Ukraine and the European Union are looking for new ways to increase sanctions pressure on Russia, even though it is already the most sanctioned country in the world. Among the areas for which the next attacks are planned are the aggressor’s oil, gas and metallurgy..
The Ambassador of Ukraine to the EU Vsevolod Chentsov spoke about this.
The Ambassador drew attention to the difficulties in the sanctions policy in relation to the Russian metallurgy and chemical industry, because some European countries lobbied for exceptions for Russian metals until 2028, which allows the Russian Federation to maintain its position in the market.
" And there are several areas involved here.. In particular, Russian metallurgy. Unfortunately, a number of European and EU countries continue to actively cooperate. They lobbied for the so-called dirigation, that is, the exclusion of the reorganization regime until 28 for certain types of metallurgical products. We are trying to reduce this period and the volume of products that the Russian Federation can export. And here we finally have powerful allies. This is, in fact, a European industry that suffers from the massive presence of Russian products. And, in fact, we expect that they will increase their pressure on the governments of European countries,” says the ambassador.
Chentsov also noted the need to expand the so-called No Russia Clause - the obligation of European companies not to sell products to Russian consumers through third countries.
“This requirement should also be extended to branches of European countries in third countries, in Southeast Asia, anywhere, because it is through these countries and, unfortunately, through branches of European companies as well, that sanctions are circumvented,” he said.
Chentsov emphasized that every step in strengthening sanctions requires complex diplomatic work, but often the parties should increase pressure and find arguments.
As you know, in the 12th package the European Union extended quotas for Russian slabs for another four years. The total quota for the import of these products from October 2024 to September 2028 is set at 8.5 million tons with a more detailed breakdown by period. Previous sanctions on slab imports were introduced in October 2022 as part of the 8th package of sanctions. Then it was decided that it could continue until the end of September 2024 within the established quotas, and from October 1, 2024, imports should stop.
However, the 12th package of sanctions actually weakened the previously introduced restrictions.
Earlier, PACE deputies called on the EU to tighten sanctions against the Russian metallurgy industry, because it continues to earn billions for the war. However, through manipulation and blackmail, the Kremlin managed to extend quotas for Russian slabs for another four years, although they were supposed to end in September 2024. This will allow the Russian Federation to import products worth more than 8 billion euros to the EU..