European and U.S. sanctions officials met on Monday to consider joint measures aimed at further crippling Russia’s ability to finance its war in Ukraine after Moscow launched the largest aerial assault of the conflict over the weekend.
David O’Sullivan, the European Union’s sanctions envoy, met with U.S. officials to discuss the scope of the EU’s 19th package of restrictions, the European Commission said, with many proposed items focused on dealing a blow to Russian oil sales. The talks came after U.S. President Donald Trump said he was prepared to impose a second phase of restrictions on Moscow following the weekend bombardment.
EU Council President Antonio Costa said the new sanctions were being closely coordinated with Washington. Costa expressed hope that the United States and Europe could present a united front against President Vladimir Putin after earlier differences this year, when the U.S. did not join European efforts to lower the price cap on Russian crude to $47.60 a barrel.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, speaking on NBC News’ "Meet the Press," said Washington and its European partners could move to squeeze Russian oil sales and "collapse" Moscow’s economy if partners follow. "We are prepared to increase pressure on Russia, but we need our European partners to follow us," Bessent said, adding that the contest was one of endurance between how long Ukraine’s military can hold and how long Russia’s economy can withstand the pressure.
Trump’s administration has already imposed a 50% tariff on India over its continued purchases of Russian oil, one of the highest such measures against a trading partner, reflecting Washington’s willingness to use trade tools to deter third-party buyers.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated the need to target buyers of Russian energy. In an interview on ABC News’ "This Week," Zelensky said tariffs on countries continuing to buy Russian oil would be a "right idea" and a key strategy to harm Russia’s invasion effort.
The Kremlin on Monday dismissed the prospect that Western sanctions would change Moscow’s strategic course. Russian authorities have said Western measures will not alter their objectives in Ukraine.
The intensified economic discussion followed Russia’s weekend strike that Ukrainian officials said involved 810 drones and decoys and 13 missiles, the largest aerial assault of the war to date. More than 700 of the drones were intercepted, Ukrainian air defenses and officials said, while the bombardment struck over 30 locations across the country, killed four people and wounded more than 40.
The attack included a first-ever strike on Ukraine’s central government headquarters in Kyiv, which officials said caused a large fire and tore a massive hole in the top two floors of the building. Explosions were reported across the capital and in other regions, intensifying Western scrutiny of how to further constrain Moscow economically.
European and U.S. officials framed the discussions as part of a broader effort to deprive Moscow of revenue streams used to sustain its military campaign, with oil sales repeatedly cited as a primary target for additional restrictions. The EU’s 19th sanctions package is expected to contain measures aimed at further reducing Russian crude exports and limiting Moscow’s access to refining and sales channels.
Diplomats said timing and coordination with partners beyond the EU and U.S. would be central to the effectiveness of any new measures, particularly where secondary sanctions or tariffs on buyers of Russian oil are concerned. Some G7 members did not support the earlier price-cap adjustment, complicating efforts to present a uniform response.
Officials from both sides said talks would continue as they refine proposals for the new sanctions package, while Ukrainian leaders pressed allies to do more to choke off Russian revenue and hasten a resolution to the fighting. Moscow’s weekend assault and the resulting discussions in Brussels and Washington underscored how battlefield developments are shaping the next phase of Western economic pressure on Russia.
The meetings on Monday followed public comments by Trump on Sunday that he was ready to move forward with additional punitive measures, and came as European leaders prepared to finalize detailed language for the EU’s next set of restrictive measures against individuals, companies and key export sectors linked to Russia’s war effort.