EU targets Russian coal, oil imports in new round of sanctions

Brussels, Apr 5 (EFE).- The European Commission on Tuesday proposed a fifth round of “broader, sharper” sanctions on Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine, including banning Russian coal imports and transactions with four Russian banks.

“We are working on additional sanctions, including on oil imports,” EC president Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement.

The EU has accused Vladimir Putin’s government of committing war crimes after images emerged of civilians who were apparently executed in Bucha, a city near Kyiv that was occupied by Russian forces for weeks.

“These atrocities cannot and will not be left unanswered,” von der Leyen said.

“To take a clear stand is not only crucial for us in Europe, but also for the rest of the world; a clear stand against Putin’s war of choice, a clear stand against the massacre of civilians, and a clear stand against the violation of the fundamental principles of the world order,” she said.

The new package of sanctions, pending approval from member states, will also block Russian-owned or Russian-operated ships and vessels’ access to EU ports, with “certain exemptions” on agricultural products, food, humanitarian aid and energy.

The previous four rounds of sanctions targeted Russian politicians, oligarchs and the central bank’s assets, while a large part of the Russian financial system has been excluded from the system of international transactions.

Brussels also urged a ban on exports on a range of products worth 5.5 billion euros to Russia “to cut the money stream of Russia and its oligarchs”. EFE

jaf-cat/ta/ks