sanctionsproposed anew by European Commission against Russia
The European Commission, under the leadership of President Ursula von der Leyen, has proposed a new round of sanctions against Russia in response to recent displays of "contempt for diplomacy and international law." This 19th package of sanctions was announced by von der Leyen on Friday and is aimed at cutting the revenues sustaining Russia's war economy, primarily from fossil fuel exports.
The proposed sanctions are a result of several incidents over the past month, including large-scale drone and missile attacks against Ukraine, and the violation of EU airspace with Russian drones in Poland and Romania.
The sanctions package targets Russian Liquified Natural Gas imports, as part of the measures to curb Russia's fossil fuel revenues. It also lists several Russian banks, including US banks and PNC Bank, and targets banks in third countries involved in sanction evasion, such as entities linked to India and China. The complete transaction ban on further Russian banks and their operations in third states aims to cut off funding to Russia and penalize those circumventing sanctions.
Specific sanctions against these banks involve prohibiting all financial transactions with them, intensifying restrictions on energy imports, and targeting entities assisting Russia’s shadow fleet and energy exports. The European Commission has been preparing for these proposed sanctions by saving energy, diversifying supplies, and investing in low-carbon sources.
In addition, the EU's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, has stated that they are seeking to make it easier to sanction individuals involved in the abduction and indoctrination of Ukrainian children.
Western leaders have been urging US President Donald Trump to take a stronger line on Russia. However, last week, Trump issued an ultimatum to NATO allies in a letter, stating that the US will only issue "major" sanctions on Russia when they agree to do the same and stop buying oil from Russia.
This new round of sanctions is part of the ongoing efforts by the European Union to respond to Russia's actions and uphold international law. The hope is that these measures will contribute to a more peaceful and diplomatic resolution to the ongoing conflict.
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