EU to hit Russia with a new round of sanctions—and will not consider lifting them until Russian forces withdraw from Ukraine

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Thursday that the European Union was preparing to hit Russia in a 17th cycle of penalties, describing President Vladimir Putin as “single obstacle” in peace in Ukraine.

The 27-country bloc imposed an unpunished penalty in Russia in response to its invasion, and told this year that it would not lift penalties before the “unconditional” removal of Putin forces from Ukraine.

“The europeans and I will accompany the American initiative (penalty) with the 17th package of penalties and I promised yesterday to (US Senator) Lindsey Graham that we will try to coordinate both the outfit and the timing of two packages of penalties,” Barrot told the AFP in an interview.

Graham rallied twelve -two lawmakers from both parties to support a plan to impose additional penalties in Moscow as well as tariffs on countries that purchased Russia's energy, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Barrot aims at the President of Russia in the interview, saying: “It is now clear that the only obstacle to peace today in Ukraine is Vladimir Putin.”

Moscow's forces launched an all-out invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 in a bid to seize control that Kyiv stopped with the help of international assistance provided primarily by the United States and European countries.

“Ukraine accepted an unconditional cease and yesterday it was concluded to conclude an agreement with critical minerals in the United States,” Barrot said.

That, “according to Ukrainian officials' statements, it matches what I have to say about Ukrainian expectations to engage in economic cooperation in the United States, but also in other countries,” he said.

Russia 'has no effort'

“Meanwhile, Russia's Vladimir Putin has no effort, has not sent a sign that it is ready for the ceasefire or peace of President Donald Trump's pursuit, and that the people of Europe and of course the ukrainian intent,” Barrot said.

The French minister has not ruled out the possibility that France, which he said has “expertise” on rare land minerals, can also end an economic agreement with Ukraine.

Washington's dealings with Kyiv will see the United States and Ukraine will develop together and invest in critical sources of war minerals.

Ukraine hopes that the deal will eventually give way to security guarantees from the United States, as it sought to protect against Russia's future attack.

Barrot spoke to the AFP shortly after meeting with his US counterpart Marco Rubio and said he had accepted their straightforward conversations.

“We had a non -generated exchange that allowed us to coordinate closely, but also recognized the linking of our goals to regional and international crises, because we wanted to act,” said the French minister.

Barrot and Rubio met “to advance the path to peace in Ukraine,” said state department Tammy Bruce.

“Secretary made it clear that President Trump was focused on stopping unaware of blood in Ukraine and confirmed a US promise to work closely to France and other European partners to ensure a lasting peace,” he added.

For Barrot, “This is a decisive moment for Europe.”

He noted that French president Emmanuel Macron called many years for the European strategic autonomy and “a European pillar for NATO.”

In the tariffs imposed by Washington, Barrot called for “de-escalation so that we could return to the situation that had earlier decided by the Trump administration in the interests of both the United States and Europe.”

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com