EU to sanction Nord Stream 2 pipeline as Russia rejects Ukraine ceasefire, Bloomberg reports
"It is a political move, aimed at cementing the EU's plan to phase out Russian gas imports by 2027," Florence Schmit, an energy strategist in London, told Bloomberg.
The decision to sanction the non-operational Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline will take into account progress in peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, Bloomberg reported, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter.
Russia has refused a ceasefire with Ukraine, and peace talks between the two nations in Istanbul on May 16 were largely inconclusive. Moscow has repeatedly signalled their unwillingness to move forward in peace negotiations.
Germany supports the newly proposed EU sanctions, which would target the Nord Stream pipelines, spokesperson Stefan Cornelius said on May 19.
"Political clarity should also start to quell some volatility in gas markets that was related to the on-and-off discussions about Russian gas supplies," Schmit told Bloomberg.
The European Commission will begin discussions with member states as early as May 23, unnamed sources familiar with the matter said.
German "Chancellor (Friedrich) Merz is working with U.S. and European partners on new sanctions against Russia... the intention of these sanctions is to achieve agreement from Russia to an unconditional truce," Cornelius told German outlet, Tagesshau.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov claimed on March 26 that talks were ongoing between the U.S. and the EU to resume flows of gas in the Nord Stream pipelines.
Lavrov on May 21 confirmed that Moscow has no interest in negotiations and agreeing to a ceasefire in Ukraine, saying, "We don't want this anymore."
At the Istanbul peace talks, Moscow reiterated maximalist demands, including that Ukraine accept the loss of Crimea and four eastern regions.
Russian President Vladimir Putin did not attend the peace talks in Turkey, despite an invitation from President Volodymyr Zelensky to meet him face-to-face.
Read also: Ukraine must look beyond the EU for its agricultural future
We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
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Yahoo
12 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Stock market today: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq rise to start busy week of Big Tech-dominated earnings
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Forbes
13 minutes ago
- Forbes
EU To Introduce ‘Punitive' External Funding Clause To Reduce Migration
European Union flag in front of the European Commission. Amid a confusing roll-out of the latest long-term budget proposal, the European Commission has signaled it will move to a more 'punitive' approach in trying to get developing countries to take back more deportations of their citizens. The change, which will affect the way money is spent from the EU's $233bn external funding instrument, would see the bloc suspend or even cancel development assistance if countries don't co-operate with the EU's ambitions to reduce migration and increase deportations of failed asylum seekers. The Commission's proposal for the next budget period - which acts as a curtain-raiser for future negotiation and sets the likely tone for what will be the final budget - has already generated a lot of controversy and seen policy analysts scrambling to understand what's coming. The proposal reflects the dominant policy agenda of the Commission - namely defense, competitiveness and border security. To that end, various funding instruments have been grouped together to form mega-funds known as 'National and regional partnership plans.' These mega-funds will give a lot more discretion to member states to dole out money as they see fit, rather than being constrained by spending targets set by the EU. This, in practice, has some asylum and migration researchers and advocates concerned that member states will neglect funding for programs to better support people already seeking shelter in Europe, and spend it rather on building up their borders - something many member states have made it clear they want to do. While pointing out that a lot remains unclear when it comes to how the new budget will affect people on the move, 'what we know is that the proposal is to increase resources for funds that have sponsored violent border surveillance in the past,' says Chiara Catelli, Project Officer at the undocumented migrant charity PICUM. "The same goes for Frontex, an agency that's been accused of complicity in human rights violations at the borders multiple times.' Buried within the budget proposal is another clause that has set a lot of migration advocates on edge. Within the proposal text around the new external funding instrument - to be known as the Global Europe Instrument - it states that development funding for poor countries outside the EU could be suspended or even cut off, if those countries don't cooperate with the EU in accepting deportations of their citizens from the bloc. While the EU - and other major powers - have often used their economic might to convince poorer countries to follow their agenda, it is a new step to have enshrined in law such a 'punitive' approach, at least for the EU. It does, however, mirror broader policy developments in the EU and U.K., the latter of which is reportedly considering overall migration and visa policy as a lever to convince third countries to welcome back 'returns.' At the same time, the EU is believed to be exploring how it may use trade policy as a similar lever, an idea expressed by a Belgian politician in June.
Newsweek
14 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Melania Trump Attacked in Russian State Media
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A Russian newspaper has disparaged Melania Trump as Kremlin-backed media speculate about whether the first lady is behind President Donald Trump's Ukraine policy. Pro-Kremlin newspaper Vzglyad said "it would be better for him [Trump] to buy her shoes than to sell Patriots (missiles) to Kyiv" in an op-ed Monday that described the first lady as a "danger to Russia." Russian state TV has also taken aim at Melania Trump, saying she is responsible for the U.S. president's apparently tougher stance toward Putin which has seen him pledge more weapons for Kyiv and threaten more sanctions on Moscow. Newsweek has contacted the White House for comment via email outside of regular office hours. First lady Melania Trump departs the White House with U.S. President Donald Trump on July 11, 2025 in Washington, DC. First lady Melania Trump departs the White House with U.S. President Donald Trump on July 11, 2025 in Washington, It Matters After months of expressing how Trump can serve Moscow's interests, Kremlin propagandists have changed their tone, especially after the U.S. president pledged more weapons for Ukraine and threatened more sanctions on Moscow. A focus for Kremlin media in recent days has been Trump's comments about his unhappiness with Putin, as well as his references to remarks Melania Trump made about the Russia-Ukraine conflict. What To Know In an article on Monday headlined, "Melania Trumpenko's danger to Russia underestimated," Vzgylad referred to the moniker given to the first lady over her alleged "significant" role in her husband's policy with regards to Ukraine. The paper described how the U.S. president had told reporters how his wife would tell him another city in Ukraine had been shelled soon after he had spoken with Putin. Modified photos of the first lady with attached Ukrainian iconography on her clothing have formed social media memes in recent days. "It would be better for him to buy her shoes than to sell Patriots to Kyiv. It would be cheaper," the paper added referring to the missile system that President Trump said can be provided to Ukraine. Russian state TV has also taken a swipe at the first lady. In front of revealing years-old images of Melania Trump which Russian TV has used before to disparage her, anchor of 60 Minutes, Olga Skabeyeva, described the first lady as a "Ukrainian agent." Skabeyeva then outlined U.K. newspaper reports that she was behind her husband's tougher line on Putin, in the clip posted by Russia watcher Julia Davis. One of her guests, Moscow-based political scientist Malek Dudakov downplayed her role and said that the couple "has certain marital problems," and "doesn't even live with Trump." In May, the White House described claims by political biographer Michael Wolff that the couple was separated as "blatant lies and fabrications." What People Are Saying Russian newspaper Vzglyad: "Melania Trumpenko's danger to Russia is way or another, Melania is now a symbol of new hope for Ukrainians." Russian state TV anchor Olga Skabeyeva: "Melania Trump whom conspiracy theorists previously considered to be a Kremlin became a Ukrainian agent, Melania Trumpenko." Trump said during a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office, per USA Today: "I go home, I tell the first lady, 'You know, I spoke to Vladimir today. We had a wonderful conversation.' And she said, 'Oh really? Another city was just hit,'" What Happens Next While Ukraine has welcomed Trump's pledge for weaponry and Patriot missile defense systems to Ukraine through NATO, Russia continues to bombard Ukrainian cities. Meanwhile, the prospect of peace talks, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky suggested could take place this week, remain unlikely amid reports that Putin retains his maximalist demands in the war he started.
