French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot has called on the United States and the European Union to prepare for “devastating” new sanctions against Russia, aiming to bring an end to the war in Ukraine.
Speaking on BFMTV on Wednesday, May 14, Barrot said the time had come to “suffocate the Russian economy once and for all.” He pointed out that Moscow continues to circumvent parts of existing Western restrictions and insisted that far stricter measures are now necessary.
Barrot is scheduled to meet U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham in Turkey on Thursday. Graham is spearheading a sanctions proposal that includes punitive tariffs of up to 500% on Russian oil imports, as well as on countries that continue to purchase energy from Moscow.
“Russia has found ways around the blockade imposed by Europe and the United States. Cutting off the tap in this way is a means of tightening the noose,” Barrot stated.
His remarks come just after the European Union adopted a 17th round of sanctions, which specifically target “ghost tankers” used to evade existing oil restrictions. But Barrot argued these efforts are no longer sufficient and urged a more aggressive phase, especially focused on the hydrocarbon sector.
The comments also precede high-level talks on Ukraine set to take place in Turkey, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to attend. Zelensky has invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to join the discussions, though the Kremlin has not responded as of yet.