The EU and USA have decided to partially exclude Russia from the Swift payment system. It is not yet the highest level of escalation, but the pressure is increasing.
Wien. In the end, only Germany hesitated. Until Saturday evening, Berlin was on the brakes on the question of a Swift exclusion for Russia. Concern about the consequences was too great – for example, that Russian gas and coal imports could no longer be paid for and would therefore come to a standstill. When it comes to sanctions, you have to be careful not to choose instruments that “end up making Putin laugh because they hit us harder,” said German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock at the end of the previous week. In the end, however, the pressure from the other EU countries was too great. At the weekend, the EU and the US decided to partially exclude Russia from the international payments system. What does that mean in concrete terms and what are the consequences? “Die Presse” gives answers: