Ukraine-News: EU makes new sanctions plan official - stop coal, wood, vodka and more
Created: 04/06/2022, 06:01
By: Franziska Schwarz
Ukraine war and energy dependencies: After the crimes in Bucha, the EU Commission proposes to stop importing Russian coal.
News ticker.
Ukraine conflict
*: The EU is working on new sanctions against the Kremlin.
An energy embargo could be imposed for the first time.
The EU Commission proposes a ban on coal imports from Russia.
This
news ticker
on
economic sanctions against Russia
is continuously updated.
Update from April 5, 3:55 p.m
.: According to AFP, the EU is proposing these new Russia sanctions – an overview:
Ban on coal imports
Import ban on wood
No import of alcoholic beverages (e.g. vodka)
No import of cement
A port lock for Russian ships
A total transaction ban against four Russian banks, including VTB
Ban on the export
of certain semiconductors, computers and other equipment
to Russia
According to the EU Commission, the coal import ban is said to have a value of four billion euros per year.
Almost half of European coal imports currently come from Russia, it said.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen justified the planned measures with the "horrible pictures from Butscha and other areas".
Ukraine war: EU Commission proposes import ban on coal from Russia
Update from April 5, 2:47 p.m
.: The EU Commission has now officially made the planned import ban on coal from Russia.
The sanctions package also includes a port ban on Russian ships and other trade restrictions with the country.
The 27 EU countries must now decide on the proposals
(see initial notification).
First report from April 5
: Luxembourg - gas, coal, oil - how to meet the warring Russia under Vladimir Putin?
Especially after the alleged atrocities in Bucha.
The EU finance ministers will discuss further this Tuesday (April 5) in Luxembourg.
They want to prepare for stopping coal imports.
The dpa news agency learned this from EU circles.
The immediate reactions to the massacre in the wake of the Ukraine conflict have so far been:
Germany expelled 40 Russian diplomats on April 4.
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) also announced further arms deliveries to Ukraine.
US President Joe Biden has called for a "war crimes trial" against Russian President Putin.
There seems to be movement on the topic of coal and oil.
An embargo for Russia is clearly in favor of France.
Its Finance Minister and current EU Council President Bruno Le Maire said on the sidelines of the Luxembourg Council, according to dpa, that he was seeking the approval of all 27 member countries.
Ukraine war: Gas embargo against Putin "definitely" option for Macron government
The French EU Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis also considered this to be “definitely an option”.
French President Emmanuel Macron had previously spoken out in favor of it anyway.
Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) is currently also in the round in Luxembourg.
When it came to coal and oil, he was open.
Not so with gas.
The traffic light coalition under Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) continues to rule out an embargo.
The current FDP justification: In the case of oil, the changeover “can succeed within a few weeks”, according to their energy policy spokesman Michael Kruse to the AFP news agency, but not in the case of gas.
The Austrian finance minister Magnus Brunner also spoke at the Luxembourg Council about an export ban for cement.
Like Germany, Austria is particularly dependent on Russian energy imports.
Italy also gets about 40 percent of its gas from Russia, but its Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said at a meeting in Zagreb on April 4: "Italy will not veto sanctions on Russian gas."
The US and UK have already imposed harsh energy sanctions on Russia.
The European Union plans to stop coal imports from Russia.
(symbol photo) © Roland Weihrauch/dpa
Consequences of the Ukraine war: Oil prices continue to rise after Bucha crimes
Meanwhile, oil prices continue to rise.
A barrel of North Sea Brent cost $108.75 this Tuesday.
1.22 dollars more than the day before.
The price of a barrel of the US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) variety rose by $1.18 to $104.46.
Russia is one of the largest oil producers in the world.
The prices are now also being driven by the prospect of new sanctions against the country.
The Bucha massacre that became known over the weekend is attributed to the Russian army.
The Kremlin denies the allegations and in turn accuses Ukraine of staging.
(frs/dpa)