Foreign ministers from major European countries said on Thursday that they are ready to step up pressure on Russia, “among other things through further sanctions” related to the energy and banking sector, to weaken Moscow in its war with Ukraine.

Representatives from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Britain and the European Union attended the meeting in Rome. The talks were also attended by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and a Ukrainian spokesman, according to Reuters.

“We are determined to keep Russian dominant assets in our jurisdictions until Russia stops its aggression and pay for the damage it has caused.”the countries said in their announcement.

The meeting in Rome took place as Russia intensifies attacks on Ukraine, which Moscow describes retaliation for Kiev’s recent blows on its territory.

Representatives of both sides met in Constantinople earlier this month for peace talks, which did not result in a definitive result and failed to cause a ceasefire, which Ukraine, its European allies and Washington have urged Russia.

Europeans said on Thursday that they are “ready to adopt new measures (especially in the energy and banking sectors) that aim to undermine” Russia’s war effort.

About $ 300 billion of Russian state assets were frozen after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Last year, G7 leaders agreed to provide Ukraine $ 50 billion through a series of bilateral loans, which Kiev could repay using profits from those frozen Russian assets.

“We are ready to strengthen our support,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, European Union’s foreign policy chief Kaya Calla, speaking after her meeting with European Foreign Ministers in Rome, said Thursday that EU concerns about Iran are wider, not only on the nuclear issue and including the support of Iran and the Iran.