The EU presented the next package of sanctions against the Russian Federation

The European Commission proposed a 18th package of sanctions against Russia. It will include measures aimed at the Russian energy and the banking sector, and export prohibitions and control over the sanction regime will also be strengthened.

Source: The President of the European Commission Ursula von Der Lyen, presenting proposals for the 18th package of sanctions against Russia on June 10 in Brussels, “European Truth” reports

Details: The President of the European Commission emphasized that the 18th package of sanctions against the Kremlin will concern mainly Russian banks and the Russian energy sector.

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“We now offer a 18th stake of rigid sanctions. We are mainly targeted at two sectors: the Russian energy sector and the Russian banking sector. We are expanding export prohibitions and control, as well as strengthening measures to counter detouring,” von Der Lyen said.

“For the first time, we propose to introduce a ban on” Nord Stream-1 “and” North Stream-2 “. This means that no EU operator will be able to directly or indirectly participate in any Nord Stream Pipeline transaction. There is no return to the past,” she said.

According to her, the European Commission also proposes “to reduce the upper limit of oil from 60 to 45 dollars per barrel.”

“From the moment of introduction of the upper limit of oil prices in 2023, oil prices have decreased. Now they are traded very close to the level of restriction. By reducing the upper limit, we have adapted to changed market conditions and restored its efficiency. Oil export is still a third state income.

She specified that “the price limitation of oil is a G7 coalition measure, so we will discuss at the G7 summit in Canada early next week, how to act together.”

“In order to better maintain the upper limit, in addition to 342 vessels that have already been listed, today we add 77 vessels that are part of the Russian shadow fleet. These vessels are a means of avoiding sanctions,” the European Commission President said.

The EC also proposes to impose a ban on the import of petroleum products produced from Russian oil: “Thus, we want to prevent the entry of part of Russian crude oil into the EU market through” black passage “.

The second part of the sanctions is the banking sector, in particular, “limiting its ability to attract funding and transactions.”

“We propose to transform the existing ban on the use of SWIFT system into a full ban on transactions. And we propose to apply such a ban on transactions to another 22 Russian banks,” von Der Lyen said.

“We also propose a ban on transactions to financial operators in third countries that finance trade with Russia bypassing sanctions. We also propose to impose sanctions against the Russian direct investment fund, its subsidiaries and investment projects,” she added.

The third paragraph, according to Ursula von Der Lyen: further export prohibitions in the amount of more than 2.5 billion euros. This ban deprives the Russian economy of critical technologies and industrial goods.

“We are targeted at machines, metals, plastics and chemicals. They are used as raw materials in industry. We also restrict the export of dual -use goods and technologies that are used for the production of drones, missiles and other weapons systems. We want to make sure that Russia will not find ways to modernize its weapons with the help of European technologies.”

The fourth and last: we want our sanctions to be better applied and adhered to, convinced of the EU.

“That is why we are expanding the scope of the transaction prohibition that already exists. We have included 22 Russian and foreign companies that provide direct or indirect support to the Russian military-industrial complex. Putin’s ability to continue the war depends very much on the support that it receives from third countries.

“Our goal is very clear. We repeat the call for a complete, unconditional cease ceasefire for at least 30 days. This pause in hostilities could be a vital step towards reducing the suffering of civilians and creating a space for meaningful negotiations to achieve a real peace,” she stressed.

We will remind, on May 20 the EU Council approved 17th Package of Sanctions against for the war against Ukraine and individual sanctions For the use of chemical weapons against Ukraineas well as personal sanctions for hybrid destabilization activities of the Russian Federation against EU countries and partners.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda called the 17th pack too weak and called for tougher measures in the next one.