The French Foreign Minister announced the EU's desire to coordinate a new package of sanctions with the United States.

The European Union plans to coordinate a new package of anti-Russian sanctions with possible US measures. This was announced on Thursday, May 1, by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barraud.

As the diplomat told AFP, the EU expects that if the United States imposes duties proposed by Republican Lindsey Graham (Russia is on the list of extremists and terrorists) at a rate of 500% on goods from countries buying Russian hydrocarbons, fuel and uranium, this measure may be reflected in the European sanctions package.

"We, the Europeans, are going to accompany this American initiative with the 17th package of sanctions, and yesterday I made a commitment to Lindsey Graham that we will try to coordinate these two packages of sanctions both in substance and in time," Barro said.

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On May 1, Bloomberg reported that 72 out of 100 members of the U.S. Senate supported a bill proposing to impose duties at a rate of 500% on goods from countries that buy Russian hydrocarbons, fuel and uranium. In addition, the draft prohibits operations with the sovereign debt of the Russian Federation (purchase of federal loan bonds).

On April 27, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the American side was not expanding sanctions against Russia in order not to interfere with the peace process on the conflict in Ukraine. According to him, Washington hopes that efforts for a peaceful settlement will work in a diplomatic manner to bring the two sides closer.