Ukrainian President, EU Officials Call for Tougher Russia Sanctions

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European lawmakers this week called for more sanctions against Russia, saying Moscow needs to feel more pressure to withdraw from Ukraine and end the war.

Speaking during a special plenary session of the European Parliament to mark 1,000 days since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Zelenskyy said Europe and other countries should be imposing “firm sanctions” against the "so-called" shadow fleet of older, unregistered ships helping to move Russian oil. Russian President Vladimir “Putin can kill as long as these tankers operate,” Zelenskyy said, according to a Nov. 19 parliament news release. “You know very well that Putin does not value people or rules, only money and power. These are the things we must take away from him to restore peace.”

In a joint statement, parliament leaders called for a “significant expansion of sanctions” against Russia. They also said the EU should look for “more effective ways for like-minded partners to join us in the effort to bring down Russia’s war machine.”

EU lawmakers also “expect the incoming Trump administration to maintain support for Ukraine and remain steadfast in its commitment to NATO, as Europe continues to establish a genuine defence Union and strengthen its defence capabilities,” they said.