That is the sixth sixth package of EU sanctions against Russia
The European Union has announced a sixth package of sanctions against Russia. Support has been leveled at Russian oil, several major banks, Russian TV channels and the Russian military, which are involved in crimes against civilians in Bucha, Kyiv Oblast.
This was announced by the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen on her Twitter. The package of sanctions is agreed in the near future.
The sanctions affect four sectors.
Personal sanctions against the military
Under them, in particular, high-ranking Russian servicemen found in war crimes in Bucha and Mariupol are under personal sanctions.
“We know who you are. And you are responsible for that,” wrote von der Leyen.
Details and specific names in the new sanctions list will be announced later. After the proposal of the European Commission to discuss and approve after all 27 EU countries, the text will be published in the official European journal.
Banks
Russia’s largest bank Sberbank should be disconnected from the SWIFT bank transfer system.
Also, according to von der Leyen, the list includes two more Russian banks. Further, the Western edition reports, citing sources, that it could be the Moscow Credit Bank and Rosselkhozbank.
Oil
The EU also intends to end its dependence on Russian oil.
“It will not be easy, but I need to do it,” the EU said.
According to the President of the European Commission, stop buying Russian crude oil in six months, and refined products – by the end of 2022.
While not mentioning any exceptions, the two countries that depend most on Russian oil, Slovakia and Hungary, are expected to have more time to look for alternative sources.
“In this way, we are maximizing the pressure on Russia, while minimizing the damage to us and the world. We need our partners to keep our economy strong,” said the President of the European Commission.
The European oil embargo is one of the most radical steps left in reserve in the West. The oil and gas sector brings Russia up to half of its budget revenues and more than half of its exports, and it sells 70% of its gas and 60% of its oil and petroleum products to Europe. During the two months of the war, the EU paid Russia more than 20 billion euros for oil and more than 30 billion euros for gas.
At the same time, there is no consensus among the 27 EU members on the use of Russian natural gas, a fuel that has not yet come under EU sanctions.
This means that the EU plans to disconnect three major state-owned Russian TV channels from cable, satellite and Internet broadcasting in the EU.
According to Ursula von der Leyen, they are “a mouthpiece that sends Putin’s lies.”
Separately, von der Leyen stressed: “We want Ukraine to win this war.” I am already proposing to start work on an “ambitious recovery package”.
Von der Leyen noted that Ukraine’s economy will fall by 35-50% in 2022, and to stay afloat, it will need 5 billion euros a month. “We also have to take advantage,” she said.