European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Sunday that pressure on Russia must be stepped up to ensure a ceasefire in Ukraine, and called on the G7 nations to strengthen sanctions to achieve that goal.
That’s according to Reuters, Ukrinform reports.
It is noted that the leaders of the world’s largest industrialized countries are meeting in Canada’s Rockies with European countries seeking to keep the war in Ukraine in the field of view of US President Donald Trump despite hostilities breaking out between Israel and Iran in the Middle East.
“We must put more pressure on Russia to secure a real ceasefire, to bring Russia to the negotiating table and to end this war, sanctions are critical to that end,” von der Leyen said before the start of talks involving the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States on Monday.
She recalled that the European Commission had put forward a proposal for an 18th package of sanctions against Russia last week, calling on all G7 partners to join the Commission in that effort.
Von der Leyen said that during her talks with Donald Trump on Saturday the two agreed that like-minded countries should protect market stability, especially in energy markets.
“We will also stay very vigilant (on) what the implications for the international energy markets are concerned,” she said.
On trade talks with the Trump administration, the European Commission chief said she favored a negotiated solution by the July 9 deadline, but the bloc was preparing backup options in the even no agreement was reached.
Von der Leyen also spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday. She reaffirmed Israel’s right to self-defense but stressed that a diplomatic solution was the best long-term option to resolve the issue of Iran’s nuclear program. The European Commission chief called Iran a major source of regional instability, reiterating that Tehran “can never have a nuclear weapon”.
“The recent events have underlined the increasing interlinks between the conflicts in Europe on one hand and the Middle East on the other hand. The same type of Iranian designed and made drones and ballistic missiles are indiscriminately hitting cities in Ukraine and in Israel,” von der Leyen said.
As Ukrinform reported earlier, the 18th package of EU sanctions will target key sectors of the Russian economy – energy, banking and critical exports, and additional measures are also intended to combat circumvention of EU restrictive measures.
Photo: PAP/ EPA
Source: European Commission President urges G7 to boost pressure on Russia
