February 13, 2025
Kyiv, Ukraine-
Ukrainian campaign group Razom We Stand is urging the EU to stand firm and strengthen sanctions against Russia following news of Trump’s peace talks with Putin. The group warns that any relaxation of economic pressure would further encourage Putin to continue his war and undermine global security.
A crucial move to strengthen negotiations is keeping sanctions, especially on Russia’s fossil fuel exports, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and shadow fleet of tankers. These measures are key to cutting off the Kremlin’s primary sources of war funding and are likely to be a top issue for Putin to address in negotiations.
Dr Svitlana Romanko, Ukrainian Founder and Executive Director of Razom We Stand, stated:
“Peace cannot be negotiated at the expense of justice. If peace talks are to start, a key issue will be the strong sanctions on Russian fossil fuel exports, which have very effectively cut billions out of Russia’s budget and reduced its war chest. If maximum pressure is to be exerted during negotiations, then now is the time to strengthen sanctions boldly. Europe must hold firm and further strengthen sanctions to ensure that Russia’s ability to wage war on others comes to an end.”
The past three years have proven that sanctions work, but only if they are comprehensive, enforced, and consistently strengthened. Razom We Stand calls on policymakers to address these critical gaps in future sanctions packages by:
- Implementing a full ban on Russian LNG imports to prevent continued European financing of Russia’s war.
- Creating complete transparency in the EU gas market will help track where Russian gas may be used and plan to reduce and eliminate it.
- Sanctioning all ‘shadow fleet’ vessels and their operators to cut off illegal oil and gas transport.
- Imposing secondary sanctions on buyers of Russian oil and logistical enablers to ensure a true global crackdown on Russian fossil fuel revenues.
–ENDS-
Razom We Stand is a Ukrainian clean energy campaign group active internationally, calling for a total and permanent embargo on Russian fossil fuels and an immediate end to all investment into Russian oil and gas companies by phasing out fossil fuels globally.
Svitlana Romanko has appeared in the top-tier international press, including Financial Times, Bloomberg, Washington Post, CNN, NBC, Newsweek, Politico, The Hill, The Guardian, Der Spiegel, Le Monde and more.
CONTACT:
Jason Kirkpatrick
Head of Communications
Razom We Stand
[email protected]
