Ukraine has prepared 40 pages of recommendations for applying additional sanctions against Moscow, which is about to propose next week, Reuters reports. These include legislation for the confiscation of Russian assets, as well as the introduction of secondary sanctions on countries that buy Russian oil. Kiev's request comes in the context in which US President Donald Trump has back from tightening the sanctions, after the last telephone conversation with Vladimir Putin, reasoning that he wants to leave space to relaunch peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.
Volodimir Zelenski speaks on the phone with Donald Trump EPA EFE
The plan, revealed for the first time by Reuters, asks the 27 EU Member States to adopt a more aggressive and independent position on sanctions, while uncertainty is planning on the future role of Washington.
Among the 40 pages of recommendations are calls for the adoption of a legislation by which the EU confiscation of the Russian assets would have to enjoy Ukraine directly. People who have confiscated the goods and assets could request damages from Russia.
The EU should take into account steps through which the sanctions are applied outside the borders, thus, the foreign companies that provide technology would be used to help Russia as well as “The introduction of secondary sanctions on Russian oil buyers.”
Such secondary sanctions, which could affect important buyers such as India and China, would be a major step that Europe has been reluctant so far. Trump had publicly discussed this before making the decision not to act yet.
Another suggestion would be for the EU to calculate rules to decide the majority, to prevent certain members from blocking measures that normally require unanimity.
After talking to Putin Monday, Trump decided not to impose new sanctions to Russia, shattering the hopes of European and Kiev leaders, who had lobby to intensify the pressure on Moscow.
Trump told Ukrainian European leaders that he does not want to impose sanctions now, explaining that he wants to give the parties time to resume negotiations told Reuters a person familiar with the conversation.
However, the EU and the UK have imposed additional sanctions against Russia on Tuesday, declaring that they hope Washington will join the initiative. At the same time, Europeans openly discuss the ways in which they can maintain the pressure on Moscow in the scenario in which Washington is not willing to participate.
EU, the role of catalyst
The document elaborated by Ukrainians emphasizes the “unprecedented” nature of the sanctions imposed by the EU so far and their potential to be much stronger.
It also includes an assessment of Trump administration's commitment to coordination efforts so far.
“Today, in practice, Washington has ceased to participate in almost all intergovernmental platforms focused on sanctions and export control.” is shown in the document.
In recent months, Washington has slowed down the activity of the monitoring group of the application of price -to -oil price ceilings, has dissolved a federal working group focused on the criminal prosecution of sanctions and has redistributed a significant number of sanctions to other sectors, he added.
The Ukrainians also mentioned that two potentially major potential sanctions were developed – one by the government and the other by Senator Lindsey Graham – but that it is “unclear” if Trump approves them.
The Ukrainians also note that the uncertainty of the US position has slowed the rhythm of economic countermeasures and multilateral coordination, but this fact “should not cause the European Union to reduce sanctions,” the report shows.
“On the contrary, it should catalyze the EU to assume a leading role in this area.”
Ukraine worries that the back step taken by the United States could trigger doubts in the EU, where the decisions are traditionally based on consensus.
“The withdrawal of Americans from the sanction regime (would be) a huge blow to the EU unit”, said a Ukrainian government official for Reuters.
The European Union cannot replace the impact of the United States in applying economic pressures on Russia, notes Reuters. Much of the effect of American sanctions comes from the supremacy of the dollar in global trade, which the euro cannot equal.
However, the lack of American sanctions would not boost the return of foreign investors to Russia and would not stimulate investments, if Europe is held in position, explained Craig Kennedy, Energy Expert at Harvard
“Europe has more books than you think”he emphasized.
