EU's Kallas proposes new far-reaching Russia sanctions

The European Union has adopted 21 rounds of sanctions against Russia since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, according to a report by German newspaper Die Welt on Monday. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has now proposed new, far-reaching sanctions, which she described as the most extensive since the start of the war.

"For autumn I am putting forward the most far-reaching sanctions listings since the start of the war," Kallas told Die Welt. "Once adopted, they would immediately raise the total number of sanctioned Russian entities by a third." The chief diplomat urged Europe to take a tougher stance against Russia in light of the intensive bombing of Ukraine during the summer. "If we respond too weakly, we will see even more such incidents," she said.

The comments come weeks after the EU adopted a watered-down sanctions package that was approved after protracted negotiations among member states. Greece in particular objected to measures aimed at restricting the transfer of Russian LNG, which Athens feared would have a disproportionate impact on the country's shipping sector.

The sanctions, which Kallas said have deprived Russia's war machine of "over €1 trillion", currently target 3,000 individuals and entities, according to the European Commission. According to the report by Die Welt, Kallas's proposal aims to significantly expand the list of sanctioned entities, potentially increasing the total by a third. The exact details of the new sanctions have not been disclosed, but they are expected to be presented in the autumn.

The EU has been progressively tightening sanctions on Russia since the invasion of Ukraine, targeting various sectors including energy, finance, and defense. The latest package, adopted in June, faced delays due to disagreements among member states, particularly over measures affecting the shipping of Russian LNG. Greece's concerns were eventually addressed, but the package was seen as less stringent than initially proposed.

Kallas's new proposal signals a more aggressive approach, potentially including measures that were previously blocked. The European Commission has noted that the current sanctions target 3,000 individuals and entities, and the new listings could add another 1,000, marking a significant escalation. The proposal will be discussed among EU member states in the coming months, with the aim of adoption by autumn.