The EU awaits the outcome of Russia-Ukraine negotiations before imposing sanctions.
The EU is prepared to wait for negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in Türkiye before requesting US sanctions against Moscow.
According to RIA Novosti on May 13, Bloomberg, citing reliable sources, reported that European leaders are prepared to wait for possible negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul (Türkiye) before demanding that the US impose new sanctions on Moscow.
Bloomberg reported: “European leaders are awaiting a possible meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Türkiye before asking the U.S. to announce new sanctions against Moscow.”
Furthermore, according to sources, Washington wants to create an opportunity for negotiations between Russia and Ukraine before increasing pressure on Moscow. According to unnamed European officials, the US has not yet decided on possible next steps, including whether or not to impose sanctions.
Earlier, on April 10, French President Emmanuel Macron, along with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, held a meeting of the so-called "voluntary coalition" in Kyiv.
There, President Macron warned he would impose restrictions on Russia if it did not agree to the terms of the 30-day ceasefire proposed by the West.
From Russia's perspective, Moscow argues that Ukraine failed to respond to the ceasefire proposed by President Putin, particularly during Easter and the 80th anniversary of Victory Day.
Bloomberg later wrote that US President Donald Trump had approved the European leaders' statement, and made it clear that Washington could also introduce restrictive measures.
