EU urges stronger pressure on Russia after US suspends sanctions

The European Commission urged Saturday that more must be done to pressure Russia's economy after the United States temporarily suspended a broad sanctions package, reaffirming the EU's commitment to Ukraine. The EU has allocated 230,000 million euros to Ukraine and approved its largest sanctions expansion against Russia, but spokesman Thomas Reigner said these measures require further action. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated the EU would not lift any sanctions unless Russia ends the war, while work continues on a twenty-second sanctions package. European leaders unanimously lamented the US decision to lift sanctions on Russian diesel, which Trump justified citing "national interest." The suspended law, named after the late Senator Lindsey Graham, included financial restrictions, tariffs on Russian products, and sanctions on entities linked to the Russian government.