The new EU sanctions package will include a ban on the use of the exploded Nord Stream pipelines, blacklisting of banks and tankers, a ban on EU countries buying Russian oil and an attempt to lower the price ceiling for it, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told a press conference in Brussels where she presented the draft 18th sanctions package.
"We will step up pressure on Russia, including through further tough sanctions. That is why we are now proposing an 18th package of tough sanctions. We are basically targeting two sectors - the Russian energy and banking sectors," She said.
The sanctions will include a ban on European companies from any Nord Stream-related transactions, the blacklisting of 77 oil tankers despite attempts to introduce a price cap, the lowering of the price ceiling for Russian oil from $60 to $45 per barrel, the blacklisting of 22 more banks with a complete ban on EU transactions, and the introduction of new restrictions on the export of dual-use products and technologies to Russia.
Von der Leyen also tried to present the 18th package of sanctions as a way to force Russia to the negotiating table, even though these sanctions started to be prepared before the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine started. She did not mention any mechanisms or scenarios that would suggest the possibility of changing the sanctions regime.
EU diplomatic chief Kaja Kallasová on the other hand, expressed hope that Russia will run out of money by the end of the year after the new sanctions are imposed. Answering questions from journalists, she said that the sanctions were "working" and that it would be necessary to wait a little longer for their cumulative effect to take effect.
The sanctions will include a ban on European companies from any transactions related to the Nord Stream pipeline, the blacklisting of 77 oil tankers despite attempts to introduce a price cap, the lowering of the price ceiling for Russian oil from $60 to $45 per barrel, the blacklisting of 22 more banks with a complete ban on transactions in the EU, and the introduction of new export restrictions on the export of dual-use products and technology to Russia.
In addition, von der Leyen and Kallas promised to introduce new export restrictions on 22 companies, not only from Russia, but also from China, Belarus and other countries, to try to reduce the effectiveness of Russian measures to circumvent sanctions. Contrary to expectations, no restrictions against Russia's nuclear industry and nuclear technology exports were included in the draft 18th sanctions package.
Now, the European Commission's initiatives must first be approved by ambassadors and then by EU foreign ministers. The European Commission hopes to have this done by the EU and NATO summits at the end of June.
As for the oil price cap, the EU intends to agree it with the G7 countries, because without it, this measure would not have the slightest chance of success.
Von der Leyen also said that the European Commission was trying to coordinate its sanctions with possible new US restrictions and said she was in intensive contact with Senator Lindsey Graham, the author of the latest bill on new US sanctions against Russia.
TASS/gnews.cz - cik
Czech 
English 
Spanish 
French 
Italian 
Russian 
Chinese 
German