Von der Leyen: Russia to pay steeper price as EU prepares fresh sanctions

The European Union (EU) is moving forward with its 16th package of sanctions against Russia, according to European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen. 

Speaking at a plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg on December 18, von der Leyen highlighted the EU's unwavering commitment to support Ukraine and intensify economic pressure on Moscow, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

"Last week, we adopted our 15th package of sanctions. The 16th package is already in preparation," she stated during her address, which was streamed on the European Parliament's website.

Von der Leyen emphasized that the sanctions are a strong signal to Russia, urging European countries to maintain their support for Ukraine as it progresses towards EU membership.

The European Commission president pointed to the growing strain on the Russian economy as evidence of the sanctions’ effectiveness.

"The ruble is at its lowest level since the beginning of the war, despite massive countermeasures by the Russian Central Bank. Inflation has hit 70% in certain sectors of the Russian economy," she noted.

Von der Leyen reinforced the EU's stance, stating that the Kremlin must understand: "The longer the war goes on, the higher the price for the Russian economy."

On December 17, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also announced a new wave of sanctions targeting 20 tankers accused of illegally transporting Russian oil.

The EU’s 15th sanctions package, approved on December 16, introduced a range of economic and individual measures. It includes restrictions on 54 individuals, 30 organizations, and 52 vessels, banning access to ports and numerous maritime services. Russian airline Utair was also added to the sanctions list.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova condemned the EU’s latest sanctions as "illegal and unlawful" during a briefing on December 18. She argued that the measures threaten global energy security and stated that Moscow is analyzing the restrictions to determine appropriate retaliatory actions.

By Tamilla Hasanova