New Russia sanctions: That is in the 18th package of the EU

The EU Commission presented its proposal for an 18th sanction package against Russia. “We increase the pressure on Russia, because strength is the only language that will understand Russia,” said EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday in Brussels.

The new punitive measures should primarily target Russian income from energy sources and the armaments industry. Among other things, the package provides for further measures against another 77 ships of the shadow fleet and a reduction in the oil price lid of $ 60 per barrel to $ 45. In addition, there should be a ban on transactions with the north stream gas pipelines and with banks that are involved in the bypass of sanctions.

In addition, 22 other Russian banks are to be placed on the sanction list. The Commission President also announced further export bans on machines, metals, plastics and chemicals as well as dual-use goods and technologies, “which can be used to manufacture drones, rockets and other weapon systems”.

The EU, the G7 countries and Australia, decided in December 2022 to reduce a price limit for Russian oil to reduce Moscow’s income from energy exports. With the further reduction of the price, the Commission is responding to the changed market conditions, said von der Leyen.

Since the introduction of the lid, the world market price for crude oil has gradually approached the $ 60 and has even fallen below this brand for a short time. The reduction in Alberta, Canada next week, will be discussed at the G7 summit next week, the Commission President explained. She is “very confident that we will achieve this goal”.

The sanction package must be decided by the EU countries.

More shortly at this point.