Speaking on behalf of the Socialists and Democrats (S&D), Iratxe García Pérez said the next step in sanctions “has to be cutting off gas and oil” with renewed efforts to diversify gas supplies and fight climate change.
But “beating Putin” does not mean leaving EU countries on their own to phase out Russian oil and gas, she added, calling for greater solidarity between European countries to face the consequences of the war – for example, when dealing with refugees.
To address the social impacts of the ban, she also called on EU countries to tax the windfall profits made by energy companies since the start of the war. “While big energy companies make a lot of money, it’s the most vulnerable people that are suffering the consequences of this war,” she said.
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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.
EU targets officials behind Bucha atrocities: 'We know who you are'
The European Union's newest sanctions package against Moscow is set to include Russian officials responsible for the atrocities committed in Bucha and Mariupol, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said.
The sanctions will include high-ranking Russian military officers and others "who committed war crimes in Bucha and who are responsible for the inhuman siege of the city of Mariupol," von der Leyen said.
"This sends another important signal to all perpetrators of the Kremlin's war: We know who you are, and you will be held accountable," she added.
Following the withdrawal of Russian troops from Bucha, a town located outside Kyiv, the bodies of Ukrainian civilians were found lying on the streets or buried in mass graves.
The Ukrainian port city of Mariupol has been under attack by Russian troops for weeks. While scores of people were evacuated from the embattled Azovstal steel plant in recent days, hundreds of civilians remain holed up in the plant's bomb shelters.
Ukraine 'not ruling out' Belarus military involvement
Ukraine says Russia could, at some point, call for military help from Belarus, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian State Border Service said on Wednesday.
Speaking after the Belarusian armed forces announced the beginning of military drills, spokesperson Andriy Demchenko said: "We do not rule out that the Russian Federation could at some point use the territory of Belarus, the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus, against Ukraine. Therefore, we are ready."
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."
