EU adopts new sanctions package against Russia, Kallas says measures are unprecedented in scale

EU foreign ministers have discussed the situation on the battlefield in Ukraine, efforts to strengthen the country’s energy resilience and a new package of sanctions against Russia. Kaja Kallas, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, made the remarks following a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council. According to Kallas, ministers discussed the situation on the battlefield and Ukraine’s energy resilience with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. She said Russia is likely to target Ukraine’s power grid again next winter and that the European Union is preparing for that scenario. “Ukraine needs generators, spare parts and funding for repairs,” Kallas said. She stressed that strengthening Ukraine’s air defence remains a priority and called on EU member states with available capabilities to provide them to Ukraine. According to Kallas, the United States’ decision to allow Kyiv to produce Patriot missiles under licence is a positive step, although it will take time to implement. The EU’s top diplomat also said the Foreign Affairs Council had approved a new package of sanctions against Russia for the ninth consecutive time. “We are imposing sanctions on Russia at an unprecedented speed and scale,” Kallas said. According to her, today’s measures, together with the forthcoming 21st sanctions package, include more than 250 listings. She described this as the largest round of individual sanctions since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Kallas said the primary target of the sanctions is the financial backbone of Russia’s military machine.