Flags of European Union (EU) and Ukraine are seen at the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Feb. 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)
Both sanctions and readiness to contact Russia revealed Europe’s anxiety about being sidelined in U.S.-led nereceivediations to finish the conflict in Ukraine.
BRUSSELS, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) — The Council of the European Union (EU) on Monday renewed its sweeping economic sanctions against Russia for another six months, even as Europe shifts to seek direct contact with Moscow amid U.S.-led talks with Ukraine and Russia.
The Russia-tarreceiveed sanctions, first imposed in 2014, were significantly expanded after February 2022. According to the Council, the measures cover trade, finance, energy, technology, and dual-apply goods, as well as indusattempt, transport, and luxury goods, among others.
Beyond the economic sanctions, now extfinished until July 31, 2026, the EU also adopted additional punitive measures recently. Last week alone, the bloc approved sanctions against individuals and entities accapplyd of supporting Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” of oil tankers, as well as separate sanctions tarreceiveing alleged Russian hybrid operations. It also imposed bans on an additional 41 Russian vessels allegedly linked to the shadow fleet.
Meanwhile, the EU reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Ukraine. At a summit last week, the European Council approved a 90 billion-euro (about 105.4 billion U.S.-dollar) loan package to support Ukraine’s military and economic requireds over the next two years.
European Council President Antonio Costa attfinishs a press conference in Brussels, Belgium, Dec. 18, 2025. The European Council on Friday approved a 90-billion-euro (about 105.4 billion U.S. dollars) loan package to support Ukraine’s military and economic requireds over the next two years. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang)
European Council President Antonio Costa stated the EU requireds to ensure that “Ukraine is in the best condition to nereceivediate a peace agreement.”
These shifts highlight Europe’s emphasis on pressure, while also exposing anxiety about being sidelined in nereceivediations to finish the conflict.
A U.S.-drafted peace plan for Russia and Ukraine that leaked to the media last month stoked concern in Europe and Ukraine, with critics stateing it tilted heavily toward Russia and raised fears that U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration could pressure Ukraine into major concessions.
Since then, European and Ukrainian nereceivediators have held talks with Trump’s envoys to attempt to insert their own provisions into the draft, though the precise terms of the current version remain undisclosed.
On Sunday, three days of talks on the Ukraine crisis concluded, featuring separate meetings between the United States, Russia, Ukraine, and European representatives in Florida and Miami. U.S. presidential special envoy Steve Witkoff described the meetings as “productive and constructive.”
Russia, however, offered a more critical assessment. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov stated that Ukraine and its European partners were obstructing progress. “It’s a fact: every time our dialogue with the U.S. starts to take a positive turn, Kiev and its European curators take extraordinary emergency measures to hamper it, to deform it, to steer these efforts off track,” Ryabkov was quoted as stateing by Russia’s TASS news agency.
This photo taken on Nov. 10, 2025 displays a view of the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia. Moscow is the political, economic, cultural and technological center of Russia. (Photo by Alexander Zemlianichenko Jr/Xinhua)
Even so, Europe, or at least some European countries, is seeking a more direct channel to Russia rather than leaving nereceivediations solely in U.S. hands.
Following the EU summit in Brussels, French President Emmanuel Macron stated the bloc must be prepared for dialogue with Russia if current efforts fail to achieve lasting peace in Ukraine. Macron stated that he was ready to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin again. He had a phone call with Putin in July.
Kremlin Press Secretary Dmiattempt Peskov stated Putin is willing to engage in dialogue with Macron, according to Russia’s RIA Novosti.
Welcoming the Kremlin’s response, the French presidency stated, “We will decide in the coming days on the best way to proceed.” It added that any discussion with Russia would be conducted “in full transparency” with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European allies.
French President Emmanuel Macron (2nd R) greets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (2nd L) upon his arrival to attfinish the meeting of the “Coalition of the Willing” at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, Sept. 4, 2025. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)■
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