Sanctions and abducted Ukrainian children: Ursula von der Leyen meets with U.S. Senator Graham in Berlin

The European Commission reports that during the June 2 meeting European Commission President von der Leyen welcomed Senator Graham’s commitment to increase pressure on Russia and advance a related bill in the U.S. Senate next week. 

Von der Leyen stated: “We need a real ceasefire, we need Russia at the negotiating table, and we need to end this war.” She added that the Kremlin understands nothing but pressure, which is why pressure on Russia works.

Ursula von der Leyen reminded that the EU is preparing the 18th package of tough sanctions aimed at Russia's energy revenues, including the Nord Stream infrastructure, Russia's banking sector, and lowering the oil price ceiling.

“These steps, taken together with US measures, would sharply increase the joint impact of our sanctions,” Von der Leyen emphasized, adding that in combination with actions against Russia's shadow fleet, which limits its ability to transport its oil, this will be an effective measure to deplete the Kremlin's resources for war.

Ursula von der Leyen and Lindsey Graham also discussed the issue of 20,000 abducted Ukrainian children and possible further pressure on Russia in this regard.

The issue of sanctions against Russia may be considered in the U.S. Congress soon. American journalist Jake Sherman, co-founder of a daily congressional briefing service, quoted House Speaker Mike Johnson on social platform X: "There’s many members of Congress that want us to sanction Russia as strongly as we can. And I’m an advocate of that."

Lindsey Graham responded to this message, calling the speaker's position “decisive leadership in dangerous times.”

“Mr. Speaker, you’re helping President Trump and others who wish to end this war by being willing to hold Putin and China accountable for playing games, not seeking peace. Well done,”  he wrote on the social network X.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, said on Monday, June 2, that the Senate could begin work on a bill that would impose tough sanctions on Russia and secondary sanctions on countries that trade with Russia this month.

Thune said the Trump administration is still hoping for a deal to end the conflict, but the Senate is ready to help put pressure on Moscow.

"We also stand ready to provide President Trump with any tools he needs to get Russia to finally come to the table in a real way," Thune said in a speech opening the day's business in the upper chamber.

• Ursula von der Leyen announced in mid-May that the European Union was working on a new, 18th package of sanctions to increase pressure on Russian dictator Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine.
• On Tuesday, May 20, the European Union approved its 17th package of sanctions against Russia. The package targets nearly 200 ships of the so-called Russian "shadow fleet."