Ukraine War News: Russia Suffers New Sanctions Squeeze as EU Follows Trump

The European Union (EU) has approved its 19th sanctions package against Russia, including on its lucrative gas sector for the first time and its “shadow fleet”, to heap pressure on Moscow to end its war on Ukraine.

The approval comes a day after the Trump administration imposed fresh sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, also seeking to crank the pressure on Moscow to make peace.

A proposed summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, intended to bring peace in Ukraine closer, was postponed when it became clear the Kremlin would not agree to a ceasefire.

“We’re keeping the pressure high on the aggressor,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in a post on X.

“For the first time we are hitting Russia’s gas sector – the heart of its war economy. We will not relent until the people of Ukraine have a just and lasting peace.”

This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.