As Vladimir Putin rejects Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s proposal for direct talks, the EU plans to intensify its sanctions against Russia.

Brussels aims to implement trade tariffs and capital controls to maintain financial pressure on Moscow, even if Hungary vetoes the extension of the sanctions regime expiring in July.

The European Commission indicated that many of the sanctions, including the freezing of 200 billion euros of Russian assets, could be adjusted to bypass Hungary’s veto.