New EU sanctions package to hit Russia after the invasion of Ukraine . The EU Commission has proposed it, but the Permanent Council of 27 (Coreper) has not yet found an agreement , also due to the limited time available to investigate its contents. Coreper will therefore meet again in the next few days.
"The future of the EU is also written in Ukraine", said the president of the EU Commission Ursula Von der Leyen to the Eurochamber where she announced the new measures.
The new package provides for the exclusion from Swift of Sberbank and two other large Russian banks , but - explained Von der Leyen - "we propose a total ban on the import of all Russian oil , by sea and by pipeline, crude and refined" .
"We will ensure - continued Von der Leyen - to phase out Russian oil in an orderly manner , in order to allow us and our partners to ensure alternative supply routes and to minimize the impact on global markets. This is why we will phase out Russian crude oil within six months and refined products by the end of the year . "
Due to the almost total dependence of some EU countries on energy sources from Russia, some states will have a sort of derogation : these are Hungary and Slovakia , which will be exempted until the end of 2023 from applying the blocking of imports of oil from Russia.
However, Hungary itself has announced that it will not support the EU proposal for a gradual embargo on Russian oil as it has been presented. This was reported by the spokesman of the government of Budapest, Zoltan Kovacs.
"Today - explained Von der Leyen - we also sanction high-level military officers and other individuals who have committed war crimes in Bucha and who are responsible for the inhuman siege of the city of Mariupol , sending another important signal to all those responsible of the war in Russia: we know who you are and you will be held responsible ".
Three large Russian broadcasters are also blocked, which “will no longer be allowed to distribute their content in the EU, in any form, be it via cable, satellite, internet or smartphone applications. These TV channels - emphasized Von der Leyen - amplify Putin's lies and propaganda in an aggressive way . We should no longer be giving them a stage to spread these lies. Furthermore, the Kremlin relies on European accountants, consultants and spin doctors. And this will now end. We are banning the provision of these services to Russian companies. "
Finally, Brussels proposes to sanction the head of the Russian Orthodox Church , Patriarch Kyrill .
(Unioneonline / lf)