Stricter sanctions against the Russian bank Sberbank, a halt to other oligarchs and negotiations between European states on whether to limit oil supplies from Russia to the European Union.
In Sunday’s Broadcasting of Questions by Václav Moravec, Vice-President of the European Commission Věra Jourová stated that the sixth package of sanctions against Russia, which had started a war in Ukraine, was now being discussed at the European level.
According to Jourová, sanctions against other Russian oligarchs and companies linked to Putin’s political regime are at stake. “We are negotiating a new package of sanctions, the states have different positions, especially on the issue of oil, not on the Russian bank Sberbank,” Jourová said.
He expects the announcement of the sixth sanctions package to come in the coming days. The key now is to find a consensus among the EU countries – especially on oil supplies, to which the Member States have so far differed. “We need unity. We need pressure for the strongest possible sanctions, “Jourová said on Czech Television.
The European Commissioner has confirmed that a crisis scenario is being prepared at the European Union level should Russian gas supplies cease. Perhaps because the EU state refused to pay Putin for gas in rubles, as the Kremlin ruler asks.
“We have to reckon with crazy variants, we see a disgusting war. We are united, we see the power of a common Europe. We must be prepared for the worst, we have a contingency plan to deal with an immediate outage. We are counting on the help of the USA, “Jourová described.
In Sunday’s discussion, Slovak Prime Minister Eduard Heger (OĽaNO) mentioned that Slovakia is one of the countries that would be most affected by energy sanctions due to its high dependence on Russian gas.
“We must not remain passive and defensive. We cannot leave Ukraine alone in this. We are on their side, we each fight in our own way. We go to the margins in sanctions. We need unity and solidarity in the EU, even more than we do now. This is important for the future of the EU, which must now become a global leader, “Slovak Prime Minister Heger told Czech Television.
More money for defense
Czech Finance Minister Zbyněk Stanjura (ODS) also insists on severe sanctions. “Our region is taking a stricter approach to its experience with the Soviet Union. Putin is waging a hybrid war with Europe, economic and misinformation, so we must not allow unity in the EU to be broken. Our countries need solidarity with countries that are not so dependent on Russian gas, “added the head of the state coffers.
Stanjura also said that the Czech Republic could increase state defense spending to two percent of GDP earlier than 2025, which was the original resolution of the government of Petr Fiala (ODS). “If I follow Russia’s brutal war in Ukraine, we will probably get to that goal sooner,” the finance minister added. He appreciated that aid arrived in Ukraine from the Czech Republic – either financially or in the form of military supplies – for about three billion crowns.
