France’s foreign minister has called for a new wave of sweeping sanctions designed to “suffocate” Russia’s economy and force President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine, now entering its fourth year.
Speaking on Wednesday, Jean-Noël Barrot stressed that existing sanctions, while substantial, have so far failed to deter Russia’s military aggression. His remarks followed the European Union’s adoption of a 17th sanctions package targeting Moscow.
“We will have to go further, because these massive sanctions have not yet deterred Vladimir Putin from continuing his war of aggression against Ukraine,” Barrot told France’s BFMTV.
He argued that new, more devastating economic measures were needed: “We must prepare to impose devastating sanctions that could suffocate the Russian economy once and for all.”
Barrot revealed that he would meet US Senator Lindsey Graham in Turkey on Thursday to discuss a US legislative proposal that includes harsher sanctions on Moscow and steep tariffs on countries still purchasing Russian oil and gas.
Graham has mobilised significant support in Congress for sanctions involving punitive 500 percent tariffs on nations continuing to import Russian energy. Barrot described the US proposal as “extremely powerful,” adding, “Turning off the tap in this way is a method of grabbing Russia by the throat.”
The French minister acknowledged that Moscow has managed to bypass some Western restrictions and urged the EU to consider its own measures targeting hydrocarbons. “I hope that Europe will in turn be able to impose sanctions on hydrocarbons,” he said.
Despite diplomatic efforts, calls from France, Germany, the UK, and Poland over the weekend for a 30-day ceasefire have gone unanswered by the Kremlin.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has invited Vladimir Putin to attend the upcoming Russia-Ukraine negotiations in Turkey on Thursday, but Russian officials have not confirmed who will participate.
French President Emmanuel Macron has warned that the EU is prepared to introduce further sanctions if Moscow refuses to agree to a ceasefire.
The latest EU sanctions aim to disrupt Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” of oil tankers used to circumvent existing restrictions. However, EU officials admit that internal divisions have made this latest package more modest in scope than previous ones.
