EU torn part as ex-Donald Trump aide exposes huge hole in Russia sanctions plan

The sanctions strategy against Russia has been sharply criticised by former US National Security Adviser John Bolton, who said the bloc was "long on rhetoric and short on performance". Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the EU has introduced 17 rounds of sanctions targeting Moscow. They have included financial restrictions, asset freezes, and import-export bans.

Despite the volume, sceptics have suggested the impact has been diluted by the EU's slow, incremental approach and the competing interests of its 27 member states. Mr Bolton told Express.co.uk: "The latest sanctions package the EU is talking about, the press reports, is the 17th sanctions package since the invasion in February of 2022. Seventeen packages. Why wasn't there one package one week after the invasion? This is how Russia survives the sanctions. Certain sanctions are imposed. They find ways to evade them or mitigate them. Another set of sanctions are imposed. They evade them."

Mr Bolton, who served under Donald Trump during his first term, continued: "If you're going to do sanctions as a form of economic warfare, you have to treat it as a form of warfare and impose it all at once. Have shock and awe economically. You don't have 17 packages.

"I know the Europeans probably didn't set out to do that, but that's what they've done. Propose an 18th package of sanctions. It's just not going to have the effect people think."

The challenge for Brussels lies in balancing the often divergent economic and political interests of its members.

Some states, reliant on Russian energy or trade, have resisted tougher sanctions. This internal division slows decision-making and leads to compromises critics say blunt the measures' impact.

Mr Bolton placed this issue in a wider geopolitical context. He said: "I think it's both the ideal of Putin and Trump to resolve this between themselves, not to have Zelensky in the room, not to have the Europeans in the room."

He warned: "If Putin succeeds in pushing Trump back and not suffering new sanctions or other penalties, he'll brush the Europeans off without a hesitation. He's not worried about it."

The EU, he suggested, simply lacks the force to respond effectively. He said: "They're long on rhetoric and short on performance."

Speaking on Sunday, two senior US senators said the next two weeks could shape the future of a war that has already smashed cities, displaced millions and redrawn Europe's security map.

It would impose 500% tariffs on countries that continue buying Russian oil, gas, uranium and other exports - targeting nations like China and India that account for roughly 70% of Russia's energy trade and bankroll much of its war effort.

Republican Lindsey Graham called it "the most draconian bill I've ever seen in my life in the Senate.

"The world has a lot of cards to play against Putin. We're going to hit China and India for propping up his war machine."

Mr Graham and Democrat Richard Blumenthal were speaking aftr meeting President Volodymyr Zelensky and touring neighborhoods shattered by what they called the worst Russian bombardments since the full-scale invasion began.

In Paris for talks with French President Emmanuel Macron - who they say is "100% aligned" with them on the war - the pair warned the window to prevent a renewed assault is closing.

Mr Graham said of Vladimir Putin: "What I learned on this trip was he's preparing for more war."

At the heart of their push is a bipartisan sanctions bill, backed by nearly the entire US Senate but still facing uncertain odds in Washington.