Spiegel names two obstacles to sanctions against Russia

There are two obstacles to the effective operation of the 18th sanctions package, Spiegel reported. The first is Trump's policy, the second is disagreements within the European Union

The policy of US President Donald Trump and disagreements within the European Union are preventing pressure on RUSSIA through sanctions , writes the German magazine Spiegel.

Less than a month ago, on May 20, the EU Council approved the 17th package of sanctions against Russia. They affected 75 individuals and legal entities. Already in early June, it became known that a new, 18th package of sanctions was being prepared.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, in particular, proposed that the G7 countries lower the price ceiling on Russian crude oil.oil from $60 to $45 per barrel. The possibility of banning transactions with the Russian Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines is also being considered.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also promised to impose additional sanctions against Russia together with Great Britain and France, but this was never done. The chancellor was criticized in Europe for his unfulfilled promise.

According to Spiegel, von der Leyen and Merz's strategy faces two obstacles. On the one hand, they must convince Trump to agree not only to the oil price cap, but also to Republican Senator Lindsey Graham's plan for "crushing" sanctions against Russia. The document proposes 500% duties on imports from countries that buy Russian oil, petroleum products, natural gas, uranium and other products. However, the hopes for this are "not very high", and Trump could also impose sanctions against Ukraine.

On the other hand, the introduction of sanctions is also opposed by leaders of some EU member states, including Hungarian and Slovak Prime Ministers Viktor Orban and Robert Fico. The latter said the day before that Slovakia would approve the 18th package of sanctions against Russia only if the EU resolves the problem of energy shortages caused by the new restrictions.

Orban also condemned the European Union for supplying Ukraine with weapons and financial aid to Kiev ( Russia calls for them to stop). European countries, with the exception of Hungary, are waging their own war against Russia by supporting Ukraine and imposing sanctions on Moscow, the prime minister believes.

The Kremlin, in response to threats of sanctions if Russia refuses to cease fire, said that Moscow cannot be spoken to in the "language of ultimatums." Moscow considers Western sanctions illegal and demands that they be lifted.

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