A senior journalist with the New York Times reported today (Thursday) that there are disagreements among European countries about what sanctions will be imposed on Russia, following her invasion of Ukraine.
Diplomats tell us following sanctions are tricky:
– ITA, AUS, DE concerned abt broad banking-sector sanctions
– ITA resistant to sanctions that include railways
– ITA wants carve-out for luxury goods
– BEL wants carve-out for diamonds
+ broad reluctance to sanction energy sector
— Matina Stevis-Gridneff (@MatinaStevis) February 24, 2022
According to the report, Germany, Austria and Italy have expressed concern about the imposition of broad banking sanctions. In addition, Italy opposes extending the sanctions to the railways and railways and seeks to exclude luxury goods. In Belgium, they demanded the exclusion of the diamond industry and are reluctant to impose sanctions on the energy sector
Yesterday, diplomats called the second package of sanctions a “sword of democracy” – according to which Putin will refrain from invading six massive sanctions, but in the morning this claim was refuted and tonight EU leaders are expected to discuss the sanctions that have not yet been discussed. .
Earlier this week, the President of the United States, Joe BidenOn the first phase of sanctions against Russia, initially imposed on two major Russian banks and about five members of the Russian elite, including the sons of Federal Security Service chief Alexander Bortnikov, the first deputy chief of staff of the presidential administration, Sergei Kiriynko, and former prime minister Mikhail Fredkov.
Britain also imposed sanctions on five Russian banks and a number of individuals in the country. “We are imposing sanctions on three people with very high net worth: Gennady Tymchenko, Boris Rotenberg and Igor Rotenberg,” Johnson said, adding that “all the assets they hold in the UK will be frozen, the people concerned will be banned from traveling here, and we will ban all The individuals and entities in the UK conduct any transactions with them. ”
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison this morning also announced the imposition of sanctions against Russia. In his statement he added that “Russia has acted like a ‘bully’ and therefore we must treat it as such.” In addition, he condemned the conduct of the Russian government, adding: “Australia will oppose bullying along with the Allies.”