France says European partners to unveil new Russia sanctions with Trump administration

By Necva Tastan Sevinc

ISTANBUL (AA) - European partners are preparing a new package of “powerful sanctions” against Russia, to be coordinated for the first time with the Donald Trump administration of the US, the French foreign minister said Monday.

Speaking at a Weimar Triangle meeting in Warsaw, Jean-Noel Barrot said the new measures would include a complete phase-out of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports by Jan. 1, 2027, as well as sanctions on major Russian oil companies Rosneft and Gazprom Neft.

The package would also target Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” banks, cryptocurrency-based circumvention networks, and companies outside Russia that support Moscow’s war effort, particularly in the oil sector, he said.

“Rather than discouraging Europeans, (Russian President) Vladimir Putin’s recent provocations at Europe’s borders have strengthened our determination,” Barrot said, stressing that sanctions will also hit the Russian civilian economy, including exclusive economic zones and enterprises linked to the war effort.

He underlined that European allies remain “ready to react” against Russian provocations and pledged that NATO and EU members will defend “every square centimeter” of their territory.

Barrot added that the sanctions move comes alongside expanded financial and military support for Ukraine.

“We must give Ukraine the financial means to hold on,” he said, pointing to a European Commission proposal currently under discussion among EU member states.

He further highlighted coordination with the Trump administration as a “turning point” in Western resolve, saying the transatlantic partners will for the first time impose sanctions in a fully joint framework.