The European Union and the United Kingdom have jointly enacted a new round of sanctions on Russia, tightening the economic noose around Moscow’s war infrastructure—without waiting for the United States. The move, announced on May 20, signals growing frustration with the Trump administration’s reluctance to escalate pressure after a much-publicized phone call with Vladimir Putin failed to yield a ceasefire in Ukraine.
At the heart of the new measures are restrictions on Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet”—a vast network of oil tankers that help the Kremlin bypass Western restrictions by transporting crude at above-cap prices. The UK and EU also introduced new curbs on financial institutions that facilitate sanction evasion. These measures are part of an ongoing effort to close loopholes and apply pressure through enforcement, not just rhetoric.
This latest package arrives as Russia continues to reject calls for an immediate ceasefire. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul underscored the bloc’s position, stating the EU would “react” to Russia’s refusal and called on Washington to do the same. Despite this, President Donald Trump has yet to authorize any additional sanctions, stating vaguely: “We’re looking at a lot of things, but we’ll see.”
The delay is more than symbolic. While Trump had once promised to end the war in 24 hours, his recent posture has been notably hands-off. Following a two-hour call with Putin on Monday, Trump reportedly backed away from his prior demand for a 30-day ceasefire, indicating that peace negotiations would have to run their course. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the administration’s position, suggesting that sanction threats could derail fragile diplomatic openings.
But many in Europe are unconvinced. The EU’s Ursula von der Leyen announced a further sanctions package is already in the works, and France’s Jean-Noel Barrot called for continued pressure to “end Putin’s imperialist fantasy.” Meanwhile, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni revealed that Pope Leo has offered the Vatican as a neutral ground for future peace talks.
Still, there is little sign that Moscow is prepared to budge. The Russian Foreign Ministry reiterated that it would not accept “ultimatums,” and insisted that the next move belongs to Kyiv. With the G7’s $60 price cap on Russian oil increasingly undermined by global price shifts, both Brussels and London say they are considering pushing for a lower cap to further squeeze Russian revenues.
In the absence of synchronized action from Washington, Europe’s go-it-alone strategy is a gamble: one that may buy time—or squander leverage.