The European Union has faced a “creative crisis“ in developing a new package of anti-Russian sanctions and wants Washington to increase the punitive pressure on Moscow, as it has essentially exhausted its own capabilities, the European edition of the Politico newspaper reported.
According to its information, European officials working on the 19th package of restrictions are unable to meet the deadlines. According to four European diplomats, no new serious measures against Russian energy resources are expected within the framework of the next package. Politico specifies that the restrictions will likely affect the so-called shadow fleet, with the help of which Moscow allegedly circumvents the sanctions.
The publication writes that Brussels has concluded that the US needs to tighten the screws. Europe is trying to "persuade [US President Donald] Trump to use US global financial influence" to try to damage the Russian economy if Moscow does not support Washington's proposed negotiating tactics on Ukraine.