Both sanctions and readiness to contact Russia revealed Europe's anxiety about being sidelined in U.S.-led negotiations to end the conflict in Ukraine.

BRUSSELS, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Council of the European Union (EU) on Monday renewed its sweeping economic sanctions against Russia for another six months, even as Europe moves to seek direct contact with Moscow amid U.S.-led talks with Ukraine and Russia.

The Russia-targeted sanctions, first imposed in 2014, were significantly expanded after February 2022. According to the Council, the measures cover trade, finance, energy, technology, and dual-use goods, as well as industry, transport, and luxury goods, among others.

Beyond the economic sanctions, now extended until July 31, 2026, the EU also adopted additional punitive measures recently. Last week alone, the bloc approved sanctions against individuals and entities accused of supporting Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" of oil tankers, as well as separate sanctions targeting alleged Russian hybrid operations. It also imposed bans on an additional 41 Russian vessels allegedly linked to the shadow fleet.

Meanwhile, the EU reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Ukraine. At a summit last week, the European Council approved a 90 billion-euro (about 105.4 billion U.S.-dollar) loan package to support Ukraine's military and economic needs over the next two years.

European Council President Antonio Costa said the EU needs to ensure that "Ukraine is in the best condition to negotiate a peace agreement."

These moves highlight Europe's emphasis on pressure, while also exposing anxiety about being sidelined in negotiations to end the conflict.

A U.S.-drafted peace plan for Russia and Ukraine that leaked to the media last month stoked concern in Europe and Ukraine, with critics saying it tilted heavily toward Russia and raised fears that U.S. President Donald Trump's administration could pressure Ukraine into major concessions.

Since then, European and Ukrainian negotiators have held talks with Trump's envoys to try to insert their own provisions into the draft, though the precise terms of the current version remain undisclosed.

On Sunday, three days of talks on the Ukraine crisis concluded, featuring separate meetings between the United States, Russia, Ukraine, and European representatives in Florida and Miami. U.S. presidential special envoy Steve Witkoff described the meetings as "productive and constructive."

Russia, however, offered a more critical assessment. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said that Ukraine and its European partners were obstructing progress. "It's a fact: every time our dialogue with the U.S. starts to take a positive turn, Kiev and its European curators take extraordinary emergency measures to hamper it, to deform it, to steer these efforts off track," Ryabkov was quoted as saying by Russia's TASS news agency.

Even so, Europe, or at least some European countries, is seeking a more direct channel to Russia rather than leaving negotiations solely in U.S. hands.

Following the EU summit in Brussels, French President Emmanuel Macron said the bloc must be prepared for dialogue with Russia if current efforts fail to achieve lasting peace in Ukraine. Macron stated that he was ready to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin again. He had a phone call with Putin in July.

Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said Putin is willing to engage in dialogue with Macron, according to Russia's RIA Novosti.

Welcoming the Kremlin's response, the French presidency said, "We will decide in the coming days on the best way to proceed." It added that any discussion with Russia would be conducted "in full transparency" with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European allies.