France, July 18 -- The European Union approved a new series of sanctions against Russia on Friday in response to its ongoing war in Ukraine. The measures include a lower oil price cap, a ban on transactions involving the Nord Stream gas pipelines, and fresh restrictions targeting Russia's "shadow fleet" of tankers, according to the EU's foreign policy chief.

"The message is clear: Europe will not retreat in its support for Ukraine," according to Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign policy chief.

Kallas described the latest sanctions package as "one of the EU's strongest yet" since the conflict began, now entering its fourth year.

The move coincides with European countries stepping up purchases of American-made weapons to bolster Ukraine's def...