New heavy goods arrive today Economic sanctions against Russiaafter the Bucha, Irpin and Borodyanka horrors and the genocide charges brought against Russia by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, together with calls for the UN to set up a Nurembergstyle tribunal to try Moscow for its war crimes.
Fifth EU sanctions package
Today the EU ambassadors in Berlin will agree Fifth sanctions package against Russia. These include an import ban on coal, wood, chemicals and other products worth around 9 billion euros a year and an export ban on semiconductors, computers, gas technology and other electrical equipment and transport to Russia worth 10 billion.
Gas excluded for the time being
“We will continue to do so affect the technological and industrial capacity of Russia‘ said the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, adding that the coal embargo “cuts off another important source of revenue for Russia”. Ecofin yesterday also reached an agreement on the possibility of “gradual” sanctions on oil, not even gas, opposed by Austria and Germany (and Italy in the background), heavily dependent on this energy commodity.
expulsion of diplomats
The political offensive also continues with the expulsion of Russian diplomats by France, Germany, Sweden, Romania and Slovenia, as well as Italy, Spain and Portugal. Prime Minister Draghi announced 30 expulsions from Italy yesterday. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has warned that Russia will respond “appropriately and symmetrically” to expulsions.
The US offensive
Meanwhile, the United States is also preparing to announce new sanctions against Russia in coordination with the G7 and the EU. The new measures that suggest “Isolate” the country from an economic, financial and technological point of view.. According to Bloomberg, the US Treasury Department has already developed its financial offensive and banned Russia from using its dollar funds at US banks to pay for bonds.