According to a report by Reuters, Ukraine plans to ask the EU next week for significant new measures to isolate Moscow, including the seizure of Russian assets and secondary sanctions on certain countries purchasing Russian oil. Since Trump took office in January, he has shifted away from the pro-Ukrainian stance of the previous Biden administration, failing to intensify sanctions on Moscow and openly criticizing Ukrainian President Zelensky on multiple occasions.

After Trump's recent phone call with Russian President Putin, there were no new sanctions imposed, which has clearly disappointed both Europe and Kyiv, who have been lobbying Trump to increase pressure on Moscow. Kyiv hopes the EU will adopt a "more active and independent" stance in light of Washington's policy uncertainties, and is preparing to submit a white paper calling on the 27 EU member states to take a more proactive position regarding sanctions.

This 40-page white paper suggests expediting legislation to seize assets of sanctioned individuals and transfer them to Ukraine. It also proposes that the EU consider a range of measures to enhance the effectiveness of its sanctions beyond its borders, including secondary sanctions targeting foreign companies that assist Russia and those purchasing Russian oil.

So far, Europe has not implemented such secondary sanctions. Trump had previously discussed this option publicly but later decided to hold off on action. Additionally, the white paper urges the EU to consider adopting majority decision-making principles rather than consensus to prevent individual member states from obstructing decisions.

The EU has so far implemented "unprecedented" sanctions, while the white paper harshly criticizes the Trump administration's commitment to coordination efforts, stating that Washington has effectively ceased participation in almost all intergovernmental platforms focused on sanctions and export controls.

Reports indicate that U.S. sanctions proposals may be delayed, limiting the pace of economic countermeasures and multilateral coordination. While the uncertainty of the U.S. position is noted, the white paper emphasizes that this should not prompt the EU to ease its sanctions pressure.