The European Union It points to Russian banking and oil and oil Northern stream In his 18th package of sanctions against Moscow Before his aggression war against UkraineAfter verifying that the president Vladimir Putin “It shows no desire to reach peace.”
“With this package we increase the pressure on Russia. Our goal is very clear: we repeat our call for a high complete and unconditional fire of at least 30 days “as an earlier step towards the peace negotiations, said the president of the committee, Ursula von der LeyenBy presenting the new measures.
“Despite weeks of diplomatic attempts, despite the supply of President Zelenski of a high unconditional fire, Russia continues to die and destroying in Ukraine,” said von der Leyen.
“The goal of Russia is not a peace, but imposes the law of the strongest. That is why we will increase the pressure on Russia. Force is the only language that Russia understands“The head of the community leader emphasized.
The new sanction package requires unanimous support from the 27 Member States. In the past, Both Hungary and Slovakia They have threatened to perform a veto about the restrictive measures against Russia, although they have always picked up their veto.
First of all, Brussels proposes to reduce the price stop from $ 60 to 45 per barrel To the Russian oil that is transported by sea and aimed at extra community countries, because it is already completely forbidden within the EU.
This measure was applied for the first time in 2023 thanks to an agreement in the G7, that is, with the support of the United States. Von der Leyen said he hopes that Donald Trump He supports the hardening on the G7 top that will be held in Canada next weekend, although the president has not given any signs to punish Vladimir Putin.
“Oil export still represents a third of the Russian government’s income. We must reduce this source of income,” the president kept up.
In addition, the EU will include another 77 Russian ships in its blacklist of sanctions on the “Ghost Fleet” that uses the Kremlin to avoid the sanctions on its oil, in which 342 ships already appear.
Finally a new ban on Import refined products from Russian crude oil. “In this way we want to prevent some of the Russian crude oil from reaching the EU market through the back door,” said Von der Leyen.
The president of the committee has also announced a “ban on transactions for Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2, the two gas pipelines that connect Russia with Germany through the Baltic Sea.
Nord Stream 1 was no longer used after the outbreak of war and Nord Stream 2 was never put into use. The two gas pipelines also suffered sabotage in September 2022.
“No EU operator may enter directly or indirectly in a transaction with the Nord Stream gas pipelines. There will be no return to the past“Von der Leyen said.
For their part, sanctions against the Russian financial sector are goal Limit your ability to record financing and to do transactions.
To do this, the EU will convert the prohibition that has already been in operation to use the Swift Financial Messaging system in a total veto to any type of transaction. A veto that will also extend to 22 other Russian benches that are currently not in the blacklist.
Finally, Brussels will introduce New export bans for Russia worth 2.5 billion From euros, whose goal it is to deprive the Russian economy of critical products, such as machines, metals, chemicals, plastics and metals, as well as double -use technologies used to produce drones or rockets.
“We want to ensure that Russia finds no ways to modernize their weapons with European technologies,” said Von der Leyen.
The president of the committee argues that EU sanctions are “deep” the Russian economy. To start with, a total of 210,000 million euros in reserves from the Central Bank of Russia have been immobilized in the EU.
Russian and gas income have fallen almost 80% Compared to before the war, according to data from Brussels. His shortage shoots. Interest rates are “priceless high”. Inflation increases, “well above 10%.”
“The price of importing technologies and critical goods is six times higher than before the war and the world average. In summary, The Russian economy is limited to a war economysacrificing the future prospects, “said Von der Leyen.
