European leaders have agreed to increase sanctions pressure on Russia following a telephone conversation between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on 19 May 2025, German government spokesman Stefan Cornelius said, saying the US and its European partners had agreed on further steps to support Ukraine and advance ceasefire talks. The statement comes as Russian forces continue to attack Ukrainian positions despite calls for a 30-day ceasefire, Euronews reports.

"The US President and European partners agreed to closely coordinate the negotiation process and hold another technical meeting," — Cornelius noted, adding that all parties confirmed their readiness to accompany Ukraine on the path to a ceasefire.

European leaders including Germany, France, Britain and Poland have announced they will step up pressure on Russia through new sanctions that could hit the financial and energy sectors, including a "shadow fleet" of tankers used to circumvent oil trade restrictions.

The decision followed an ultimatum Germany issued to Russia on May 12, demanding a 30-day ceasefire by midnight or Europe would begin preparing new sanctions. The Kremlin rejected the demand, calling the language of the ultimatums “unacceptable,” and instead proposed direct talks in Istanbul on May 15, which European diplomats said was an attempt to delay the process. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was ready to meet Putin in person in Turkey, but stressed that a ceasefire must precede negotiations.

The European Union has already imposed 16 packages of sanctions against Russia since February 2022, and on 14 May 2025 a new package was agreed, including a ban on access to EU ports for 189 additional “shadow fleet” vessels, bringing the total to 350.