The EU is seeking to impose a visa ban on Russians who fought in Ukraine, as part of a new round of sanctions on Moscow over the war, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said Tuesday.
The proposed package — the 21st round to target Russia since its 2022 invasion — also includes maintaining a price cap on Russian oil and hitting cryptocurrency exchanges used to dodge sanctions.
“Our sanctions keep biting hard and cutting deep. They are weakening the economic foundations of Russia’s war effort,” von der Leyen said.
The EU chief said the aim of the visa ban for fighters was to make sure that “Europe stays off-limits for anyone who has participated in the invasion of Ukraine”.
“We propose for the first time to ban entry into the European Union for anyone who has served in the Russian armed forces since the beginning of the war,” she said.
A key aim of the latest measures is to keep down Russian revenues from its global oil exports as prices have surged due to the Middle East war.
Brussels wants to maintain a price cap on Russian crude at the current level of around $44 until January so the Kremlin cannot take advantage of the leap in prices.
“This will give oil markets time to stabilise, while preserving pressure on Russia’s revenues,” von der Leyen said.
The latest proposals will need to be debated by the EU’s 27 member states and need unanimous approval to be adopted.
– Crypto, ‘shadow fleet’ hit –
Brussels is also pushing to hit crypto platforms, banks and oil traders helping Moscow to dodge the impact of the sanctions.
It plans to blacklist 30 more tankers from the so-called “shadow fleet” used by Moscow to export its oil.
Among other Russian products to be targeted, the EU is seeking to restrict imports of certain fish such as Alaska Pollock and cod.
Brussels will try to tighten the screws further on companies in third countries supplying the Russian military.
Officials said those include another 14 firms from mainland China and Hong Kong that should be banned from buying EU goods.
EU officials insist that Russia’s economy is beginning to stall, despite the Kremlin being able to weather repeated rounds of sanctions.
“The price Russia pays is heavier by the day, and it is paid primarily by the people of Russia,” von der Leyen said.
“They are mourning sons, brothers, husbands, and at the same time they face declining living standards at home.”
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas estimated on Monday that Western sanctions have cost Russia up to $1.5 trillion since the start of the war.
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