French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot called on Wednesday for “devastating sanctions” to “suffocate” the Russian economy and to force Moscow into negotiating an end to its Ukraine invasion.
The EU approved its 17th package of sanctions on Wednesday, targeting Russia’s shadow oil fleet. However, Barrot argued that it is insufficient as Russia’s full-scale invasion marches into its fourth year despite the imposition of 16 previous sanctions packages.
“We will have to go further, because these massive sanctions have not yet deterred [Russian President] 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 added.
Barrot said he would meet US Senator Lindsey Graham in Turkey on Thursday to discuss the possibility of more US sanctions.
Graham has recently called for “bone-crushing” sanctions on Russia – and 500% tariffs on nations that buy Moscow’s oil and gas – if Putin refuses to engage in serious peace negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.
Barrot and Graham’s planned meeting in Turkey coincides with the timing of both an informal NATO meeting and the high-stakes Kyiv-Moscow talks called by Putin on Sunday, but it is unclear if the two would join the talks.
“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.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he would attend Thursday’s talks in Istanbul in person. Meanwhile, the US confirmed that State Secretary Marco Rubio would attend the talks. Reuters, citing its own sources, said Washington’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg would also be there.
On Wednesday Moscow had not confirmed who it will send for the talks.
Thursday’s upcoming talks were initiated by Putin on Sunday in response to the West’s ceasefire ultimatum on Saturday.
In his speech, Putin claimed Russia had always been open to a ceasefire and blamed Kyiv for previous plans that had fallen through without answering the latest ceasefire call.
Western officials have previously hinted at more sanctions if Moscow failed to comply with the ultimatum by Monday, but German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Tuesday that Moscow could show “real progress“ this week before the West decides whether to move forward with the sanctions that would be in addition to the EU’s latest 17th sanction package.