The EU countries have demanded new sanctions against Russia.
The foreign ministers of Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Iceland, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland and Sweden, as well as the French minister for European affairs, issued a joint statement regarding Russia. They stated that they intended to further limit Russia’s ability to wage an aggressive war against Ukraine by increasing pressure on it, including through early adoption of additional sanctions.
“We look forward to the upcoming EU action plan to phase out Russian energy imports as an important tool to reduce Russia’s income. Russia’s use of the so-called ‘shadow fleet’ is aimed at circumventing our sanctions and fueling its military economy, and it also poses an international risk to the environment and maritime security, including in the North and Baltic seas. We are determined to take further coordinated steps to deter and counter the shadow fleet. We will remind relevant flag states of their legal obligations to exercise effective jurisdiction over vessels flying under their flag and ensure full compliance with international rules and standards,” the ministers said in a statement.
“Russia remains the biggest and most immediate threat to our security. It needs to be apprehended and deterred, including through existing international sanctions and imposing new ones. I call for adopting the 17th package of EU sanctions as soon as possible. It must include sanctions against Russia’s liquefied natural gas sector, Rosatom, the shadow fleet, IT and banking sectors, and the extention of individual sanctions,” said the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Kęstutis Budrys.
