drone.
However, the conflict continues to escalate, with reports of Russian troops taking control of the settlement of Karl Marx in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk. In response, a pro-Ukrainian partisan group, Atesh, claims to have destroyed a vehicle used by the Achmat unit of the Chechen Republic, with the participation going unharmed.
Elsewhere, North Korea is reported to have already deployed over 10,000 soldiers to Russia and provided weapons for the conflict, while Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to discuss support in the Ukraine conflict.
In addition, the German Armed Forces will receive the first interceptor missiles for the Patriot air defense system from domestic production by the end of 2026 to early 2027.
As the conflict continues, the EU remains committed to supporting Ukraine and maintaining sanctions as a crucial leverage tool against Russia. The 18th sanctions package, once adopted, will include a dynamic mechanism for the oil price cap, based on the average price of Russian oil over the past 22 weeks minus 15 percent. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani believes sanctions can stop Putin and suggests cutting off his money for paying soldiers as a way to encourage dialogue to end the war.
In a bid to improve relations with the US, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is considering replacing his ambassador to the United States for more positive momentum in relations with the US. As the conflict continues, it remains to be seen how these developments will impact the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict.
- The EU's proposed 18th sanctions package against Russia, which includes measures on oil price caps, financial institutions, and Nord Stream transactions, is intended to serve as a leverage tool in the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict, as discussed by EU leaders and the EU economy chief.
- The conflict in Ukraine is not only a matter of military engagement but also extends to politics and general news, with the EU's community policy and employment policy playing a significant role in shaping the EU's response to the crisis, as seen in the stalled adoption of the 18th sanctions package.
