Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba has called on the European Union to accelerate the work on the ninth package of sanctions against the Russian Federation.

He made the statement during his online briefing.

"The topic of approving the ninth package of the EU sanctions is long overdue, but there is still no such package. Moreover, we only hear things about attempts to start serious work on its preparation. I am calling on all colleagues in the EU to put aside any doubts and start a new sanction package with the quick finish of it. And to make it the most powerful one," Kuleba said. 

The Minister added that sanctions have to intensify as long as Russian aggression continues. 

"Special attention should be paid to sanctions that pause and stop Russia’s missile industry, that is, Russia’s ability to produce new missiles needs to be simply destroyed," the Minister declared.

Kuleba stated that Ukraine insists on introducing a full energy embargo, prolonging oil embargo for the northern branch of Druzhba gas pipeline, and prohibiting imports of liquified natural gas from Russia.  

"We are urging sanctions on Rosatom and the suspension of Russia’s rights in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)," he added. 

It was reported earlier that the European Union is to seek to requisition the assets of those who try to evade sanctions on Russia and give them to Ukraine. 

Amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the European Union has frozen a total of €68 billion in Russian assets.