EU Presses Moscow Before Russia-Ukraine Talks

Welcome to the Brussels Edition, Bloomberg’s daily briefing on what matters most in the heart of the European Union.

EU member states are expected to reach a preliminary agreement on a 17th sanctions package against Russia today — on the eve of possible talks between Russia and Ukraine in Turkey. The measures, which should be formally adopted next week, are more incremental compared with previous rounds. They mostly target Russia’s shadow fleet of oil tankers as well as individuals and entities that help Moscow evade energy restrictions. The additional pressure is being imposed as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy reinforced his intention to hold direct talks with Vladimir Putin in Turkey on Thursday, even though he said he had little hope that the Russian leader would show up. US President Donald Trump is sending Secretary of State Marco Rubio for the talks. Meanwhile, some member states are pushing the commission to explore options on how to skirt Hungary’s opposition to move along Ukraine’s accession process, we’re told.