Russian Aggression Under Fire: Merz Slams Moscow's "Terror" on Ukraine Civilians
Russia is instilling fear and violence among civilians in Ukraine
Hit Me Up: Facebook | Twitter | Whatsapp | Email | Print | Copy Link 🔖 Chanel: Friedrich Merz 🔥 Chats: Tougher EU/US Sanctions on Russia's Energy & Banking Sectors
In a blistering critique, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz lambasted Russia's brutal attacks on civilian targets in Ukraine, calling for swifter EU and US actions against Moscow. Speaking in Berlin on Tuesday, Merz decried the Russian assaults as "intentional bloodbaths," applauding Ukraine's heroic defense for keeping the carnage in check. He branded the recent heavy attacks on Kyiv and other cities as "terror against the civilian population," the gravest war crimes committed, he said.
Merz urged Europe and the United States to ratchet up the heat on Russian President Vladimir Putin with fresh sanctions, citing the previous attacks' impact on Russia's already strained economy. With concerns swirling over Russia's financial resilience to sustain the war effort, Merz expressed optimism that additional sanctions in the energy and banking sectors will hasten an end to the conflict.
emanating from the EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's proposals for the 18th sanctions package, key measures envision:
Energy Sector Sanctions
- Slashing the Oil Price Cap: The EU intends to slash the oil price cap for Russian seaborne oil from $60 to $45 per barrel, aiming to further pummel Russia's oil revenues already reeling from previous sanctions15.
- Clamping Down on Nord Stream Pipelines: The plan includes a prohibition on any transaction related to the Nord Stream pipelines. Since the pipelines remain dormant, Germany having ruled out their relaunch, this move serves as a symbolic blow and aims to prevent future revenue generation1.
- Growing "Shadow Fleet" Scrutiny: The proposal entails adding more vessels to the blacklist of suspected sanctions evaders, dubbed Russia's "shadow fleet." The new sanctions will impact over 400 vessels, constricting Russia's oil trading capabilities4.
Banking Sector Sanctions
- Expanding the Scope of Russian Banks: The sanctions will hit more than twenty Russian banks, targeting Moscow's financial activities and cutting off its access to international financial markets2.
These initiatives form part of a broader scheme to cripple Russia's capacity to fund its military operations in Ukraine and coerce Moscow into negotiating a tranquil resolution to the ongoing conflict1.
- In light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Friedrich Merz has advocated for strengthening the EU and US employment policies to tackle the potential economic fallout from additional sanctions on Russia's energy and banking sectors.
- Amidst the debates over war-and-conflicts, politics, and general-news, the community policy could consider promoting job opportunities for those who may be affected by the economic sanctions imposed on Russia due to its aggression in Ukraine.
