The European Union is drawing up its toughest package of sanctions against Russia since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said in a televised interview on 7 July. Barrot indicated the measures, developed on French proposals and in coordination with U.S. senators, will hit Russia’s oil revenues, domestic financial institutions and third-country intermediaries that help Moscow evade existing restrictions. He said the goal is to drain resources “that allow Vladimir Putin to continue his war.” The announcement follows a sharp rise in Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities after Moscow rejected a U.S.–brokered cease-fire proposal, according to Ukrainian and French media reports cited by Barrot. KyivPost noted the EU move comes after Russia stepped up attacks five-fold. If adopted, the plan would constitute the bloc’s 18th sanctions round. Diplomats said an earlier attempt to advance the package stalled last week when Slovakia withheld support, but Barrot insisted the new measures would be finalised soon in tandem with forthcoming U.S. legislation aimed at further tightening economic pressure on Russia.