(MENAFN) The European Commission announced Monday it is “continuously working on new means and ways” to tighten pressure on Russia as the war with Ukraine grinds on with no sign of easing.

During the Commission’s midday press briefing, spokesperson Anita Hipper sharply condemned Moscow’s “massive” assaults on Ukraine’s power grid, saying President Vladimir Putin “continues to terrorize the Ukrainians.”

Hipper said the latest wave of attacks hit “critical energy infrastructure, including substations supplying nuclear power plants,” cutting electricity, water, and heating in several regions and “endangering nuclear safety.”

She emphasized that, beyond ongoing political, military, and financial backing for Kyiv, the EU is intensifying energy aid and coordinating with partner nations to rally broader international support.

“We're continuously working on new means and ways to increase the pressure on Putin to ensure that he is coming to the negotiation table,” Hipper said. She added that discussions on new sanctions remain confidential, including their timing.

Responding to follow-up questions, chief spokesperson Paula Pinho clarified that the Commission does not label its initiatives as “dedicated packages,” but rather assesses measures that could strengthen both the EU’s and Ukraine’s strategic positions.

The bloc adopted its 19th sanctions package on October 23, targeting Russian banks, cryptocurrency platforms, and several entities based in India and China.

While Russia has continued hammering Ukraine’s infrastructure in recent months, Kyiv has escalated counterstrikes on Russian oil depots and refineries—moves that persist despite U.S.-led diplomatic efforts to bring the nearly four-year conflict to an end.

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