Leaders from several European countries and NATO officials announced on the 24th that they will further intensify sanctions against Russia and accelerate the delivery of long-range strike and air defense equipment to Ukraine.
According to Xinhua News Agency, multiple leaders held a “Volunteer Alliance” meeting that day in London, the capital of the UK. British Prime Minister Starmer, Ukrainian President Zelensky, Dutch Prime Minister Schoof, Danish Prime Minister Frederiksen, and NATO Secretary General Rutte jointly held a press conference, stating they will gradually exclude Russian oil and natural gas from the global market and promote the use of frozen Russian assets to provide funds for Ukraine’s reconstruction.
Starmer stated that the UK has taken the lead by fully sanctioning Russian oil and gas, with the US and EU following suit, forming a “coordinated and comprehensive strike.” He also announced that of the more than 5,000 light multi-purpose missiles the UK plans to provide to Ukraine, 140 will be delivered ahead of schedule.
On the 23rd, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that EU member states have approved the 19th round of sanctions against Russia, marking the first EU sanctions to target one of Russia’s main economic pillars—the natural gas sector. According to a communiqué issued by the European Council, the 19th round of EU sanctions against Russia includes 69 new individual sanctions and multiple economic restriction measures, mainly targeting Russia’s energy, finance, and military-industrial sectors.