The European Union announced a new round of stringent sanctions against Russia, aiming to restrict its energy and banking sectors in response to the ongoing conflict. This includes a proposed price cap on Russian oil lowered to $45, the banning of 77 ships linked to Russian oil, and sanctions targeting Chinese banks linked to Russian trade. European leaders assert that these measures are necessary to pressure Moscow, as the Kremlin downplays the impact of the proposed sanctions. There are concerns within the EU about passing these new measures, especially with legal hurdles in the way. Concurrently, the United States is reassessing its military aid to Ukraine, which raises questions about the allied strategy moving forward.