On Thursday, Members of the European Parliament voted on a resolution on the European Council’s conclusions on the Russian military aggression against Ukraine and the implementation of EU sanctions against Russia. The European Parliament voted overwhelmingly to adopt a position in favour of an immediate and full embargo on Russian imports of gas, oil, coal and nuclear fuel. This amendment was initiated by the Greens/EFA Group. Our Group is calling on the European Commission to accelerate the transition to 100% renewable energy. The benefits of focusing on energy efficiency measures and expansion of renewables are clear both in terms of energy independence, security and climate.
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Russia's war strategy is of unacceptable cruelty. The images of the massacres in Bucha, Irpin and other Ukrainian cities are unbearable. We welcome the fact that the Commission has tasked a joint investigation team together with Ukraine to gather evidence and identify those responsible. Targeting civilians is a war crime and those responsible must be held internationally accountable.
Ska Keller, President of the Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group:
“The war in Ukraine revealed Europe’s strategic mistakes in the past. Even after the atrocities done in Grozny and in Syria, very similar to what we see today in Bucha, even after Putin invaded Crimea and Eastern Ukraine, some governments continued to hope for good business with Russia and made us more and more dependent on goods from Russia, on energy and on other items.
We need to invest heavily in renewables and transition faster than we ever thought. This is, and will be, an enormous effort, and it won’t happen overnight. But we need to redefine what it means to act as fast as possible. We need to move to light speed. We need to save energy. Therein lies the huge potential that remains untapped so far. And this is true for individuals, sure, but also and even more so for industries and for policies –and the European Parliament must join efforts here as well.”
The European Union has announced a new sanctions package against Russia, including an embargo on Russian oil. The sanctions also reportedly target the head of the Russian Orthodox Church.
EU outlines Russian oil embargo plan
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled new sanctions against Russia on Wednesday, targeting Moscow's banks and oil industry.
"Today we will propose to ban all Russian oil from Europe," von der Leyen said in the European Parliament, adding that "this will not be easy."
The new measures would ban imports of Russian oil in the bloc by the end of this year.
The move is a significant step for European countries, particularly Germany, that rely heavily on Russian energy imports.
The latest sanctions package was expected to include several major exceptions for Slovakia and Hungary. Von der Leyen, however, did not mention any exemptions in her speech.
Initially, Germany led the charge in resistance to an oil embargo on Russia, despite heavy criticism from Ukraine. The German government changed its position, however, after finding alternate sources for securing oil supplies.
Ukrainian officials and energy experts have said Russia is funding its invasion largely through its energy exports to Europe.
Russia looks to 'consolidate' military control in northeastern Donbas, says UK
Despite facing setbacks in its advance in Ukraine's Donbas region, Russian troops are looking to consolidate control in the area, the British Defense Ministry said.
Ukraine 'not ruling out' Belarus military involvement
EU recommends sanctioning head of Russian Orthodox Church
The European Commission has recommended sanctioning the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill.
The measures are part of a new wave of economic measures against Russia, that were announced by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The details of the sanctions package are set to be published later in the day.
The new sanctions list from the EU's executive branch includes 58 individuals, including Russian military personnel, AFP reported. The proposal also includes the wife, daughter and son of Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
A new round of EU sanctions seeks to shut out Russia's largest bank, Sberbank, from the SWIFT international banking payment system.
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen announced the measures, alongside a Russian oil embargo.
Sberbank and two other major Russian banks are set to be excluded from the international financial communication system.
The sanctions also include an EU ban on three Russian state broadcasters, with von der Leyen calling the TV channels "mouthpieces that amplify Putin's lies and propaganda aggressively."
