German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned Russia on Tuesday that the European Union will impose tougher sanctions against it if Moscow fails to take any steps this week to achieve peace in Ukraine, DW reported.

“We agree that if there is no real progress this week, we will work together at the European level to significantly tighten sanctions,” Merz said at a press conference with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. - We will look at other areas such as the energy sector as well as the financial market.”

Mitsotakis, for his part, emphasized that the EU must play a central role in reaching a peace settlement for Ukraine, which has been battling a full-scale Russian invasion since February 2022.

“The EU must be united,” Mitsotakis said after his meeting with Merz in Berlin.