Brussels, Europe Brief News – EU states have decided to lock any assets of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Foreign Minister as Russia Ukraine conflict brews. Ukraine’s President is begging for quicker and tougher sanctions to punish Russia for its unethical invasion.
The action against Putin and Sergei Lavrov, came as envoys of the EU’s 27 member states agreed on a new wave of measures to strike Russia’s elite as this can impact 70% of the country’s banking operations.
Annalena Baerbock, German Foreign Minister said “We are now listing President Putin and Foreign Minister lavrov as well”
She further added “They are responsible for the deaths of innocent people in Ukraine, and for trampling on the international system”.
A senior EU diplomat said that however the Russian leaders may not have a wide range of assets in Europe but this move was to provide them a politically critical signal.
Putin Get Into the EU List
Joseph Borrel, EU foreign policy chief said that Putin is now added to the list with other two leaders sanctioned by the block.The other two leaders include Syrian president Bashar al Assad and Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus.
Earlier on Friday, Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky pleaded with Europe to act swiftly and impose tough sanctions on Russia to stop them from starting a wider war. He said Western powers “ You can still stop this aggression. You just have to act swifty”.
The EU minister’s agreement on comprehensive sanctions means the bloc has joined the United States and other western nations in restraining Russia’s access to key technologies and financing.
The EU’s measures will also target Russian elites and make it difficult for diplomats to travel but the bloc decided not to restrict Russian energy imports. These decisions were made after objections came from Germany and Italy to remove Russia from SWIFT.
Bruno le Maire, French Finance Minister hosted a meeting of EU counterparts in Paris to talk about the economic impact. He said there that eliminating Russia from SWIFT can be an option but only as Financial nuclear weapon.
He further added “ Some EU countries but not France have reservations about such a step and the European central bank was expected to deliver the analysis on the consequences it was taken.
Barebok suggested that Eliminating Russia from SWIFT can be damaging as people will find it rather difficult to send money to families in Russia amid rising tension of Russia Ukraine conflict.
