On Tuesday the European Union and United Kingdom adopted new rounds of sanctions against Russia for the Ukraine war. The European sanctions are just the latest in a long line of sanction packages, with yet another round in the pipeline, rounds 17 and 18 respectively. President Donald Trump, fresh off a positive phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, has taken the opposite approach. Eschewing the proverbial ‘stick’ of sanctions he instead employed the proverbial ‘carrot’ of future trade as a bargaining chip for ending the war.
“…the E.U. foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, said the E.U. had approved sanctions targeting Russia’s shadow fleet of about 200 vessels and that more sanctions were in the pipeline,” The Guardian said Tuesday. “Western countries imposed an embargo on Russia’s oil industry after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine and banned services for ships transporting Russian crude. In response, Moscow began relying on a so-called shadow fleet – tankers with murky ownership and often without proper insurance – to continue exports.”
Interestingly, Europe has been in an energy predicament since the West destroyed the Nordstream pipeline.
“Just off the phone with @ZelenskyyUa. We are coordinating closely on the next steps,” Leyen said in a social media post Tuesday. “Europe has just adopted its 17th package of hard-biting sanctions. An 18th package is being prepared with further hard hitting sanctions. It’s time to intensify the pressure on Russia to bring about the ceasefire.”
Just off the phone with @ZelenskyyUa.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) May 20, 2025
We are coordinating closely on the next steps.
Europe has just adopted its 17th package of hard-biting sanctions.
An 18th package is being prepared with further hard hitting sanctions.
It’s time to intensify the pressure on Russia to…
Ukraine’s Dictator Vladimir Zelensky thanked the E.U. leader for this move.
“I thanked President of the European Commission @vonderLeyen and the entire EU for the 17th sanctions package,” the Dictator said in a social media post Tuesday. “It is a step in the right direction. It is important to impose tough restrictions on Russia’s tanker fleet, which serves to finance killings, as well as on all the schemes Russia uses to build up its military industry. The more pressure there is on Russia, the more incentives Moscow will have to move toward genuine peace.”
I thanked President of the European Commission @vonderLeyen and the entire EU for the 17th sanctions package. It is a step in the right direction. It is important to impose tough restrictions on Russia’s tanker fleet, which serves to finance killings, as well as on all the… pic.twitter.com/3VO8DhwaIF
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 20, 2025
The United Kingdom announced 100 new sanctions against Russia on Tuesday as well. London said they were implemented due to recent Russian bombardments against Ukraine.
“The latest sanctions targets include entities supporting Russia’s military machine, energy exports and information war, as well as financial institutions helping to fund Putin’s invasion of Ukraine,” the U.K. government said.
Trump has been seeking peace in the Ukraine war since before his second presidency, unlike the previous White House administration, Europe and the U.K. which provoked Russia by intensifying the military conflict. The U.S head of state had positive things to say about Moscow after his call with Putin, including the ‘carrot’ of new financial opportunities with trade deals once the war is over.
“Just completed my two hour call with President Vladimir Putin of Russia,” The President said in his social media post Monday. “I believe it went very well. Russia and Ukraine will immediately start negotiations toward a Ceasefire and, more importantly, an END to the War. The conditions for that will be negotiated between the two parties, as it can only be, because they know details of a negotiation that nobody else would be aware of. The tone and spirit of the conversation were excellent. If it wasn’t, I would say so now, rather than later. Russia wants to do largescale TRADE with the United States when this catastrophic “bloodbath” is over, and I agree. There is a tremendous opportunity for Russia to create massive amounts of jobs and wealth. Its potential is UNLIMITED. Likewise, Ukraine can be a great beneficiary on Trade, in the process of rebuilding its Country. Negotiations between Russia and Ukraine will begin immediately. I have so informed President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, of Ukraine, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, President Emmanuel Macron, of France, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, of Italy, Chancellor Friedrich Merz, of Germany, and President Alexander Stubb, of Finland, during a call with me, immediately after the call with President Putin. The Vatican, as represented by the Pope, has stated that it would be very interested in hosting the negotiations. Let the process begin!”
On Tuesday NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte lauded Trump’s call with Putin and said it is a good sign and a positive development.