France’s Foreign Minister, Jean-Noel Barrot, on Wednesday urged the United States and European nations to devise stronger sanctions aimed at “suffocating” Russia’s economy to compel President Vladimir Putin to stop the war in Ukraine.
While the EU approved a new sanctions package the same day, Barrot noted that previous punitive steps have yet to halt Russia’s offensive, which has entered its fourth year.
“We will have to go further, because these massive sanctions have not yet deterred Vladimir Putin from continuing his war of aggression against Ukraine,” Barrot told broadcaster BFMTV.
“We must prepare to impose devastating sanctions that could suffocate the Russian economy once and for all,” he said.
Barrot revealed plans to meet US Senator Lindsey Graham in Turkey on Thursday to discuss a US sanctions proposal Graham is currently developing.
Graham “has designed a package of extremely powerful sanctions”, with tariffs of 500 percent on countries that continue to import Russian oil, the French foreign minister said.
“Russia has found ways to circumvent the blockade imposed by Europe and the United States,” Barrot said.
“Turning off the tap in this way is a way of grabbing Russia by the throat,” he added.
“I hope that Europe will in turn be able to impose sanctions on hydrocarbons,” Barrot said.
Last Saturday, the leaders of France, Britain, Germany, and Poland jointly urged Russia to observe a 30-day unconditional ceasefire starting this week, but the appeal has gone unanswered.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky invited Putin to personally attend the upcoming Russia-Ukraine talks in Turkey on Thursday, though Moscow has not confirmed its delegation.
On Tuesday, French President Emmanuel Macron said Europe would impose more penalties if Russia did not comply with the ceasefire proposal.
The 17th sanctions package targets Russia’s “shadow” oil fleet. However, officials concede that this round is less extensive than prior ones due to challenges in reaching consensus among EU nations.
