Europe Agrees Sanctions on Russia Must Stay Until Ukraine War Ends

European leaders are united in keeping sanctions on Russia in place and stepping up pressure until the war in Ukraine comes to an end, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Tuesday.

"Now is clearly not the time to lift sanctions. On the contrary, we discussed how to tighten economic restrictions and support the U.S.-led initiative to pressure Russia into negotiations," Starmer said during a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris.

The statement followed a side meeting during the European leaders’ summit in the French capital, where Ukraine's ongoing conflict and European security topped the agenda.

Starmer reaffirmed the U.K.'s commitment to "peace through strength" and pledged to stand by Kyiv "for as long as it takes." He accused Moscow of dragging its feet on peace efforts. "Everyone understands and believes that Russia currently has no interest in any form of peace," President Zelensky added.

Zelensky urged Europe not to relax its pressure on the Kremlin, saying sanctions must not be lifted before Russia ends its military campaign. "More pressure, more sanctions are needed," he stressed.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz echoed that sentiment, calling any rollback of sanctions a "grave mistake" that would be "pointless" without real progress toward peace. "Unfortunately, we are still far from that goal," he said.

French President Emmanuel Macron revealed that France and the U.K. are spearheading efforts to deploy a "guarantee force" to Ukraine in the event of a peace agreement—despite the idea not having full support among all EU partners.

"This force is a joint Franco-British proposal that Ukraine welcomes," Macron said. "It may not have unanimous backing, but we don't need consensus to move forward." He added that French and British delegations would travel to Ukraine in the coming days to discuss the plan and the country’s future defense posture.

European Council President Antonio Costa reinforced the message, stating that "maintaining pressure on Russia through sanctions" remains the best path to achieving a just and lasting peace for Ukraine.

Russian officials have not publicly responded to the statements from European leaders.

The summit was convened to discuss how Europe can bolster Ukraine's security amid talks of a possible ceasefire. Ahead of the meeting, Prime Minister Starmer emphasized America's lead role in brokering peace and said Europe was now "stepping up to play its part in defending Ukraine."

(Source: AFP)

Hello Shuttle will strive to bring the latest updates. At the end of the day.

Are you looking for reliable airport and cruise port transfer services in Los Angeles?

We offer professional, safe, and punctual transportation from

Los Angeles Airport - LAX

Long Beach Airport - LGB

John Wayne Airport - SNA

San Pedro cruise port

Long Beach cruise port

Disneyland

and other destinations.

Let us make your journey stress-free and comfortable with our dedicated drivers and high-quality vehicles. Book now for the perfect travel experience at www.helloshuttle.com or call 944-800-5678!