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yesterday

EU Demands Fresh Russia Sanctions at G7 as Middle East Conflict Escalates

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said that only coordinated sanctions can bring Russia to the negotiating table, describing diplomacy as the sole sustainable solution to Iran’s growing threat.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrives before world leaders meet in Kananaskis for the G7 leaders' summit, at Calgary International Airport in Calgary, Alberta, Canada June 15, 2025. REUTERS/Amber Bracken/Pool
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Overview

  • Ursula von der Leyen urged G7 leaders to join an 18th sanctions package aimed at securing a ceasefire in Ukraine by forcing Russia back to the negotiating table.
  • She highlighted the shared use of Iranian-designed drones and missiles in attacks on Ukrainian and Israeli cities as evidence that the Ukraine war and Middle East conflict are interconnected.
  • The European Union plans to formally adopt its new sanctions measures this week but has so far been unable to persuade President Trump’s administration to back fresh U.S. penalties.
  • Israel’s Friday strike on Iran prompted a retaliatory barrage of missiles and drones, raising oil prices and prompting von der Leyen to warn of economic risks in energy markets.
  • Von der Leyen told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that diplomacy offered the best long-term solution to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions and regional destabilization.