Kallas: We hope to adopt 17th package of sanctions against Russia this month

The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, announced the adoption of the 17th package of sanctions against Russia within a month.

Kallas said at a briefing in Lviv on Friday that Russia showed no interest in peace, while Ukraine had already declared and agreed to an unconditional ceasefire more than two months earlier. She stated that there could only be one response: to truly make Russia want peace as well. This, she explained, means that pressure on Russia needs to be increased and Ukraine needs to be strengthened so it can defend itself. She added that they had proposed the 17th package of sanctions that week and hoped to adopt it at the Foreign Affairs Council that month.