عقوبات أوروبية ضد روسيا.. وأوكرانيا ترحب

Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko welcomed today (Friday) the European Union's agreement on the eighteenth package of sanctions against Russia, considering it to "effectively enhance pressure."

Svyrydenko stated in a post on her account on "X": There are still more actions to be taken in order to get closer to peace.

The European Union imposed a new package of sanctions on Russia in light of the war in Ukraine, which includes a reduction in the price of Russian oil intended for export.

Western media quoted a diplomatic source in Brussels at the conclusion of a meeting of EU ambassadors this morning (Friday) saying: "We have reached an agreement on a strong and effective eighteenth sanctions package against Russia."

On the other hand, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said today that the negotiation process with Russia needs more momentum.

Zelensky wrote on his account on "X": "The implementation of the agreements reached in the second meeting in Istanbul continues, but this process needs more momentum."

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said yesterday: "We are conducting direct negotiations with representatives of the Kyiv regime; we are specifically talking about direct negotiations, and by the way, these negotiations are being mediated by the Americans."

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that her country's delegation is ready to head to Istanbul to participate in a third round of negotiations with Ukraine, expecting a third round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine despite Ukraine not having submitted any such request.

She added: "Either Ukraine is avoiding negotiations or it is not ready for them."