German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced sweeping new actions against Russia, unveiling the 19th EU sanctions package aimed at crippling Moscow’s energy revenues and increasing pressure for a ceasefire in Ukraine. From Brussels, Merz said Europe had reduced its energy dependence on Russia by 80% and vowed to end it entirely by 2027, calling the sanctions “an important message to President Putin.” He praised the United States for introducing parallel sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil, marking transatlantic unity against Russian aggression.