Ensuring EU leadership in sanctioning Russia’s aggression against Ukraine

Speakers:  Ilona Khmeleva, Secretary of the Economic Security Council of Ukraine (ESCU); Jim Mullinax, State Department Fellow at Wilson Center, Senior Foreign Service Officer, US Department of State (online); Daniel Fried, Weiser Family Distinguished Fellow at Atlantic Council (online); Tomas Sindelar, Deputy Head of Division Sanctions, EEAS; Denys Hutyk, Executive Director of the Economic Security Council of Ukraine (ESCU); Tetiana Khutor, Head of the Institute of Legislative Ideas; Petro Yatsenko, Head of the Press Service of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (online)

Moderator: Svitlana Taran, Policy Analyst, European Policy Centre

This Policy Dialogue brought together leading experts and policymakers from the EU, Ukraine, and the US to reflect on further developments vis-a-vis the joint sanctioning efforts of international partners over Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, amid mixed signals of the Trump administration on its sanctions policy towards Russia. It brought forth targeted recommendations on how the EU must reassess its strategies for strengthening its sanctions policy, along with its economic security and resilience in the context of emerging challenges. The discussion explored the critical role of civil society in shaping sanctions policies. Emphasis was placed on fostering collaboration alongside international networks to enhance cooperation between governments and civil society, promote shared goals and ensure a coordinated global response. Tools of citizen engagement in the sanctions policy implementation have proven to be highly effective, as demonstrated by the success of the Ukrainian platform War & Sanctions.