European Union Council President Antonio Costa, speaking in Finland alongside Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, said the EU must step up pressure on Russia by imposing not only tougher sanctions but also secondary sanctions on countries buying from Moscow.
Costa noted that EU leaders would soon travel to Washington to meet President Donald Trump, stressing that coordination with the US is vital to force Russia to the negotiating table. He said, “We are working with the US to make our sanctions more effective, to increase pressure on Russia and President Vladimir Putin, and ultimately to force them to accept peace talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.”
Highlighting the Coalition of the Willing, which also includes Türkiye, Norway, Japan, and Australia, Costa said the EU has built a global alliance to support Ukraine. He added, “We must prevent Russia from financing its war effort. To do this, we need not only stronger sanctions, but also secondary sanctions against those who continue to purchase Russian oil and gas.”