Kyiv (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday called for new sanctions against Russia following the biggest drone and missile assault since the conflict started three years ago.
“This is yet another proof of the need for sanctions – biting sanctions against oil, which has been fueling Moscow’s war machine with money for over three years of the war. Secondary sanctions on those who buy this oil and thereby sponsor killings. Our partners know how to apply pressure in a way that will force Russia to think about ending the war, not launching new strikes,”
Zelensky said.
How many aerial threats did Ukraine face that day?
Ukraine reported that Russia carried out an unprecedented attack involving 741 aerial threats in one day. This included 728 drones, with over 300 Shaheds, as well as 13 Kinzhal and Iskander missiles. Lutsk was the most affected, but damage was also recorded in Dnipro, Zhytomyr, Kyiv, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Khmelnytskyi, Cherkasy, and Chernihiv regions.
Earlier, in June, Zelensky called for European unity on sanctions against Russia and expressed approval of the European Council meeting’s results, which reaffirmed robust support for Kyiv amid the ongoing conflict.
How is Europe responding to Russia’s renewed aggression?
In response to Russia’s continuing aggression against Ukraine, the European Union has long enacted a well-thought-out sanctions regime that is also sweeping and growing.
The European Union approved its latest 17th sanctions package against Russia on May 20, 2025, which marks an important new level of economic and legal pressure due to Russia’s continuing war against Ukraine. This package is designed to limit Russia’s access to battlefield technologies, reduce its energy revenues, and carefully deconstruct Russia’s oil exports and military-industrial supply networks.
Moreover, the 18th package of sanctions by the European Union against Russia, which is likely to be approved in July 2025, rests on increased restrictions in the energy and banking sectors and transactions associated with the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines. This package aims to diminish Russia’s revenue from energy exports further and increase financial scrutiny to lessen sanctions evasion.
