“We are tightening our sanctions to maintain maximum pressure on the Kremlin. I believe that sooner or later measures will be needed for oil, and also for gas,” Michel stated during a discussion at the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
The European Commission proposed a fifth package of sanctions against Russia on Tuesday, which includes, among other things, a ban on coal imports, a ban on all transactions for four key Russian banks, a ban on Russian ships docking in European ports, and announced that it is working on additional sanctions that would include a ban on oil imports.
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed in her statement that the fifth package of sanctions will certainly not be the last and that the EU will continue to tighten measures against Russia.
She warned Russian authorities that those responsible for war crimes will have to face justice.
“We have all seen disturbing images from Bucha. This is what happens when Putin’s soldiers occupy Ukrainian territory, which they call liberation. I call it war crimes, and the Russian authorities will have to answer for it,” von der Leyen said.
Michel called on Russian soldiers to lay down their arms if they do not want to be criminals.
“We have a message for Russian soldiers on the front: if you do not want to be criminals, lay down your arms, stop fighting. There will have to be serious consequences for those responsible for the horrific crimes,” Michel said.
“Putin cannot and will not win this war,” Michel emphasized.
Michel stated that at the last EU summit, U.S. President Joe Biden and Ukrainian Volodymyr Zelensky were guests, highlighting that “transatlantic support for Ukraine is as solid as a rock.”
High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell emphasized that the EU must continue to arm Ukraine if it wants a just end to the war.
“We do not want the war to end with a divided Ukraine, with millions of refugees and displaced persons, and therefore we must continue to arm Ukraine,” Borrell said.
