OR European Unionbrings to the table, new sanctions toward Russiamainly in the field of energy, shipping and finance, while at the same time pushing the US to get stronger into the penalty game, with a new sanctions package, in the 19th in a row.
The European Union has announced a new, very strict sanction package Against Russia, Commission President Ursula von der Laene announced, and explained that these sanctions were a response to Moscow’s recent offensive actions,
“We want Russia to leave the battlefield and come to the table of negotiations and this is the way to give peace a real opportunity,” said Ursula von der Layen.
What do new sanctions include:
- Prohibition of imports of Russian LNG (liquefied natural gas) in Europe.
- Price limit at $ 47.60 a barrel for Russian oil.
- Commitment to corporate assets and a complete ban on transactions with Rosneft and Gazpromneft.
- Targeting of the “shadow fleet”: 118 additional ships carrying Russian oil bypassing the restrictions, reaching a total of 560 ships in a penalty list.
- For the first time hit in cryptocurrencies: Prohibition of transactions via Crypto platforms.
- Restrictions on foreign banks working with Russian alternative payment systems and companies in “special financial zones”.
Political context
Sanctions need approval from all 27 EU member states in the coming weeks. At the same time, the EU is trying to persuade the US to adopt them in turn harder. However, US President Donald Trump has set a condition: to stop NATO countries buying Russian oil – which is difficult, as states such as Hungary, Slovakia and Turkey continue to use it, Politico reports.
Donald Trump believes that if the price of oil falls, Putin will have to leave the war, and as he has said he has imposed duties on Russian buyers, such as India.
Reaction from Ukraine
The Ukrainian Commissioner for sanctions, Vladislav Vlasiuk, stressed that Kiev wants as hard as possible, but recognizes the difficulties between the partners. He expressed, however, respect for the EU’s effort and stressed that this is only the beginning, implying that even more steps would follow.