By Andrew Gray, Sam Tabahriti and Susan Heavey BRUSSELS/LONDON/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The EU and Britain announced new sanctions against Russia on Tuesday without waiting for Washington to join them,

The European Union is increasing pressure on US President Donald Trump to strike Russia with new sanctions. The conversation between the American leader and the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, failed to secure Russia’s commitment to a ceasefire in Ukraine,

The European Union intends to forge ahead with a new package of sanctions against Russia to exert greater pressure on Vladimir Putin to accept a 30-day unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine, despite the United States not doing so at this stage.

The EU has formally approved its 17th package of sanctions imposed on Russia over aggression in Ukraine, including measures against almost 200 shadow fleet vessels, top EU diplomat Kaja Kallas announced on May 20.

US President Donald Trump has held conversations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Meanwhile, EU leaders have politically endorsed the creation of a €150 billion loan fund to fund weapons amid growing threats from Russia.

The EU and Britain announced new sanctions against Russia on Tuesday without waiting for the United States to join them, a day after President Donald Trump spoke to Vladimir Putin without winning a promise for a ceasefire in Ukraine.

In a joint letter led by Austria, 15 member states pitch a "renewed, targeted and joint global diplomatic outreach effort" to strengthen leverage on Russia. View on euronews

RUSSIA has unleashed the “war’s biggest drone attack” as mad Vladimir Putin defies Donald Trump’s call to stop the “bloodbath” and vows to continue fighting. A