Kathleen Depoorter calls for tougher sanctions against Russia

Federal MP Kathleen Depoorter is urging the Belgian and European authorities to adopt additional short-term sanctions against the Russian Federation. Her new resolution follows the Russian drone incidents over Polish airspace on 10 September 2025—an unmistakable escalation of the war and a direct threat to European security.

“When Russian drones deliberately enter NATO airspace, we’re no longer talking about a regional conflict. This is a calculated test of our collective readiness—and it demands a clear response,” Depoorter stated.

She also pointed to recent Russian strikes targeting civilian infrastructure, energy facilities and government buildings in Kyiv.

“Europe must send a strong signal: this aggression comes at a cost,” she said. “Russian leaders have shown no intention of de-escalating or pursuing diplomatic solutions. On the contrary—the intensity and scale of their attacks have reached unprecedented levels in recent months.”

The need for structural, far-reaching sanctions

The resolution calls for a long-term strategy that goes beyond the current sanction packages, including secondary sanctions against countries and companies that indirectly support Russia’s war machine. It also proposes an accelerated plan to phase out Europe’s dependency on Russian energy and to block any future attempts at sanctions circumvention.

Depoorter further advocates for the creation of a European monitoring and adjustment mechanism, so sanctions can be quickly tightened as circumstances evolve. She argues this is the only way to apply pressure where it matters most: Russia’s financial firepower.

Mapping, enforcement, and transparency

Depoorter also urges the federal government to map out all economic ties between European companies and Russian entities, and to investigate who contributed to Europe’s current energy dependence. To do this effectively, she says, we need both the right expertise and technological capacity to enforce sanctions rigorously.

At the same time, she stresses the importance of predictability and transparency: trade partners must be informed in advance of new measures and the available alternatives.

“Sanctions must be tough—but they also need to be clear and enforceable,” Depoorter concluded.