EU to propose fresh sanctions including ban on Russian coal

theguardian.com:

The European Commission has proposed fresh sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, including a ban on Russian coal and on Russian ships entering EU ports, and said it was working on banning oil imports.

“We all saw the gruesome pictures from Bucha and other areas from which Russian troops have recently left. These atrocities cannot and will not be left unanswered,” the head of the EU’s executive, Ursula von der Leyen, said.

“The four packages of sanctions have hit hard and limited the Kremlin’s political and economic options. In view of events we need to increase our pressure further,” she said in a speech posted on Twitter.

She said the proposal entailed an EU ban on imports of coal from Russia worth €4bn (£3.3bn) a year and a full transaction ban on four big Russian banks including the country’s second-largest, VTB.

“We are working on additional sanctions, including on oil imports, and we are reflecting on some of the ideas presented by the member states, such as taxes or specific payment channels such as an escrow account,” Von der Leyen said.

The EU will also ban Russian vessels and Russian-operated vessels from accessing EU ports, though there would be exemptions for agricultural and food products, humanitarian aid and energy.

The EU will also ban Russian and Belarusian road transport operators and prohibit the sale to Russia of quantum computers, advanced semiconductors, sensitive machinery and transportation equipment worth €10bn annually.

Von der