French President Emmanuel Macron has warned that the European Union will swiftly impose new sanctions on Russia if it rejects a proposed ceasefire in Ukraine.
Speaking to TF1 television on Tuesday, Macron said European leaders are prepared to act within days should Moscow fail to comply.
Over the weekend, France, Britain, Germany and Poland called for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire to begin Monday, urging Russia to halt hostilities.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend peace talks in Turkey on Thursday, but Moscow has yet to confirm its delegation.
The EU has already levied 16 rounds of sanctions against Russia since its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, with a 17th round expected next week.
While many sanctions have targeted trade and travel, the financial and energy sectors have largely remained untouched.
Macron cautioned that no legal path currently exists to seize frozen Russian assets, calling such action “not a good solution.”
He also acknowledged that Ukraine may not be able to reclaim all territory lost since Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014.
“The war must cease, and Ukraine must be in the strongest possible position to negotiate,” Macron said.
He reiterated that Western powers remain committed to supporting Kyiv while avoiding the escalation into a broader global conflict.
“We must help Ukraine defend itself, but we do not want to unleash a Third World War,” he added.
Macron’s remarks underscore Europe’s growing urgency to end the war while balancing legal, military, and diplomatic pressures.