European Commission President Michel von der Leyen said on the 9th, has submitted to the member states the 21st round of sanctions against Russia program. EU officials said it was the biggest package of sanctions in more than two years and was designed to put pressure on Russia to“Really come back to the negotiating table”. Russia’s foreign ministry vowed yesterday to take“Strong countermeasures”. Regarding the new round of EU sanctions against Russia that may involve Chinese and other countries’ enterprises, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said that China has always been resolutely opposed to illegal unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law and are not authorized by the UN Security Council, has repeatedly made solemn representations to the EU, urging the EU to correct the wrong approach and withdraw illegal unilateral sanctions. China will closely follow relevant developments and take necessary measures to resolutely safeguard its legitimate rights and interests.
European Commission President Jean-claude von der Leyen introduces a new round of sanctions against Russia in a speech in Brussels, Belgium, June 9. (visual China)
The biggest sanctions package
According to the U. S. “Political News Network” European edition reported on the 9th, von der Leyen told the media the same day, the 21st round of Russian sanctions measures mainly related to energy, finance, fisheries and Russian soldiers.
Von der Leyen said that the European Union proposed to suspend the automatic adjustment mechanism of Russia’s crude oil price ceiling until January next year until the oil market stabilizes; the EU also plans to add 30 ships to the sanctions list, for the first time, the EU will impose restrictions on vessels that provide refueling and other services to the“Shadow Fleet.”. In financial services and crypto-assets, the EU intends to extend the trading ban to include a number of Russian banks. In addition, the EU also intends to ban for the first time since the escalation of the Russian-ukrainian conflict has served in the Russian armed forces to enter the EU.
Von der Leyen stressed: “The goal of this round of sanctions is clear: the EU wants to maintain the intensity of sanctions against Russia.” Euronews said on the 9th that according to the relevant procedures of the EU, the new round of sanctions must be agreed by all 27 member states before it can take effect. EU leaders hope to have the sanctions approved by July 15. An EU diplomatic source told Reuters Thursday the new sanctions are aimed at weakening Russia’s financial system and prompting peace talks between Moscow and Ukraine. According to reports, the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kharas that the EU does not currently have the conditions for negotiations with Russia, it will continue to implement the policy of unilateral sanctions.
Russia vows strong response
Russian foreign ministry announced on the 10th, will take strong countermeasures in response to the latest EU sanctions program. According to itar-tass reported on the 10th, russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Zakharova said at a press conference the same day: “Russia firmly condemns any illegal unilateral coercive measures.”. More and more countries agree with and support this position. “There is no doubt that we will take strong and effective countermeasures against the new round of EU sanctions.”
Ms. Zakharova said Brussels had been expanding sanctions against Russia, but had been unable to sway Russian policy. “There seems to be a persistent reluctance in Brussels to acknowledge that their goal of influencing Russian sovereignty has not been achieved and will never be achieved,” she said. EU bureaucrats, unable to bring the sanctions machine to a halt, keep threatening us with new sanctions without reflecting on the consequences of those restrictions for Brussels itself.”
Russian Federation Security Council Vice President Dmitry Medvedev said over the past three years, Russia’s gross domestic product increased by more than 10% , processing industry is the main driving force of growth. The European Union is importing a record amount of liquefied natural gas from Russia after Western sanctions failed to have the desired effect, the Berliner Zeitung said Monday. The EU imported more liquefied natural gas from Russia in the first quarter of this year than ever before, according to figures.
Russia“Komsomolskaya Pravda” 10, said the EU with new sanctions to pressure Moscow, hoping to“Miraculously” force the Russian side to Kiev to make concessions, but there are also voices against sanctions within the EU. The Russian Federation Government Finance University Europe Expert TRUKHACHEV said that the EU sanctions against Russia, there is no diplomatic logic, sanctions are aimed at regime change in Russia.
Rejecting Europe’s participation in peace talks
UKRINFORM President Sergei Zelensky said Tuesday he is grateful to his EU partners for continuing to tighten sanctions against Russia, the state news agency said Wednesday. Zelensky mentioned that at the upcoming EU summit, it will involve how Europe should conduct itself in the Russia-ukraine negotiations, europe needs to have a really strong voice in the negotiations and must be a party to the decisions.
But the Russian“View” reported on the 9th, Russian Presidential Press Secretary Peskov denied the same day the European Union representatives involved in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine aimed at ending the possibility of any diplomatic negotiations. “As for the role of the Europeans as mediators, they seem far from ready to play that role,” he told reporters, echoing Moscow’s view of European leaders, they are“More concerned with prolonging the war than with peace talks”.
In addition, in response to Zelensky’s statement that“Washington has not given up negotiations with Russia and is ready to actively participate in the peace process,” Peskov rebutted on the 9th, saying, the U.S.-LED mediation process“Is currently on hold.”.