The European Union is preparing to introduce its most extensive sanctions package against Russia since the start of the Ukraine conflict, aiming to intensify pressure on Moscow to end the war.

Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, announced plans to present a sweeping sanctions list targeting Russia this autumn. If approved, the new measures would increase the number of sanctioned individuals, companies, and organizations by one-third. Kallas emphasized the need to escalate economic pressure on Russia, stating that the sanctions have already cost the country over a trillion euros since the conflict began in February 2022.

Kallas expressed hope for closer cooperation between the United States and Europe in implementing the sanctions. She described the previous 21 sanctions packages as effective but stressed the importance of maintaining momentum. Additionally, Kallas accused Moscow of engaging in ‘systematic terror’ by targeting Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure with missile and drone strikes, aiming to render cities uninhabitable.

The conflict continues to escalate, with Russia launching daily attacks on Ukraine and Ukrainian forces responding with strikes deep into Russian territory. Recent reports indicate that July was particularly devastating for civilians in Ukraine, with over 400 deaths and thousands injured. Meanwhile, a Ukrainian rocket attack on Russia’s Belgorod region reportedly killed six people, including a child, highlighting the intensifying cross-border hostilities.