France Pushes for Toughest Russia Sanctions in Three Years, Says Foreign Minister

The EU prepares sweeping economic sanctions targeting oil revenues and global financial networks aiding Moscow.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot has announced that the European Union is preparing to adopt its most severe sanctions package against Russia in three years, following an escalation in Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities.

Speaking to French television channel TF1, Barrot emphasized that Russian President Vladimir Putin has not only rejected ceasefire proposals but has intensified air attacks fivefold, inflicting significant civilian casualties.

“This cannot continue. It must stop,” Barrot declared. “To achieve this, Europe—based on French proposals and in coordination with U.S. senators—is preparing to adopt the toughest sanctions since 2022. These measures will directly deprive Vladimir Putin of the resources that fund his war.”

Sanctions to Target Oil Revenue and Financial Loopholes

According to Barrot, the upcoming sanctions will extend beyond energy exports. The new package aims to crack down on:

• Russian oil revenues, a major source of state funding
• Financial institutions inside Russia
• Foreign entities helping Moscow evade existing sanctions

“We need sanctions that target not only oil revenues but also Russian financial players and financial intermediaries in other countries who help bypass EU restrictions,” the minister said.

Russia Intensifies Strikes, Stalls on Front Lines

Barrot noted that while Russian ground forces are no longer advancing, Putin has shifted focus to long-range attacks on residential areas. This strategy, the French minister stressed, has led to mounting civilian deaths and infrastructure destruction in Ukraine.

The attack follows the largest wave of airstrikes by Russia since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, prompting urgent discussions within NATO and the EU on enhancing both defensive support and economic pressure on Moscow.

U.S. Support: Bipartisan Push for New Sanctions

France’s position is aligned with growing pressure from Washington. U.S. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham recently announced a bipartisan sanctions bill targeting both Russia and third-party countries that assist its war efforts.

The legislation could impose tariffs or secondary sanctions on nations found to be indirectly supporting Russia’s military capabilities, echoing France’s call for expanded accountability across global financial systems.

Senator Graham expects these measures to be finalized and approved in July 2025.

Coordinated Sanctions Strategy Signals New Phase in Western Response

France’s announcement underscores a shift toward tighter, globally coordinated sanctions that aim not only to hurt Russia’s war economy but also to close international financial loopholes that have diluted earlier measures.

With support from U.S. lawmakers and growing political urgency in Europe, the next wave of economic pressure could reshape the enforcement landscape of international sanctions policy.

As Russian war aggression escalates, so too does the resolve among Western allies to deploy economic warfare alongside military support, with France once again taking a lead role within the EU.