Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha stated that Russia’s dictator, Vladimir Putin, is not prepared for peace and can only be compelled by Ukraine’s strong position and intensified international pressure.
Speaking at the Geopolitical Challenges and Prospects 2025 discussion, part of LB.ua and EFI Group’s New Country project, Sybiha emphasised the need for stricter sanctions.
He highlighted specific targets for further sectoral sanctions, including the shadow fleet, metallurgy, and the banking sector. The EU, he noted, continues to import substantial amounts of Russian steel products. “We welcome the United States’ decision to impose sanctions on the banking sector and are closely monitoring trade in dual-use goods and with third countries that have not imposed sanctions on Russia,” Sybiha said.
Frozen assets also present an additional tool to pressure Russia. Sybiha outlined Ukraine’s aim to shift from freezing assets to confiscating them for compensation, arms purchases, and reconstruction efforts. Allies broadly support this approach as fair and effective.
Sybiha stressed that these measures are yielding both immediate and long-term results.
Read the full interview with the Foreign Minister on LB.ua this Friday.
- Meanwhile, Bloomberg reports that the Biden administration is preparing new sanctions targeting Russia’s oil industry, following previous hesitation over fears of fuel price hikes affecting election ratings. However, with oil prices falling and political dynamics shifting, the administration is ready to take a firmer stance.
- In contrast, the EU recently failed to agree on a sanctions package, with Latvia and Lithuania opposing exemptions that allow some EU companies to continue working with Russia.