The European Commission has proposed a 19th package of sanctions against Russia to member states, according to its president Ursula von der Leyen Friday, as she said Europe is increasing its pressure on Moscow in light of its displays of “contempt for diplomacy and international law” over the past month.
Von der Leyen cited recent large-scale drone and missile attacks against Ukraine, as well as the violation of EU airspace with Russian drones in Poland and Romania, as reasons for the new sanctions package.
“Again and again, President Putin has escalated. And in response, Europe is increasing its pressure,” she said, according to an EU Commission press release.
As part of the measures, Von der Leyen said the Commission will ban imports of Russian Liquified Natural Gas.
“Russia’s war economy is sustained by revenues from fossil fuels. We want to cut these revenues,” she said.
She added that the Commission had been preparing for this move by saving energy, diversifying supplies and investing in low-carbon sources.
The Commission said it will also target the financial loopholes used by Russia to evade sanctions by putting a transaction ban on additional banks in Russia and on banks in third countries.
The EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas also on Friday said it was 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. Last week however Trump issued an ultimatum to NATO allies in a letter, saying the US will issue “major” sanctions on Russia only when they agree to do the same and stop buying oil from Russia.
Source: edition.cnn.com