EU may approve more sanctions against Russia in October

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Reuters
22 Sep 2022 19:25
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New European Union sanctions are on the table for this autumn.

The Council of the European Union

During a meeting in the Czech Republic which will take place between October 6 and 7, leaders from European Union countries may approve new measures against Russia, including an oil price cap - which will worsen the energy crisis - and individual sanctions.

Reuters said that the European Commission is expected to submit a written proposal with restrictive measures against Russia to Union leaders, which would then be approved in Prague.

Unnamed EU officials said that the Union has been considering putting a price cap on Russian oil, restricting high-tech exports from the EU to Russia, in addition to implementing strict measures against Russian individuals.

According to Reuters, Poland, and Baltic states have also been calling on confiscating Russian assets - however, this decision is not so likely to receive full support in the European Union, decreasing the likelihood to go through.

Speaking to RIA Novosti, Peter Stano, a spokesman for the European External Action Service, all decisions made by the European Union on matters of foreign policy, including the imposition of sanctions, are made unanimously unless the relevant procedure is amended by a decision made by all EU member states.

The European Union on Wednesday threatend Russia with new sanctions in the event of referenda in the LPR, DPR, Kherson, and Zaporozhye regions.

"Russia, its political leadership, and all those involved in these referenda and other violations of international law in Ukraine will be held accountable, and additional restrictive measures against Russia would be considered," the statement read.

Similarly, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg considered that the next referendum on joining Russia would be viewed as "illegitimate" and the international community should denounce them.

"Sham referendums have no legitimacy & do not change the nature of #Russia’s war of aggression against #Ukraine. This is a further escalation in Putin’s war. The international community must condemn this blatant violation of international law & step up support for Ukraine," Stoltenberg tweeted.