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EU Preparing Sanctions on Nine Suspects Over War Crimes in Bucha, French FM Says
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French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced that the European Union is preparing to impose sanctions on nine individuals suspected of committing war crimes during Russia’s occupation of Bucha.
Barrot made the remarks ahead of a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, BFMTV reported, as cited by European Pravda on March 16.
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He noted that the EU had recently extended its individual sanctions regime against Russia, which currently applies to approximately 2,600 individuals and entities.
Barrot said the sanctions list will now be expanded to include nine people linked to crimes committed in Bucha.
The EU also plans to introduce restrictive measures against four Kremlin propagandists. Among them is French citizen Adrien Bocquet, whom Barrot accused of attempting to justify Russia’s war crimes in Ukraine, according to European Pravda. Bocquet is also alleged to have been involved in recruiting foreign fighters for the war against Ukraine and in organizing disinformation campaigns in Europe and Africa.
The sanctions initiative comes amid renewed commitments from G7 countries to keep economic pressure on Russia in place. The Group of Seven nations have agreed to maintain sanctions on Russia despite rising tensions involving Iran, Deutsche Welle reported.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced the decision following talks with G7 leaders, saying the situation in Iran must not lead to reduced support for Ukraine or a softer sanctions policy toward Russia.
Macron stressed that the group remains focused on Ukraine. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed the position in a post on X, stating that “this is not the moment to relax sanctions on Russia.”
She also said participants backed the International Energy Agency’s decision to release 400 million barrels of oil from strategic reserves, calling the move necessary to help stabilize global energy markets.
In February, Ukraine has introduced sanctions against 29 individuals and 15 organizations accused of cooperating with Russia’s occupation authorities and participating in propaganda activities.
According to the Office of the President of Ukraine’a statement, the restrictions apply to Russian academics, officials working in Moscow-controlled administrations, and several organizations that Kyiv says are involved in distorting historical facts, as well as removing cultural artifacts and archival materials from occupied Crimea.
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