Von der Leyen: EU working ‘intensively’ on new Russia sanctions!

‘The sixth package of sanctions will come in due time,’ says Commission President. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU is working "intensively" on a plan to hit Vladimir Putin's regime with a new package of sanctions as the bloc seeks to end its reliance on Russian fossil fuels. #eudebates the unique initiative aiming to promote debate, dialogue, knowledge, participation and communication among citizens. #sanctions #Russia #Simson #UkraineRussiaWar #Russia #Ukraine #PutinsWar #Zelensky #VonderLeyen #embargo #Putin Von der Leyen made her comments during a statement to reporters in Brussels after the Kremlin announced it is cutting off gas supplies to Bulgaria and Poland, which she described as "blackmail." "The sixth package of sanctions will come in due time. We're working intensively on it," von der Leyen said. "The move that Russia did today is basically a move where Russia hurts itself. The Kremlin is hurting the Russian economy because they are cutting off themselves from important revenues. "Nonetheless, we are working hard not only to get rid of the coal, as we have done already, but also we are working on the topic of oil. And you have seen today the question of gas dependency on Russia. We have been working since month to reduce this dependency. It pays off now." Von der Leyen said Poland and Bulgaria are receiving gas supplies from their immediate EU neighbors, adding that the bloc will continue to build up storage capacity and work to secure alternative supplies from other parts of the world. EU diplomats are meeting to discuss the Ukraine crisis, including the topic of the next Russia sanctions package, Wednesday. The bloc has so far agreed to five rounds of sanctions against Moscow in response to Putin's invasion of Ukraine, which is now two months old. But so far there has been no agreement on a sweeping plan to hit Russia's lucrative oil and gas sectors, income from which is financing the Kremlin war machine. EU countries have agreed to phase out imports of Russian coal over coming months, but the impact will be far easier for Putin to absorb than an embargo on oil or gas. The question is how tough any sanctions on oil will prove to be. The package is currently being worked on in the Commission, though details are unlikely at today's meeting. Germany and Hungary are among the countries said to have been reluctant to endorse a sweeping plan to block Russian oil imports to the EU, amid fears such a move would deliver a severe blow to their economies. Sanctioning Putin's gas industry will be even more difficult for Germany, which is heavily reliant on supplies from Russia for its energy needs. In response to the international sanctions, Putin ordered that all "unfriendly" countries buying Russian gas would have to make payments in rubles. Von der Leyen warned on Wednesday that companies paying in rubles for gas may be breaching EU sanctions. Her warning came after a Bloomberg report cited a person close to Gazprom as saying some European companies were taking steps that would allow them to comply with Putin's demands. "If this is not foreseen in the contract, to pay in rubles is a breach of our sanctions," von der Leyen said. "We have roundabout 97 percent of all contracts that explicitly stipulate payments in euros or dollars, so it’s very clear. And the request from the Russian side to pay in rubles is a unilateral decision, and not according to the contracts. Companies with such contracts should not accede to the Russian demands, this would be a breach of the sanctions, so a high risk for the companies.” Gazprom halts gas supplies to Poland, Bulgaria EU says Russia's gas move is energy 'blackmail' Russia bars entry to 287 British MPs Zelenskyy warns Russia's goals go beyond Ukraine Germany to supply Ukraine with anti-aircraft tanks Zelenskyy says he was invited to G20 summit in Indonesia Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Indonesian President Joko Widodo for inviting him to attend some of the G20 summit events. The leaders also discussed the food security issues. "Had talks with President of Indonesia Joko Widodo. Thanked for the support of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, in particular for a clear position in the UN. Food security issues were discussed. Appreciate inviting me to the G20 summit," Zelenskyy wrote on Twitter. Indonesia holds the rotating presidency of the G20 and will host the group's summit in Bali on November 15-16. Indonesian authorities have not yet confirmed that Zelenskyy has been invited to the summit. In March, the Southeast Asian country voted in favor of the UN General Assembly resolution condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Germany revises economic growth predictions amid Ukraine worries The Ukraine crisis prompted German officials to scale down their forecast for 2022.