Sanctions against Russia: what steps the EU and the US are planning next

Created: 4/4/2022 10:52 am

By: Daniel Dillman

The horrible images from the Ukraine war prompt the West to take further steps against Russia.

But what sanctions are coming now?

• The atrocities of Russia* in the Ukraine war* trigger strong reactions in the West.

• The European Union (EU)*, the USA* and NATO* announce further steps against Moscow* and even more support for Ukraine*.

• What sanctions is the West imposing?

  All news about the next measures in the Ukraine conflict* in our new ticker.

Brussels/Washington DC – Leading politicians in the European Union and the USA have announced further sanctions in response to Russia's alleged war crimes in the Ukraine war – including Chancellor Olaf Scholz* (SPD*) and representatives of US President Joe Biden*.

Demands for new sanctions against Russia have been raised after horrific images from Bucha emerged, purporting to prove atrocities committed by the Russian army in the Ukraine war.

In the Kyiv* suburb, more than 300 civilians are said to have been shot dead by the retreating Russian army.

Some of the dead are said to have been buried in mass graves, another large part of the corpses simply lay on the streets of the completely destroyed village.

"They mined the houses, the equipment, even the bodies of the dead people," said Anatoly Fedoruk, Mayor of Bucha.

Economics Ministers Robert Habeck and Bruno Le Maire meet to discuss further sanctions against Russia.

© Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa

Sanctions against Russia: Moscow must expect further measures after Bucha

The reaction from the West was unanimous.

In addition to the EU, Scholz and the Biden administration, NATO Secretary General* Jens Stoltenberg also called for further steps against Russia.

New sanctions are intended to turn off the money supply to the Kremlin, turn the Russian population against the government and thus persuade President Vladimir Putin* to give in.

In addition to new sanctions against Russia, Olaf Scholz, among others, has announced that he will deliver more and significantly more weapons to Ukraine.

Similar tones came from France.

According to the Financial Times, Emmanuel Macron's government has announced that it is already preparing the next package of sanctions against Moscow.

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed this for the EU.

Charles Michel, President of the European Council, also tweeted: "More EU sanctions & support on the way."

Ukraine war: The EU has already issued these sanctions

• Finances:

  Russia's banks are excluded from the SWIFT system.

  The EU also bans the Central Bank of Russia from all transactions and freezes its assets.

• Oligarchs:

  The assets of Russian oligarchs have been frozen.

  Many possessions in the West, such as yachts and real estate, are confiscated.

• Energy Sector:

  Export bans on Russian oil are already in place, making it impossible for the Kremlin to modernize its oil refineries.

• Transport:

  EU airspace remains closed to all Russian-owned aircraft.

  Overflight is also not permitted.

  The export, sale and delivery or transfer of aircraft and equipment to Russian airlines is prohibited.

  This also applies to all associated repair, maintenance and financial services.

• Industry:

  Russia no longer has access to the purchase of semiconductors or the latest software.

• Entry:

  Diplomats and related groups, as well as business people, lose their privileged access to the European Union.

• Individual restrictions:

  480 people supporting Russia's attack on Ukraine will be sanctioned.

  Among them is President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

• Media:

  Russian state media such as Russia Today and Sputnik can no longer broadcast their programs in the EU.

• Belarus:

  Sanctions were also imposed on Belarus, Russia's ally in the Ukraine war.

Ukraine war: new sanctions against Russia?

When it comes to oil and gas, opinions differ

According to the news portal Politico, there is still disagreement in the EU as to how far the four-stage plan for sanctions against Russia should really go.

The main argument is about the question of Russian energy sources, namely gas for the EU and oil for the USA.

If both states stopped buying fuel, the Kremlin would be cut off.

So far, however, neither Washington DC nor Brussels have been able to bring themselves to take such a step.

According to a report by the Tagesspiegel, Economics Minister Robert Habeck* (Greens*) ruled out the immediate stop to gas purchases.

NATO intervention in the Ukraine war is also not up for debate.

(dil)