Paris:
The French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Thursday that the European Union is preparing to touch Russia with a 17th sanction round, which President Vladimir Putin describes as the “only obstacle” for peace in Ukraine.
The 27-country block has imposed unprecedented penalties on Russia in response to its invasion and said that this year it would not lift any sanctions before Putin’s “unconditional” withdrawal of troops from Ukraine.
“We Europeans will accompany this American (sanctions) initiative with a 17th package of sanctions and I dedicated yesterday to (US Senator) Lindsey Graham that we would try to coordinate both the substance and the timing of these two packages of sanctions,” Barrot AFP said in an interview.
Graham has collected dozens of legislators from both parties to support a plan to impose additional sanctions on Moscow and rates for countries that buy Russian energy, the Wall Street Journal has reported.
Barrot focused on the Russian president during the interview and said: “It is now crystal clear that the only obstacle to peace today in Ukraine is Vladimir Putin.”
In February 2022, the armed forces of Moscow launched a total invasion of Ukraine in an attempt to take control that Kiev die Kyiv has been thwarted with the help of international aid that was mainly provided by the United States and countries in Europe.
Ukraine ‘accepted an unconditional cease -the fire and yesterday agreed to conclude an agreement on critical minerals with the United States, “said Barrot.
That, “according to statements from Ukrainian officials, I correspond to the expectations of Ukraine to enter into economic cooperation with the United States, but also with other countries,” he said.
– Russia ‘has not made any effort’ –
“In the meantime, the Russia of Vladimir Putin has not made any effort, has not sent a sign that it is ready for ceases -fires or the peace that President Donald Trump strives, and that Europeans and of course the Ukrainians strive,” said Barrot.
The French minister has not concluded the possibility that France, of which he said it has “expertise” in rare earth minerals, could also conclude an economic agreement with Ukraine.
The Washington deal with KYIV would see that the United States and Ukraine jointly develop and invest in the critical mineral resources of the country battered by war.
Ukraine hopes that the deal will eventually pave the way for security guarantees of the United States, because it tries to protect against future Russian attacks.
Barrot spoke with AFP shortly after the meeting with his American counterpart Marco Rubio and said he welcomed their candid conversations.
“We had an unfiltered exchange that enabled us to coordinate closely, but also to recognize the convergence of our objectives on regional and international crises, because we want to act in consultation,” said the French minister.
Barrot and Rubio met “to promote the path to peace in Ukraine,” said Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Tammy Bruce.
“The secretary has made it clear that President Trump is aimed at stopping the meaningless bloodshed in Ukraine and confirmed an American dedication to work closely with France and other European partners to ensure permanent peace,” she added.
For Barrot: “This is a decisive moment for Europe.”
He noted that French President Emmanuel Macron has been calling for the European strategic autonomy and “a European pillar for NATO” for years.
On rates imposed by Washington, Barrot called for “de-escalation so that we can return to the situation preceding decisions that the Trump government made in the interest of both the United States and Europe.”
(Except for the headline, this story was not edited by NDTV staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.)
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