Today, the EU’s 19th Sanctions Package proposal was presented by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Campaign group Razom We Stand issues the following reaction quote:
Dr Svitlana Romanko, Founder and Executive Director of Razom We Stand, said:
“The European Commission’s move to finally propose to ban all imports of Russian LNG into the EU markets is a long-awaited and welcome step. It is also welcome that sanctions are to be aligned with the G7 nations, but we insist that existing and new sanctions should finally be enforced in full. Today’s announcement shows that pressure from Ukraine and civil society is working – but the job is still not finished. Member states must now adopt these proposals in the next Foreign Affairs Council on 20 October or earlier. Further delays will only allow the Kremlin to earn more funds from its energy trade, money that will undoubtedly be spent on bombs, missiles and drones in Ukraine.
The $47.6/barrel price cap reduction is a good start, but this should be pushed down to $20-25/barrel. The new listing of 118 shadow fleet ships is welcome. However, with an estimated 1000 ships known to exist, we need a more robust solution. We propose the creation of an agency led by the EU, to stay up to date with the latest information about current shadow fleet ships, and to provide adequate information so that bans on shadow fleet ships can be enforced. Only with continued pressure and more biting sanctions like those put forth today, can we together dry up the Kremlin’s war chest, and give Ukraine a fighting chance for peace.”
ENDS
Razom We Stand is a Ukraine-based campaign group active internationally. It calls for a total and permanent embargo on Russian fossil fuels and an immediate end to all investment in Russian oil and gas companies by phasing out fossil fuels globally.
Svitlana Romanko has appeared in the top-tier international press, including Financial Times, Bloomberg, Politico, The Guardian, Der Spiegel, Le Monde, Washington Post, CNN, NBC, Newsweek, The Hill, Rolling Stone, and more
