US and EU may impose harshest-ever sanctions on Russia if ceasefire with Ukraine fails, US envoy

The United States and its European allies are prepared to introduce the most severe sanctions to date against Russia if it refuses to agree to a ceasefire with Ukraine, according to Keith Kellogg, the US President’s Special Representative for Ukraine.

Speaking on the matter, Kellogg said that the US Congress has already drafted a new sanctions bill targeting Russia, with support from more than 70 senators. The proposed measures could include sweeping restrictions on Russia’s Central Bank and its so-called “shadow fleet,” which is used to transport the bulk of Russian oil exports abroad.

“We have warned President Putin about this. It’s very serious. These sanctions are extremely serious—harsher than anything we’ve seen before,” Kellogg emphasized. “Our European partners are fully aligned on this.”

Kellogg also highlighted the firm stance of Germany’s new Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who he said strongly supports the implementation of the upcoming sanctions. According to him, Europe remains firmly on Ukraine’s side in the ongoing conflict.