Russian invasion Sanctions

New EU sanctions proposed: Ban on Russian natural gas

The European Commission has submitted a proposal for a 19th package of sanctions against Russia, writes AFP. Among other things, it wants to ban imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG).

– It is time to turn off the tap, says Commission President Ursula von der Leyen according to TT.

The package also includes sanctions against a further 118 ships suspected of belonging to the so-called Russian shadow fleet. It must be approved by all member states in the EU parliament before it comes into force.

Last week, US President Donald Trump called on all NATO countries to stop importing Russian oil.

Sanctions punish companies that feed Putin's war chest

The EU Commission's new sanctions package also targets companies in other countries that are considered to help Russia circumvent sanctions, news agencies write.

- We are hitting refineries, oil traders and petrochemical companies in third countries - including China, says von der Leyen according to TT.

The new sanctions apply to a dozen Chinese companies and several Indian ones, sources tell Bloomberg.

Donald Trump has repeatedly called on the EU to impose high tariffs on China and India, which buy Russian energy and thus feed Vladimir Putin's war chest.

The sanctions also target more Russian banks and Russian crypto management.

Data: EU billions to Hungary to lift veto on oil sanctions

The EU plans to pay around six billion kronor to Hungary to get the country to let sanctions against Russian oil pass. This is according to sources for the Financial Times.

EU support for Hungary was locked in 2022 with the requirement that Hungary meet the Union's requirements for the rule of law and protection of human rights. This year, the country lost further EU support for not having met the requirements for combating corruption.

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has repeatedly demanded to release the money so as not to use his veto, among other things, against EU support for Ukraine, according to Politico.