LAST UPDATE | 16 May

EUROPEAN LEADERS ARE preparing a fresh sanctions package on Russia, in a plan coordinated with Washington, should it continue to refuse any ceasefire in Ukraine.

French President Emmanuel Macron told reporters in Albania, following a European leaders’ meeting in Tirana, that the new economic tools will be coordinated with the United States.

At the top of the agenda for the discussions among European leaders today was the future of Europe’s security, democratic resilience to Russia’s war against Ukraine. 

Taoiseach Micheál Martin was due to attend the meeting of the European Political Community, but it was subsequently announced that he decided to stay in Ireland to attend the funeral of Garda Kevin Flatley. 

The European Political Community, which brings together the members of the European Union and 20 other countries, is made up of nations seeking to respond to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was also in attendance today.

Macron, the leader of the initiative, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the EU’s foreign affairs commissioner Kaja Kallas and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told reporters that sanctions were crucial to the community’s response.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during the meeting today. Alamy Alamy

“We have the 17th package ready, and we are working on the next package,” Kallas told journalists today. “What would really have an impact is sanctions on energy, which is why we’re also working on a roadmap to get rid of Russian energy [from Europe].”

She added that depriving Russia from funds that are used to bankroll its war in Ukraine is “extremely important” as well as “political isolation”.

“We all have to be united in this because we clearly see that Russia does not want peace,” Kallas said, referring to recent meetings that European politicians have had with President Vladimir Putin and members of the Russian Parliament.

Russian and Ukrainian delegations met in Istanbul for talks on ending the conflict in Ukraine. The release of 1,000 prisoners of war was agreed at those negotiations today.

The EU and UK have both approved fresh sanctions on Russia’s “shadow” oil fleet over the past few days.

Contains reporting from AFP and Muiris Ó Cearbhaill