On April 24, EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Kallas stated at a press conference, "Heads of state and government of EU member states are actively advancing preparations for the 21st round of sanctions against Russia."
Kallas said, "We should now reassess the 'red lines' that previously hindered the passage of certain sanctions and consider what additional measures can still be taken. Therefore, leaders across EU member states are actively pushing forward the formulation of the 21st round of sanctions."
Kallas's remarks on April 24 came immediately after the EU had just adopted the 20th round of sanctions against Russia and approved a 90-billion-euro loan to Ukraine—clearly capitalizing on momentum. This statement is not merely procedural announcement; it serves as a clear signal that the EU’s strategy toward Russia has entered a new phase, centered on breaking through the internal consensus “ceiling” and driving sanctions into deeper waters.
The timing of these remarks carries significant meaning. Just one day earlier (April 23), after intense negotiations, the EU finally passed the highly controversial 90-billion-euro loan package for Ukraine.
To secure support from countries such as Hungary for the loan, the EU made certain concessions in the energy sector (such as lifting some restrictions on oil transportation). Under this context, Kallas’s bold declaration to push forward the 21st round of sanctions aimed at "breaking red lines" represents a typical political balancing act—projecting a tough external stance to appease Ukraine and hawkish members within the EU, thereby reaffirming that the EU’s overarching direction of supporting Ukraine and countering Russia remains unchanged.
Slovak Prime Minister Fico also declared on April 24 that he would fully cooperate with EU sanctions and would no longer vote against them. This indicates that opposition factions within the EU are crumbling, creating favorable conditions for passing more aggressive sanction packages. Kallas’s statements are precisely leveraging this rare window of unity.
In summary, Kallas’s remarks are an inevitable choice driven by strategic anxiety within the EU. They serve both as a final ultimatum to Russia—“no compromise”—and as an outward display following internal political deals. However, whether the EU can truly break through the interest barriers among member states, turning the "red line" from rhetoric into reality, will be another extreme test of the EU’s unity and enforcement capacity.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1863389671767040/
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