EU prepared to ease Russia sanctions in exchange for ceasefire in Ukraine

At the same time, the EU will reimpose the restrictions if Russia breaches the agreement.

The report said allies hope to secure an initial 15-day truce before reaching a more structured ceasefire in the Russo–Ukrainian war. EU sanctions would remain in effect during that period.

Earlier, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc plans to begin preparing its 19th package of sanctions against Russia. 

“Until Russia agrees to a full and unconditional ceasefire, we should not even discuss any concessions,” she said.

“We need a step-by-step approach: first, an unconditional ceasefire with a robust monitoring system and ironclad security guarantees [for Ukraine].” 

On Aug. 15, U.S. President Donald Trump will meet Russian dictator Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska. Trump said he plans to press Putin on Moscow’s war against Ukraine and has offered a settlement proposal involving “territorial exchanges” that would return some land to Kyiv while forcing it to cede other areas. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly said that Ukraine’s constitution makes it impossible to recognize Russian ownership of any part of the country’s territory.