The European Union must focus on a new sanctions package to suffocate Russia's economy and force President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine, France's foreign minister said.

European Union countries are reportedly in preliminary agreement on a new package of sanctions against Russia. "However, this is a very weak package," diplomats unofficially admit, stating that EU countries have reached the limit of their ability to adopt more extensive economic sanctions.

The EU has given the greenlight to a fresh round of sanctions against Russia, sharpening its focus on the Kremlin’s 'shadow' oil fleet and foreign companies accused of aiding its war machine.