The European Union is preparing to impose the 17th round of sanctions against Russia. This was reported on Thursday, May 1, by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot.
"I promised yesterday (to U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham) that we would try to coordinate both the content and the timing of these two sanction packages," Barrot said in an interview with AFP.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham (from South Carolina) had previously stated that 72 legislators supported a bill for new U.S. sanctions against Russia if it refuses to negotiate peace in Ukraine.
The French Foreign Minister referred to the coordination of the two packages.
In the interview, Barrot sharply criticized the Russian president:
"It is now absolutely clear that the only obstacle to peace in Ukraine is Vladimir Putin. Ukraine has accepted (the offer) of an unconditional ceasefire and yesterday agreed to sign an agreement with the United States regarding critical minerals. Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin’s Russia has made no effort, given no signs of being ready for a ceasefire or peace, which President Donald Trump seeks, which Europeans seek, and of course, which Ukrainians seek," Barrot emphasized.
The French minister did not rule out that Paris could also conclude an economic agreement with Ukraine.
On the night of May 1, the United States and Ukraine, after lengthy negotiations, signed an economic agreement that involves the creation of an investment fund for the country's reconstruction. The document was signed by U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent and Ukrainian Minister of Economy Yulia Svyrydenko.
According to her, the fund is created on a 50/50 basis, which means equal shares for Kyiv and Washington in its joint management.
"Neither party will have a dominant vote, and this will reflect the equal partnership between Ukraine and the United States," Svyrydenko stated.
