Leadership that comes from diplomatic strength, intellect, and experience…
JUN 11, 2025
President of the Eu Commission Ursula Von der Leyen proposed the 18th set of sanctions against the Russian financial and energy sectors yesterday. She reiterated her call to Moscow for a “full and unconditional ceasefire of at least 30 days” in Ukraine, saying, “Our message is very clear. This war must end. We need a real ceasefire, and Russia must come to the negotiating table with a serious proposal.”
It is still not clear what negotiators think a ceasefire will achieve, as all previous agreements were simply ignored and broken by Russia. Peace or ceasefire proposals appear in essence, to maintain the moral high ground for Zelensky who shows he is willing to talk, even though he knows Russia has no intention of agreeing to any peace that does not reward their invasion of Ukraine.
These proposals provide hope and confidence to Ukraine when they see leadership that comes from diplomatic strength, intellect, and experience in foreign affairs. This is the path to eventual peace, not the appeasement/ surrender package that US Secretary of Defence Hegseth attempted to impose on Ukraine. It must be a relief for Ukraine to see Trump’s inexperienced and incompetent team of ‘peace negotiators’ withdraw and allow those who understand that bribery and intimidation have a limited effect when it comes to ending a war.
Von der Leyen went on to say “Russia does not want peace, but [wants]to impose the law of force. The EU will therefore step up the pressure because power is the only language Russia understands,”
The new proposed sanctions would include:
Energy.
An EU trading ban on North Stream I and II pipelines.
Lowering the Russian oil price cap from $60 to $45 per barrel. This will be proposed at the G7 summit in Canada this week. Resistance is expected from a pro-Russian, Trump administration. Trump recently said, “The Ukrainians gave Putin a reason to bomb them mercilessly.”
Proposals also include adding an additional 77 tankers to the existing 342 which belong to Russia’s shadow oil fleet who bypass Western sanctions under foreign flags plus a ban on the import of refined products based on Russian crude oil. This item is possibly pointed at Turkey.
Banking.
Europe intends to limit Russia’s ability to raise funds and conduct transactions by elevating the existing ban on SWIFT into a complete trading ban on Russian banks and to extend the ban to financial institutions and countries that finance trade which circumvents existing sanctions.
The Commission is also proposing new export bans worth more than €2.5 billion. Von der Leyen said, “This ban would deprive the Russian economy of critical technology and industrial goods, [] restricting export of dual-use goods and technologies used to produce drones, missiles and other weapons systems to ensure Russia does not find ways to modernize its weapons with European technologies.” She added, “Putin’s ability to continue the war largely depends on the support he receives from third countries. Those who support Russia’s war and its attempt to conquer Ukraine bear a great responsibility.”
It is hoped that these new sanctions are agreed and instituted as soon as possible. One reason the Ukraine war has continued for three years is the inability of nations to act together swiftly and strongly. Trump, Orban, and Fico will continue to make things difficult to act with unity, but the clear determination shown by Ursula Von Der Leyen and supporting European leaders, provides much needed leadership and hope for Ukraine.
Slava Ukraini!
Who Dares Shares
Robin Horsfall
Yawn.