The EU foreign ministers are said to have agreed on new sanctions against Russia. But Hungary is again demanding the end of the existing ones. Austria’s Foreign Minister Schallenberg speaks out against further steps in the energy sector.
In response to the partial mobilization, the EU wants to tighten its sanctions against Russia. The foreign ministers of the 27 EU member states agreed on this on the fringes of the UN General Assembly in New York. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said states had made the political decision to take new sectoral and individual measures. In addition, the EU will continue to support Ukraine with more weapons.
However, there was immediate opposition from the EU country Hungary. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has called for EU sanctions to be lifted by the end of the year at the latest, a government spokesman confirmed. The Hungarian newspaper Magyar Nemzet quoted Orbán as saying that the EU sanctions had pushed up gas prices and inflation. If these measures were lifted, gas prices would immediately fall by 50 percent and inflation would also fall. The EU Commission must first present proposals for an eighth package of sanctions before the member states of the Community have to decide unanimously on this.
Von der Leyen announces further export controls
Following an interview with the US broadcaster, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told CNN in writing: “We are ready to impose further economic costs on Russia and on individuals and institutions inside and outside Russia that support it politically or economically we will propose additional export controls on civilian technology as Russia moves to a full war economy.”
The new EU sanctions against Russia could also include a price cap on Russian oil. A diamond embargo is also under discussion, as Brussels diplomats have confirmed to the AFP news agency.
Cyprus concerned about oil price cap
In the EU, above all Greece and Cyprus, whose shipping companies also deliver Russian oil to third countries, would have to be persuaded of a price cap for Russian oil. All sanctions require a unanimous decision by member countries. Under the German presidency, the G7 countries had already spoken out in favor of a global oil price cap at the beginning of September.
There could also be an import ban on Russian diamonds into the EU. Belgium, with its Antwerp trading center, would be particularly affected. In July, the EU countries had already imposed a gold embargo on Russia.
Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg (ÖVP) referred in the “ZiB2” to the previous EU sanctions packages: “What you could think of now are gap closures and clarifications.” Regarding further steps, “e.g. in the energy sector, especially in gas, there will be a clear ‘no’ from Austria,” said Schallenberg, confirming Austria’s previous line.
The meeting of EU foreign ministers came hours after Vladimir Putin announced Russia’s first war mobilization since World War II. Borrell said the Russian president’s announcement showed panic and desperation. “It is clear that Putin is trying to destroy Ukraine,” Borrell told reporters.
Decision not until mid-October
The Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba informed the EU foreign ministers about the situation in Ukraine at their meeting. The ministers agreed to prepare an eighth package of sanctions. Borrell said the new sanctions are targeting key sectors of Russia’s economy and individuals responsible for the war of aggression against Ukraine. The next formal meeting of EU foreign ministers is scheduled for mid-October. Then the eighth package of sanctions could be formalised.
Meanwhile, the foreign ministers of the seven leading industrial nations have announced that they intend to increase their support for Ukraine. “We reaffirm the cooperation of the G7 countries in supporting Ukraine and ensuring food and energy security,” Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said at a news conference in New York. As part of additional sanctions against Russia, Japan will, among other things, ban the export of products that could be used for chemical weapons to Russia.
(APA/Reuters/dpa)