French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said the EU Foreign Affairs Council will renew sanctions against Russia.

“One month before the third anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Europe continues to support the Ukrainians to allow them to enter at the time they deem appropriate in peace talks and from a position of strength,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said.

“Today we will decide to renew the sanctions against Russia,” the French foreign minister said, noting that those sanctions have helped block the Putin regime from some 400 billion euros – the equivalent of three years’ worth of arms programs. He also added that sanctions would be imposed against three Russian officials of the Russian Intelligence Directorate (GRU) who are believed to be responsible for the hybrid threats in the Baltic Sea.

On Syria, Jean-Noel Barrot said that today ministers will decide to suspend certain sanctions applicable to the energy sector, transport, or financial institutions. He stressed that this easing of sanctions should be accompanied by a political transition in the country that is inclusive for all Syrians.