The Europeans conferred until half past three in the morning. They couldn’t agree on Russia’s disconnection from Swift, they postponed it for the third package of sanctions. The second category includes key state-owned companies, including those in the defense sector, and banks. A ban has been introduced on the sale of aircraft, spare parts and equipment to Russian airlines, and on the export of semiconductors needed for oil refining. There will be visa restrictions for certain categories of citizens.
“For the first time, this package includes financial sanctions that will deprive Russia of access to the most important capital markets. Now we are targeting 70% of the Russian banking market. Diplomats and businessmen from Russia will no longer have privileged access to the EU,” said the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
The new energy strategy of the EU will be aimed at the rejection of Russian fuel. Gazprom von der Leyen called Gazprom an unreliable supplier, so they will switch to liquefied gas from other countries. The Russian delegation to the EU called the restrictions illegitimate and unreasonable and promised a tough response.
To European sanctions entered into force, they must now be approved by the Council of the EU. The procedure is formal and will be completed today.
Air France cuts number of weekly flights to Russia. President Macron called Putin at the request of Zelensky, who is promised 1.2 billion euros in EU aid.
“I had a quick, frank and direct exchange with President Putin at the request of President Zelensky. Firstly, to ask for an early cessation of hostilities, and secondly, to propose a conversation with Zelensky, but this had no effect,” he said. Macron.
Zelensky complains that no one wants to fight together with Ukraine and take it to NATO, asks the Europeans for weapons, Germany again refuses.
“The demands of Ukraine’s ambassador to Germany Andriy Melnyk are well known, as is the position of the German government. I can repeat the position of the German government here today: we will not supply weapons to Ukraine,” said German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck.
Canada imposes personal sanctions on 58 individuals and entities, including Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Justice Minister Konstantin Chuichenko.
The United States will restrict Russia’s ability to do business in dollars, pounds and yen, sanctions have been imposed against Sberbank, Gazprombank, VTB, Otkritie, as well as Sovcombank and Novikombank. The restrictions will affect the space program, the export of semiconductors, computers, lasers and sensors.
“This will come at a severe cost to the Russian economy, both now and over time. We purposefully designed these sanctions to maximize the long-term impact on Russia and minimize the impact on the United States and our allies,” US President Joe Biden said.
“Their impact will be completely asymmetric. They will cost Europe dearly, in particular Italy and Germany. They will cost much less than the United States, which insists on them so much, but does not have the same trade relations with Russia as we have,” the former prime minister said. Italy Romano Prodi.
The British Foreign Office stated bluntly that London would not calm down until the Russian economy was destroyed.