The European Commission aims to step up the pressure on Russia with new sanctions, including an EU entry ban for Russian soldiers who have fought in the war against Ukraine.
“We propose for the first time to ban from entry into the European Union anyone who has served in the Russian Armed Forces since the beginning of the war,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday.
“Europe stays off limits for anyone who has participated in the invasion of Ukraine, as simple as that,” she told journalists in Brussels, presenting the bloc’s 21st sanctions package since the beginning of Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine
Von der Leyen also announced measures targeting Russia’s financial, energy and fishery sectors.
Under the plans, the regular adjustments of the EU’s oil price cap are to be suspended until January next year to limit Russia’s revenue from oil exports.
Otherwise, the cap would have to be raised as global fuel prices are rising due to the war in Iran.
Additionally, the sale of tankers for the transport of liquified natural gas (LNG) is to be restricted, and 30 more vessels linked to Russia’s so-called shadow fleet used to circumvent sanctions on oil exports are to be sanctioned.
Planned financial and economic sanctions include transaction bans for 31 additional Russian banks, measures targeting crypto transactions and export restrictions on metals and alloys used in the aerospace and defence sectors, as well as on some fish products.
EU countries still have to approve the sanctions before they can enter into force.