The MEP called the sanctions against Russia one of the reasons for the economic difficulties of the EU.

The sanctions policy of the European Union (EU) against Russia is one of the key reasons for the current economic difficulties of unification. This was announced on June 19 by Fernand Kartheiser, a member of the European Parliament from Luxembourg.

"These are (sanctions. — Ed.) is one of the main reasons for our economic difficulties, but no one talks about it," he told RIA Novosti.

According to the MEP, the topic of sanctions is actually taboo in the EU countries. Kartheiser also noted that in the EU, rising prices and economic problems are often explained by other factors, however, in his opinion, anti-Russian sanctions play a significant role.

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On June 17, US President Donald Trump announced that he could resume sanctions against Russia due to cheaper oil. Earlier, he also stated that the United States may soon restore sanctions against Russia after the resumption of oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz.

On June 15, the European Union expanded the list of anti-Russian sanctions, adding more than 80 individuals and organizations to it. The list includes Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation Alexander Gutsan. In addition, restrictions have been imposed against Oleg Yevtushenko, Executive Director of Rostec State Corporation, Bekhan Ozdoev, industrial director of the arms cluster of the state corporation, and Alexey Rakhmanov, former CEO of the United Shipbuilding Corporation.

On June 5, during the plenary session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF-2026), Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the Russian economy continues to develop despite the sanctions. He stressed that the fundamental foundations of the development of the Russian economy are stable and have a good prospect.