European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that despite ongoing talks to end the war, “we must be clear-eyed: Russia will only come to the table with genuine intent if it is pressured to do so.”
The shipping services ban, which would need to be endorsed by EU member states, would “slash further Russia’s energy revenues and make it more difficult to find buyers for its oil,” she said.
Oil revenue is the linchpin of Russia’s economy, allowing President Vladimir Putin to pour money into the armed forces without worsening inflation for everyday people and avoiding a currency collapse.
Von der Leyen said the EU should impose the ban in coordination with the Group of Seven major world powers and other international partners. She said that dozens more ships working in Russia’s shadow fleet transporting oil should also be targeted.
The EU’s 27 national envoys will start to discuss the proposals on Monday. The bloc has already imposed 19 packages of sanctions on Russia over its attacks on Ukraine, but getting final agreement on who and what to target can take weeks.
The aim is to have the new measures endorsed by the EU member countries by Feb. 23, the eve of the war’s fourth anniversary.
Von der Leyen said other proposals aim to restrict Russia’s banking system and its ability to create alternative payment channels to fund its economy. “This is Russia’s weak point, and we are pressing hard on it,” she said.
Other measures would include new bans on goods and services, including rubber, tractors and cybersecurity services. An import ban would be slapped on metals, chemicals and critical minerals that are not already under sanctions.
Photograph: European EU flags in front of the Berlaymont building, headquarters of the European Commission in Brussels; photo credit: Bigstock
