On 11 August, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced plans for new EU sanctions against Russia. France 24 reports that Kallas warned against making any concessions to Moscow without an unconditional ceasefire as US President Trump prepares to meet Vladimir Putin on 15 August.

EU ministers unite on new sanctions package

Following a meeting of EU foreign ministers, Kallas said the bloc will develop a 19th package of economic measures. She emphasized that Russia has not agreed to any ceasefire conditions.

“As far as Russia has not agreed to full and unconditional ceasefire, we should not even discuss any concessions,” Kallas said, according to France24.

The announcement comes as European leaders coordinate their response to potential peace negotiations. Kallas said the ministers jointly expressed support for any US steps allegedly leading to just peace. However, she stressed that the process and sequencing remain crucial.

No concessions without proper guarantees

“The sequencing of the steps is important. First an unconditional ceasefire with a strong monitoring system and ironclad security guarantees,” Kallas explained.

She confirmed that the EU will work on both military and budgetary support for Ukraine.

The foreign policy chief also mentioned supporting Ukraine’s accession process to join the EU. 

Ukraine said it would never recognize Russian control over its sovereign territory. Kyiv acknowledged that getting captured land back would require diplomacy rather than battlefield victories. Kallas backed Ukraine’s position on 10 August, stating that international law is clear.

European coordination ahead of Trump-Putin meeting

French President Emmanuel Macron will hold a virtual meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Wednesday. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will also participate in the discussions about Ukraine. The meeting aims to coordinate positions before Trump’s upcoming summit with Putin in Alaska.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held calls with 13 counterparts over three days. France 24 reports he spoke with leaders from Germany, Britain, and France. Zelenskyy thanked countries backing Ukraine’s position in his Sunday evening address.

“The war must be ended as soon as possible with a fair peace,” Zelenskyy said. He emphasized that everything concerning Ukraine must be decided with Ukraine’s participation.

NATO and EU insist on Ukrainian involvement

Speaking to ABC, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte claimed that Trump is “putting pressure on Putin.” Rutte saidthe Trump-Putin meeting will test how serious Putin is about ending the war. He acknowledged Russia controls some Ukrainian territory and suggested future deals might acknowledge this factually.

“When it comes to acknowledging, for example – maybe in a future deal – that Russia is controlling, de facto, factually, some of the territory of Ukraine, it has to be effectual recognition and not a political de jure recognition,” Rutte told ABC.

Kallas insisted on 10 August that any US-Russia deal must include Ukraine and the EU.

“The US has the power to force Russia to negotiate seriously,” she stated. She added that any deal between the US and Russia must include Ukraine and the EU for Europe’s security.