Foreign ministers from major European nations announced on Thursday their readiness to intensify pressure on Russia, potentially through new sanctions targeting the energy and banking

sectors. The goal is to further weaken Moscow's position in its ongoing war against Ukraine.

The declaration came following a meeting in Rome that brought together representatives from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the European Union. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and a representative from Ukraine also participated in the discussions.

In a joint statement, the group affirmed: “We are committed to keeping Russian sovereign assets frozen in our jurisdictions until Russia halts its aggression and fully compensates for the destruction it has caused.” Photo by NVO, Wikimedia commons.