“This is the time now’: EU foreign ministers sends out a call for an official new sanctions on Russia after recent tragic event as Vladimir Putin mocks Donald Trump

EU foreign ministers have stated that Vladimir Putin’s lack of interest in peace negotiations is evidenced by the most recent Russian attacks on Sumy and Kryvyi Rih.
Foreign ministers of the European Union stated at a meeting in Luxembourg on Monday that it is imperative to implement additional sanctions against Russia in response to the devastating attack on the Ukrainian city of Sumy.

As the Christian community commemorated Palm Sunday, a festival that commemorates Christ’s entry into Jerusalem, two Russian ballistic missiles struck Sumy.

A minimum of 34 individuals were murdered, and over 110 were injured.

On Palm Sunday, the city centre was struck by the strike. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated, “Only filthy scum can behave in this manner.”

Ukraine was still mourning the loss of 19 individuals, nine of whom were children, who were slain in Kryvyi Rih earlier this month when the attack against civilians occurred. The two Russian assaults share similarities in that they employ cluster munitions and ballistic missiles to maximise the amount of damage.

The barrage serves as a testament to Vladimir Putin’s lack of enthusiasm for the peace negotiations that Donald Trump has initiated, as perceived by foreign ministers.

On Monday, Radosław Sikorski, Poland’s foreign minister, expressed his dismay at the most recent Russian assaults on Ukraine, stating, “I am appalled.”

“I trust that President Trump and the US administration will recognise that the leader of Russia is belittling that goodwill, and I hope that the appropriate decisions are made.”

According to Lithuania’s Kęstutis Budrys, the “barbaric attack” on Sumy was a “war crime by definition” and necessitated a new set of sanctions that targeted the sectors that were “untouched” in previous decisions, including nuclear and liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Hungary is anticipated to exercise its veto over the 17th package since February 2022, which is currently in its infancy. Budapest has become increasingly critical of economic restrictions, even threatening to obstruct their renewal.

“This is, once again, a humiliation to all who have made diplomatic efforts to halt this war and at least achieve a ceasefire in order to commence negotiations,” Budrys stated.

“This is the moment for us to demonstrate our dedication and unity,” he continued. “In the absence of this, we are not functioning as a unified entity, but rather as distinct nations.”

His Finnish counterpart, Elina Valtonen, supported the calls for additional severe penalties and stated that the collapse of global oil prices as a result of Trump’s extensive tariffs was “exactly” what the West required to undermine the Kremlin’s war machine.

Valtonen stated upon his arrival that Russia exhibits complete disregard for the peace process and has no regard for human life.

“Putin is the sole individual who is not interested in peace.”

Maria Malmer Stenergard of Sweden took one step further, declaring that it was time to “move on and take the frozen assets.”

The probable seizure of the Russian Central Bank’s assets, which are immobilised as part of the sanctions, has been floated in the past but gained traction after Trump came into office and began reducing military assistance for Ukraine.

The money’s intrinsic value, which is approximately €210 on EU soil, is perceived as an appealing source of revenue to offset the diminishing assistance from the United States. However, some member states are reluctant to make the unprecedented move, fearing negative repercussions for the bloc’s financial stability and credibility for investors.

Last month, European Council President António Costa dismissed the momentum for confiscation, contending that the assets should remain paralysed to maintain a €45-billion loan to Kyiv and guarantee that Moscow eventually pays for war reparations.

“That is why it is crucial to safeguard these assets and maintain control over them,” Costa stated during an event.

However, the debate is not yet concluded, as Trump’s pivot to Russia compels allies to reevaluate their long-standing convictions and adopt ambitious concepts, including full-scale rearmament.

The American president characterised the Sumy attack as “horrible” and “terrible,” but he appeared to downplay Russia’s responsibility. Since taking office, Trump has been repeatedly accused of echoing the Kremlin’s talking points.

“I was told they made a mistake,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One.

Foreign ministers expressed their unequivocal disagreement, asserting that the assaults were intentional.

“I don’t know what he’s learning and what he’s not learning, but the facts are on the ground and in the face of everyone: Russia is killing civilians and it’s killing civilians on the way to the church,” Latvia’s Baiba Braže said when asked about Trump.

“This is a double whammy.” The Russians were aware of their actions.

High Representative Kaja Kallas, who chaired Monday’s meeting in Luxembourg, added her voice to the collective outrage and endorsed the push for new sanctions.

“We have to put the pressure – the maximum pressure – on Russia to really end this war because it takes two to want peace (but) it only takes one to want war,” Kallas said.

Kallas has spent the past weeks urging member states to step up their military support for Ukraine, putting forward a plan with an ideal figure of €40 billion for 2025.

The blueprint, which is based on gross national income (GNI) to ensure donations are fairly distributed, was well received by small member states but met with the resistance of bigger ones, like France and Italy, who scoffed at the mathematical formulation.

Faced with political opposition, Kallas re-focused her plan on the goal to quickly gather €5 billion to deliver 2 million rounds of ammunition shells to Ukraine. According to the High Representative, two-thirds of the €5 billion have already been secured.