European Union Heads of State and Government agreed on Monday May 30 to immediately ban more than two-thirds of Russian oil imports and to end 90% of them by the end of the European Union. year, a measure intended to dry up the sources of funding for Moscow’s “war machine”.
The move, announced via Twitter by European Council President Charles Michel, comes as Russian forces are leading an offensive against Sievierodonetsk, the last city still controlled by Kyiv in the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine. The new EU sanctions package also includes the exclusion from the Swift network of the main Russian bank, Sberbank, the ban on broadcasting in the community block for three additional Russian public channels, as well as measures against individuals judged responsible for war crimes in Ukraine, said Charles Michel.
Speaking on Twitter, French President Emmanuel Macron underlined the unity of the Twenty-Seven and their solidarity with the Ukrainian people. “Russia is choosing to continue its war in Ukraine. As Europeans, united and in solidarity with the Ukrainian people, we are taking new sanctions tonight. We have decided to end Russian oil imports at 90% by the end of 2022 “, he said.
Russia has chosen to continue its war in Ukraine. Tonight, as Europeans, united and in solidarity with the Ukrainian people, we are taking new decisive sanctions. We have decided to stop importing 90% of Russian oil by the end of 2022.
—Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) May 30, 2022
