SECURITY: Pressure On Russia Is EU's Main Focus - EU Commission Spokesperson

Reuters reporting comments from an EU Commission spokesperson, “taking note” of the outcome of US brokered ceasefire talks in Saudi Arabia and stating that Russia must demonstrate “genuine political will” to ending the war in Ukraine.

• The spokesperson said the EU, “welcomes agreement between US and Ukraine to work towards exchange of prisoners of war, release of civilian detainees and return of forcibly transferred Ukrainian children.”
• Says that “Russia must now demonstrate genuine political will to end its illegal and unprovoked war of aggression”. Adds the EU’s, “main focus remains to maximise pressure on Russia, using all tools available”.
• The spokesperson says the EU, “is ready to support upcoming steps, together with Ukraine, the United States, and other partners.”
• The spokesperson notes, likely referring to Moscow's request that sanctions on agricultural goods must be relaxed to facilitate a Black Sea ceasefire: “EU sanctions are not targeting trade in agricultural goods, including food, grain and fertilisers, in any way.”
• The comments come amid scepticism from Ukraine’s backers that Moscow will fulfil truce obligations. Edward Fishman, senior research scholar at Columbia University and a former senior U.S. sanctions official, told the Wall Street Journal: “Putin’s endgame is clear—he wants to coax Trump into lifting sanctions on Russian banks and energy companies to enable the Kremlin to pull in the hard currency it desperately needs.”