New Delhi, May 21 -- The European Union and the United Kingdom announced sanctions on Russia without waiting for the United States to join them, even as President Donald Trump's phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin did not yield any ceasefire in Ukraine, news agency Reuters reported.

The sanctions, the EU and UK said, would target Russia's 'shadow fleet' of oil tankers and financial firms that have helped it avoid the impact of other sanctions so far over the war in Ukraine.

Russia uses the shipping fleet to export oil, "circumventing a $60 a barrel price cap imposed by the G7 group of industrialised countries to limit Russia's income", as per Reuters.

The agency also quoted German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul as sayin...