Russian President Putin could well be the winner of the Iranian war as sanctions on his much-needed oil reserves have been eased.
French President Emmanuel Macron has vowed to maintain pressure on Russia to end its four-year invasion of Ukraine, following Washington’s partial rollback of sanctions on Moscow to ease soaring oil prices caused by the Middle East conflict, reports RTE.
Kyiv’s allies fear that the US decision to temporarily allow some Russian oil sales could benefit President Vladimir Putin, whose position has already been strengthened by rising energy prices, reports RTE.
Talks brokered by Washington between Kyiv and Moscow aimed at ending the Ukraine war have also stalled since US-Israeli strikes on Iran late last month triggered a regional conflict.
“Today Russia may believe that the war in Iran will offer it respite. It is mistaken,” Mr Macron said as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Paris for the 12th time since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, reports RTE.
The conflict in the Middle East has disrupted tanker movements through the Strait of Hormuz near Iran, pushing oil prices above $100 a barrel.
The United States has temporarily permitted the sale of Russian oil already at sea, with the move coming as global prices remain high, reports RTE.
“During a meeting of the Group of Seven countries earlier this week, we reaffirmed that rising oil prices must under no circumstances lead us to reconsider our sanctions policy towards Russia,” Mr Macron said at a joint press conference with Mr Zelensky.
Mr Zelensky warned that the US decision could effectively fund Moscow’s invasion rather than bring the war to an end.
“This one concession alone by the United States could give Russia about $10 billion ($8.7bn) for the war. This certainly does not help peace,” Mr Zelensky said, reports RTE.
The two leaders also planned to discuss increasing pressure on Russia by targeting its “shadow fleet” of tankers used to transport oil in breach of sanctions imposed over the invasion of Ukraine, according to Mr Macron’s office.
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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that “easing sanctions now, for whatever reason, is wrong. We believe that is the wrong course of action,” reports RTE.
“After all, we want to ensure that Russia does not exploit the war in Iran to weaken Ukraine,” he added.
During a call with US President Donald Trump earlier this week, “six members of the G7 were very clear in their opinion that this would not send the right signal,” he said, reports RTE.
Mr Macron also said after a G7 video call that easing sanctions on Moscow was “in no way” justified.
The Kremlin criticised the planned Paris meeting, saying it would obstruct the peace process and describing “the very idea of trying to put pressure on Russia” as absurd, reports RTE.
Mr Zelensky travelled to Romania yesterday, agreeing to launch joint drone production with Bucharest and exploring the development of anti-drone defence systems with Kyiv’s European allies.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has caused Europe’s bloodiest conflict since World War II, displacing millions and leaving hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians dead on both sides, reports RTE.
A Russian strike in eastern Ukraine killed three people on a bus near Kupiansk, which Moscow’s forces are attempting to recapture.
There was no immediate comment from the Kremlin, which claims it does not target civilians, reports RTE.
Macron pledged to secure the release of a vital €90-billion EU loan to Ukraine.
“This commitment will be honoured,” he said, after Hungary blocked the loan as well as a new round of sanctions on Russia, reports RTE.
He added that nothing would prevent Europe from helping Ukraine and praised Kyiv’s “remarkable tenacity and courage” in resisting Russia’s assault.
Without providing details, the French president said weapons support to Ukraine would be increased, reports RTE.
Hungary and Slovakia have accused Kyiv of deliberately delaying the reopening of the Druzhba pipeline, which transports Russian oil to the two landlocked nations, though Ukraine said the pipeline was damaged by Russian strikes in January.
Brussels said yesterday it had proposed a mission to inspect the blocked pipeline and was awaiting Kyiv’s response, reports RTE.
Earlier, Macron announced the first death of a French soldier during the Middle East conflict in Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region, caused by what his commanding officer said was an Iranian drone attack.
He stressed that France’s position in the Middle East war remains “purely defensive,” reports RTE.
Mr Zelensky condemned the attack as “despicable” on military personnel in a post on X and urged Iran to halt aggression against neighbouring countries, reports RTE.
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