The European Commission proposes the 18th package of sanctions against Russia: “Power is the only language it will understand”
The head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. Photo source: Frederick Florin / AFP / Profimedia
The European Commission has proposed a 18th pack of sanctions against Russia for the Ukraine war, a package aimed at the income of Moscow in the energy sector, its banks and its military industry, the president Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday, according to Reuters.
The new package proposes, among other things, the prohibition of transactions with North Stream gas pipelines, as well as with banks involved in the circumstances of sanctions.
“The purpose of Russia is not peace, it is to impose the reign of power (…), Power is the only language that Russia will understand,” said the President of the European Commission on Tuesday in a press conference.
The Commission also proposed to reduce the price ceiling that the group of the seven nations (G7) for the Russian oil, to $ 45, from Baril, from $ 60 per barrel, in an attempt to reduce Russia's income in the field of energy.
Ursula von der Leyen said the ceiling will be discussed at this week's G7 meeting.
“My assumption is that we will do this together, like G7. We started this as G7, it was successful as a measure from G7 and I want to continue this measure as G7,” added the President of the European Commission.
At the same time, the new package of measures lists several ships that are part of Russia's shadow fleet, as well as oil marketing companies.
“The next round of EU sanctions against Russia will target Russia's energy revenues, including the shadow fleet, its military industry and its banking sector,” said EU diplomacy, Kaja Kallas.
The war unleashed by Russia against Ukraine entered February in the fourth year. On Monday night, Russian forces a new large -scale attack on the invaded state, killing a person and causing extended damage to the capital Kiev, respectively hitting a maternity ward, regional officials quoted by Reuters said on Tuesday morning.
The night strokes followed the largest drone attack by Russia on Ukraine, held on Monday. Moscow claims that they are part of an intensification of the operations they described as reprisal measures for the recent Kiev attacks against Strategic Air Bases.
