Zelenskyy: It's Been Too Long since 11th EU Sanctions Package

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that the period of time since the EU’s adoption of its latest package of sanctions against the Russian Federation has been too long, and pauses like this prolong Russian aggression.

Zelenkyy in an address to attendees at the meeting of EU foreign ministers in Kyiv emphasised that the sanctions pressure on Russia is clearly not enough. This is primarily evident from the growing number of Russian drone attacks and airstrikes, the president says.

"More joint work is needed to combat any forms and schemes by which Russia is circumventing sanctions. Any supplies to Russia that allow it to increase military production must be stopped. This is in the clear interest not only of Ukraine, but also everyone in the world who wants to see a speedy end to this war," Zelenskyy said.

Work on the EU’s new sanctions package must also be stepped up, Zelenskyy emphasised.

"Any sanctions pauses increase the duration of the Russian aggression, and the pause since the 11th sanctions package has already been too long," Zelenskyy said.

Sanctions are needed in particular against the Russian nuclear industry – both for what Russia is doing at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant and as a security step against the use of questionable Russian nuclear technologies, Zelenskyy says.

"It is also important to expand sanctions against Iran in sensitive industries, particularly regarding the import of equipment and chemicals. Every Iranian attack drone that hits European cities in Ukraine is a reason for sanctions pressure," Zelenskyy added.

Bloomberg reported that EU member states may start discussing a new package of sanctions – the twelfth so far – against Russia due to its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in October.

The new sanctions are likely to include the EU's version of the upcoming G7 ban on Russian diamonds.

New restrictions may be presented in early October or announced during the EU-US summit scheduled for October.