Brazil Urges Putin-Zelensky Talks in Turkey

Brazil's president said on Wednesday he will press Vladimir Putin in person to attend negotiations with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky in Turkey, adding to calls on the Russian leader to enter talks and end Moscow's invasion.

- Reuters

BRUSSELS: The European Union must focus on a new sanctions package to suffocate Russia's economy and force President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine, France's foreign minister said on Wednesday.

Speaking after the EU adopted a 17th sanctions package, Jean-Noel Barrot said that the impact of sanctions had been insufficient so far, and the bloc needed to work with the United States, where Congress has prepared crippling measures should US President Donald Trump decide to pressure Moscow. "We are adopting today a 17th sanctions (package)," Barrot told leading news channel BFM TV. "We will need to go further because the sanctions, so far, have not dissuaded Vladimir Putin from continuing his war of aggression.

"So we must prepare to expand devastating sanctions that could suffocate once and for all Russia's economy."