US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (R) and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot (L) shake hands ahead of their meeting at the Department of State in Washington, DC, USA, 01 May 2025. Photo: EPA-EFE/JIM LO SCALZO

As the European Union prepares its 17th sanctions package against Russian businesses and individuals, it will coordinate its initiative with the United States to pressure the Kremlin towards peace, France’s top diplomat said on Friday.

Speaking to AFP, Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot contrasted Ukraine’s willingness to engage in ceasefire negotiations with Russia’s clear reluctance, describing Vladimir Putin as the “sole obstacle” to peace.

Barrot additionally stressed the EU’s wishes to coordinate its efforts with a plan recently announced by US Senator Lindsey Graham to enact new sanctions on Russia if the Kremlin does not engage in serious negotiations to end the war.

“We Europeans will accompany this American initiative with a 17th package of sanctions and I committed yesterday to Lindsey Graham that we would try to coordinate both the substance and the timing of these two packages of sanctions,” Barrot said.

Graham, a close Senate ally of US President Donald Trump, told reporters on Wednesday that he has the support of 72 colleagues to pass a “bone-crushing” sanctions package on Russia, including tariffs on third countries purchasing its oil, gas and other key commodities.

Bloomberg, which has seen a draft of the bill, said the proposed penalties would include a 500% tariff on imports from countries that purchase Russian oil, petroleum products, natural gas, or uranium.

The EU’s current sanctions package, which was signed in mid-March, is due to expire on 15 September. EU sanctions must be renewed every six months with the unanimous support of all 27 EU member states.