Hit the Russian economy where it hurts

European and global sanctions on Russia must be maintained and strengthened until the last Russian soldier withdraws from Ukraine. The EPP Group expects that when agreeing on the 22nd EU sanctions package next week, the ministers will hit the Russian economy where it hurts. 

"This involves reinforcing the sanctions targeting Russia's financial and energy sectors, dismantling Russia’s shadow fleet, including by targeting the companies that manage its vessels and recruit their crews and captains, tightening visa policies for Russian nationals  and expanding the list of individuals subject to sanctions to include people involved in undermining Europe and the rules-based international order," stresses Andrzej Halicki, Vice-Chairman of the EPP Group.

Ahead of  a European Parliament plenary debate on further EU sanctions against Russia in response to the escalating attacks against Ukraine, Halicki also calls for decisive action on the frozen Russian assets. 

"Russia must pay for the destruction it has caused in Ukraine, just like any other aggressor. The frozen Russian assets, the money of the Russian oligarchs and the Russian state which is waging this criminal war, must be transferred to a European trust fund operating under EU control," Halicki adds. 

Sandra Kalniete, the Foreign Affairs Committee’s standing rapporteur on Russia, calls for an additional ban:

"We need to ban the transit of Russia’s blood-stained grain without delay. We must stop fuelling Putin’s war machine and force the Kremlin to end the blockade of ships in the Black Sea.  Russia’s aim is to strangle Ukraine’s economy and destabilise global food security in order to trigger new waves of migration that would undermine Europe. Let’s not be fooled! Europe must not be left to pay the price for Putin’s aggression," Kalniete demands.