By KYIV. Nov 22 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Foreign Minister of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba has called on the European Union to approve the 9th package of sanctions against Russia and make it as tough as possible.
"The issue of adopting the 9th EU sanctions package has been long overdue, but there is still no package. Moreover, we hear only about attempts to start serious work on its preparation. This situation is absolutely unacceptable. I call on all my colleagues in the EU, both in the European Commission and among EU Member States, to put aside any doubts or fatigue, and start and rapidly complete the new 9th sanctions package, and make it as tough as possible," he said at an online briefing on Tuesday.
The minister stressed that if Ukrainians are not exhausted yet, then the whole Europe all the more has no moral or political right to get tired.
"Special attention should be paid to sanctions that could hinder and stop Russia’s missile industry. In other words, Russia’s ability to make new missiles must be simply destroyed in order to deprive them of an additional resource for destroying Ukrainian cities, Ukrainian energy system and Ukrainian citizens," Kuleba said.
Ukraine insists on the introduction of a full embargo on Russian energy, extension of oil embargo on the northern section of the Druzhba pipeline, and a ban on Russian liquefied gas import.
"We call for sanctions against Rosatom and suspension of Russia’s rights at the International Atomic Energy Agency," the minister said.
He also said that the Russian state propaganda should be prohibited in the EU and other countries.
"Individual sanctions should be expended. We propose to add to the list everyone involved in the illegal activities at ZNPP [Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant]. Ukraine has introduced such restrictions at the national level, and we have passed our list to the EU," Kuleba said.
