EU adopts new package of sanctions to make Russia ‘pay’ for escalation
Brussels, Sep 28 (EFE).- The European Union announced Wednesday a new package of sanctions against Russia to make the Kremlin “pay” for the recent escalation of its offensive in Ukraine.
“We do not accept the sham referenda nor any kind of annexation in Ukraine and we are determined to make the Kremlin pay for this further escalation,” the European Commission president, Ursual von der Leyen, said referring to the annexation referendums held in Russian-occupied territories in recent days.
“So today, we are together proposing a new package of biting sanctions against Russia,” she added.
The new sanctions aim to further restrict trade by proposing a “sweeping new import bans” on Russian products.
“This will keep Russian products out of the European market and deprive Russia of an additional 7 billion euros in revenues,” the Commission chief said, adding that the list of products that can no longer be exported to Russia was also being extended.
The German politician said these trade restrictions, which would affect aviation items, electronic components and specific chemical substances, would “deprive the Kremlin’s military complex of key technologies.”
“These new export bans will additionally weaken Russia’s economic base and will weaken its capacity to modernize,” von der Leyen said.
The EU is also introducing a price cap on Russian oil for third countries.
“This oil price cap will help reduce Russia’s revenues on the one hand and it will keep global energy markets stable on the other hand,” the Commission chief said.
The EU has already agreed to ban seaborne Russian crude oil in the bloc as of December 5.
Brussels will also step up its efforts to crack down on the circumvention of sanctions and blacklist individuals who bypass restrictions.
“So for example, if they buy goods in the European Union, bring them to third countries and then to Russia, this would be a circumvention of our sanctions, and those individuals could be listed. I think this will have a major deterrent effect,” von der Leyen said.
The new package of sanctions comes as the Kremlin has launched a partial mobilization of the Russian military, drafting some 300,000 military reservists.
The Russian defense ministry announced Wednesday the official start of training for reservists subject to conscription.
“Mobilized citizens are to commence shooting, tactical and special training,” the ministry said on its Telegram channel. EFE
int/mp/jt
