Russian Attacks on Civilian Targets Escalate: Merz Urges Tougher Sanctions Against Putin's Regime
Russia allegedly instigates terror on civilians within Ukraine
Social Media | Messaging Apps | Email | Print | Share Link--- | --- | --- | --- | ---Chancellor Friedrich Merz has condemned Russia's barbaric strikes on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine and reiterated the demand for harsh EU and US sanctions against Russia. "Putin's Russia aimed to provoke massacre, thankfully the Ukrainian defense has kept it from reaching its bloody objectives," Merz stated in Berlin on Tuesday. "The Russian onslaught on Kyiv and other cities are plain assaults on the civilian population," he continued. These actions constitute heinous war crimes, a "war on the innocent civilians."
He expressed hope that the EU, in tandem with the US, will amplify the pressure on Putin with new sanctions. The earlier strikes have already caused significant damage to the Russian economy, he added. "How long Russia can continue waging this war also depends on the effectiveness of the sanctions." proposals for a new round of sanctions against Russia in the energy and banking sectors were presented by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Merz is currently in close communication with von der Leyen. The sooner these sanctions are enforced, the sooner there's a glimmer of hope for an end to this conflict.
The EU's 18th sanctions package against Russia includes extensive new measures aimed at crippling key Russian infrastructure, energy, and banking sectors, with a focus on energy supply.
A ban on transactions related to the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines has been proposed, further strengthening earlier measures to sever Russia's stranglehold on European energy supplies. A significant reduction of the price cap on Russian oil from $60 to $45 per barrel is on the table, with the coordination of G7 nations, aiming to cut Russia's oil export revenues down to size. The "shadow fleet" blacklist is being expanded, adding 77 vessels, to restrict Russia from circumventing sanctions in the oil export sector.
The EU also intends to ban imports of petroleum products derived from Russian oil and place restrictions on machinery, metals, plastics, chemicals, and dual-use goods, valued at over €2.5 billion, to curtail Russia's access to vital industrial goods and technologies.
More stringent regulations are planned for Russia's banking sector, including the addition of 22 banks to the EU blacklist, barring them from accessing the SWIFT international payment system, as well as extending transaction bans to third-party financial operators sustaining trade with Russia.
The sanctions list will also include another 22 Russian and foreign companies that directly or indirectly support Russia's military and industrial complex, increasing the total number of sanctioned entities to approximately 800.
Von der Leyen underscored that Russia's goal is dominance, not peace, and the EU's focus is to deepen the sanctions to hamper Russia's economy and military might. The EU is determined to exert its resolve and further sabotage Russia's capacity to wage war against Ukraine.
The community and employment policies must address the potential economic repercussions due to the escalating war-and-conflicts, such as the sanctions against Putin's regime in Russia, for the stability of European economies. General news outlets and email services should prioritize the dissemination of updates on politics and crime-and-justice, including the continuous developments in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, to keep the public informed.
