Ukraine calls on EU to impose more stringent sanctions on Russia

Ukraine insists on increasing economic pressure on Russia, in particular by lowering the ceiling price for Russian oil and further restricting its banking system. This was stated by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga during his visit to Brussels on May 20, where the meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the European Union was taking place.

In his speech, Sybiga thanked European partners for adopting the 17th package of sanctions, which became another step in joint pressure on the aggressor country. At the same time, the Ukrainian diplomat called for not stopping at what has been achieved, emphasizing the need for more radical measures that could seriously affect the Kremlin's ability to finance the war against Ukraine.

In particular, the head of Ukrainian diplomacy called on the EU to review the current level of the "ceiling" of prices for Russian oil, which currently allows the Kremlin to receive significant budget revenues. "The marginal price for Russian oil should be $30 per barrel," Sybiga stressed. Such a step, he said, could significantly reduce Moscow's petrodollar profits and weaken its ability to continue the war.

The minister paid special attention to the financial sector, pointing to the need to increase pressure on the Russian banking system. Sybiga stressed that it was important not only to limit Russian banks' access to international settlements, but also to impose strict restrictions on the activities of the Central Bank of Russia, which still has the tools to stabilize the financial system under sanctions.

In this context, he reminded his European colleagues that in recent weeks Ukraine has repeatedly demonstrated openness to diplomatic ways to resolve the conflict. "Ukraine is not an obstacle to peace. It is Putin who is continuing the war - this is his conscious choice. We must do everything possible together to stop the aggressor," the Ukrainian minister said.

Sybiga's speech was a continuation of Kyiv's diplomatic offensive on the European front. Ukraine insists that only maximum economic and political pressure on the Kremlin will force Russia to stop armed aggression and create conditions for a just peace.