EU takes big step towards Russian oil ban and new sanctions
BRUSSELS – The top European Union official on Wednesday called on the 27-nation bloc to ban oil imports from Russia and target the country’s biggest bank and major broadcasters in a sixth round of sanctions against the war in ukraine.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, addressing the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, proposed that EU member countries phase out imports of crude oil within six months and refined oil products. end of the year.
“We will ensure that we gradually eliminate Russian oil in an orderly fashion, in a way that allows us and our partners to secure alternative supply routes and minimize the impact on global markets,” von der Leyen said.
The proposals must be unanimously approved to enter into force and are likely to be the subject of fierce debate. Von der Leyen conceded that getting the 27 member countries – some of them landlocked and heavily dependent on Russia for energy supplies – to agree on oil sanctions “will not be easy”.
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The EU gets about 25% of its oil from Russia, most of which is used for gasoline and diesel for vehicles. Russia supplies around 14% of the diesel, according to S&P Global analysts, and a cut could drive up already high fuel prices for trucks and tractors.
If approved, the oil import ban would be the second set of EU sanctions targeting Russia’s lucrative energy industry since the country invaded Ukraine on February 24.
In addition to sanctions imposed on various entities and individuals, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and members of his family, the EU has previously approved an embargo on coal imports.
The EU has started discussions on a possible embargo on natural gas, but consensus among member countries on targeting the fuel used to generate electricity and heat homes is more difficult to achieve. The region gets about 40% of its natural gas from Russia.
Hungary and Slovakia have already declared that they will not participate in any oil sanctions. Von der Leyen did not say whether they would receive a sanction waiver, although it seems likely.
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The EU and Russia are playing “a game of chicken.” It’s hard to tell who will deviate/blink first. Russians for fear of running out of money. Or Europe lest the lights go out,” said James Nixey, director of the Russia and Eurasia program at London’s Chatham House think tank.
Von der Leyen also said the EU should target high-ranking military officers and others “who committed war crimes in Bucha”, a suburb of the capital kyiv. Ukrainian officials alleged that retreating Russian troops had committed massacres of civilians in Bucha.
“This sends another important signal to all perpetrators of the Kremlin war: we know who you are. We will hold you accountable. You don’t get away with it,” von der Leyen told lawmakers.
EU diplomats have confirmed that European Commission plans also include an asset freeze and travel ban on the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow. Diplomats have direct knowledge of the talks but have not been allowed to speak publicly as negotiations continue.
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Kirill is a longtime ally of Putin and justified Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In March, he described the dispute as part of a fight against sin and pressure from liberal outsiders to hold “gay parades” as the price of admission into their ranks.
Von der Leyen said Putin’s intention was “to wipe Ukraine off the map”, but predicted he would fail in his murderous endeavor. “Ukraine has risen in bravery and unity,” she said. “And it is his own country, Russia, that Putin is sinking.”
Banks are also in the crosshairs of the European executive, and in particular the largest in Russia, Sberbank. Von der Leyen said the goal was to “de-SWIFT Sberbank”. SWIFT is the world’s leading financial transfer system.
“We will also remove SWIFT from two other major banks in Russia. By this, we are hitting banks that are systemically critical to the Russian financial system and Putin’s ability to wreak destruction,” she said.
Von der Leyen added that those suspected of spreading disinformation about the war in Ukraine would be targeted.
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“We are banning three major Russian public broadcasters from our airwaves. They will no longer be allowed to distribute their content in the EU in any form, whether via cable, satellite, the internet or via smartphone apps. “, she said.
Von der Leyen did not name the broadcasters but called the TV stations “mouthpieces that aggressively amplify Putin’s lies and propaganda.” We shouldn’t give them a stage to spread these lies anymore.
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Danica Kirka in London contributed to this report.
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