Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard expressed her dissatisfaction with the speed and scale of the European Union’s new sanctions against Russia. She called on the European community to take more decisive and prompt actions, particularly in the energy sector.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Criticism of Delays in Implementing Sanctions
During her speech at the Munich Security Conference, Stenergard emphasized that the EU must increase pressure on Russia. She mentioned that she, along with Finland, initiated a proposal for the twentieth sanctions package, which includes a complete ban on maritime services for all Russian energy vessels. According to her, energy is the main source of funding for Russia’s war economy.
“We need to increase pressure on Russia. Together with Finland, we proposed a complete ban on maritime services for all Russian energy vessels within the 20th sanctions package. Energy is the main source of income for Russia’s war economy. But currently, the proposal only concerns oil, and we are being asked to wait for the G7. We don’t have time to wait,” said the minister.
EU Prepares New Import Restrictions
Stenergard also highlighted the need to stop importing Russian fertilizers, which rank third among the categories of imports to the EU. She stressed that alternatives exist and expressed her frustration over the slow progress on this issue.
The European Commission presented the twentieth sanctions package on February 6. It is planned to be adopted by the fourth anniversary of the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, that is, by February 24. The new package includes a ban on imports of metals from the Russian Federation and may also cover salt, ammonia, gravel, silicon, and other goods.