EU sanctions against Russia in the armed sector
2023.01.24 09:05
EU sanctions against Russia in the armed sector
By Kristina Sobol
Budrigannews.com – According to Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky, additional sanctions against Russia’s technology sector should be imposed by the European Union to limit Moscow’s ability to produce the weapons and rockets it is using to wage war on Ukraine.
He spoke after the foreign ministers of the EU’s member states came to an agreement on Monday to provide Ukraine with additional military aid in the amount of 500 million euros (or $542 million). They also talked about how to put more sanctions on Russia and hold the Kremlin accountable for starting the war 11 months ago.
Lipavsky stated, “We need to be looking for new and creative ways to strengthen our sanctions… how to reduce (Russia’s) ability to produce weapons, rockets used for shelling Ukraine’s critical infrastructure.”
He stated that the EU would most likely not be able to achieve the necessary consensus for such measures due to opposition from Belgium and Hungary, respectively, to the prohibition of diamond trade and nuclear energy cooperation with Russia.
He suggested that the EU should target Russian propaganda outlets and tighten sanctions on those who are currently circumventing them.
In response to Kiev’s demands that Berlin provide it with German-made Leopard battle tanks, some European allies increased their pressure on Berlin in Brussels. Chancellor Olaf Scholz has so far refused to take that action, despite warnings from German officials about the danger of the war getting out of hand.
“We must arm Ukraine in order to end the conflict. Lipavsky stated, “so that Ukraine is able to defend itself and Russia is unable to pursue this agenda of imperialism and territory theft.”
He stated, “I hope that Germany will at least allow exports by other countries… This cannot be considered an escalation,” adding that EU nations were already supplying Ukraine with additional tank types and repairing them in preparation for additional combat.
Warsaw announced on Tuesday that Poland had officially requested Germany to re-export Leopard tanks to Ukraine.
Lipavsky stated that the agreement for the 500 million euros in military aid for Ukraine should be supplemented because it uses up the 3.5 billion euros in funds that the EU had anticipated.
Delegates from Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, and the Baltic states who are interested in setting up a special international tribunal to prosecute Russia’s top political and military leadership for invading Ukraine will attend expert talks in Prague on Thursday and Friday.
Lipavsky responded, “When asked about his predictions for 2023, We must prepare for a lengthy journey.”
