EU proposes new sanctions on Russia including ban on tanker services

BRUSSELS, Feb 6 (KUNA) -- The European Commission on Friday proposed a new package of sanctions on Russia over the war in Ukraine, including a ban on providing services to tankers carrying Russian oil, marking the 20th round of EU sanctions since the start of the conflict.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement that the package, expected to be adopted on the fourth anniversary of the war on February 24, also targets Russian banks, cryptocurrency traders and metal exports, as part of efforts to increase economic pressure on Moscow.
She said Ukraine continues to defend itself with "extraordinary courage," while stressing that Russia will only engage in serious peace talks under real pressure.
Von der Leyen noted that the sanctions focus on three main areas namely energy, financial services and trade. In energy, the EU will impose a full ban on maritime services for Russian crude oil tankers, in coordination with G7 partners, to cut Moscow's energy revenues.
She added that 43 more vessels will be listed as part of Russia's "shadow fleet," bringing the total to 640, alongside tighter restrictions on acquiring tankers and a broad ban on maintenance services for LNG tankers and icebreakers.
In the financial sector, the EU will add 20 more Russian regional banks to its sanctions list and take measures against cryptocurrencies and related platforms to curb circumvention.
In trade, new export bans on goods and services worth over 360 million euros and new import bans on metals and critical minerals worth more than 570 million euros will be imposed.
Von der Leyen urged member states to swiftly approve the package, saying it sends a strong signal of the EU's continued commitment to a "free and sovereign" Ukraine. (end) arn.mt