EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Monday that the bloc would welcome a truce on striking energy infrastructure between Ukraine and Russia “when it holds”, after US President Donald Trump unilaterally announced a ceasefire that seemed to catch both Kyiv and Moscow off guard. Follow our liveblog for all the latest updates.
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German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said that new European sanctions are making it more difficult for Russian President Vladimir Putin to continue the war in Ukraine.
“Today, the EU is adding more individuals and companies to its sanctions list than ever before – well over 1,600 in total. Nearly all of them play a direct or indirect role in Russia’s war efforts,” Wadephul said in a statement.
European Union envoys approved 1,646 new designations last week under the bloc’s sanctions regime for Russia, with most targeting the country’s military-industrial complex, diplomats said.
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EU’s top diplomat says she will welcome a Ukraine energy truce ‘when it holds’
The European Union’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas welcomed US President Donald Trump’s unilateral announcement of an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, though she added she would prefer one “which includes people not being killed”.
She said it was not clear whether Russia would abide by the ceasefire, and called for the US to impose sanctions on Russia. Moscow has not confirmed that it has agreed to any ceasefire, and Trump’s declaration seemed to catch Kyiv equally off guard.
“We would call the US to get the sanctions in place so that we could actually finish the war,” Kallas said.
Australia says it backs ‘energy ceasefire’ between Ukraine and Russia
Australia said it backed an “energy ceasefire” between Ukraine and Russia, while urging Moscow to “end its unjustified and unprovoked invasion” of its neighbour.
“Australia supports an energy ceasefire which is respected by Russia and contributes towards a just and lasting peace, on Ukraine’s terms,” an Australian foreign ministry spokesperson said in a statement to AFP.
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Russia’s military has struck a vessel it alleged was carrying “military cargo” to Ukraine’s port of Odesa, Russia’s defence ministry said.
Oil prices fall after Trump unilaterally announces ‘energy ceasefire’ between Kyiv and Moscow
Most stock markets rose Monday as oil prices tumbled after US President Donald Trump announced an “energy ceasefire” between Russia and Ukraine.
Both main crude contracts sank more than one percent following Trump’s declaration, even as it sparked astonishment in Kyiv, which also said Moscow had struck multiple power plants in the country.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was seeking further details of the announcement, but added that “Ukraine supports the ceasefire, and it is important that Russia support it as well”.
