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EU plans for new sanctions on Russian oil, military and TV
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has given details of a sixth package of sanctions to be agreed in the coming days. She listed four separate types of sanctions:
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Von der Leyen said the EU was also announcing an end to its dependency on Russian oil: "It will not be easy but we simply have to do it." All Russian oil will be phased out, she said, but in an orderly fashion. Crude oil will be phased out in six months and refined products by the end of 2022, she said.
I find it amusing that the EU says they will give Hungary and Slovakia more time to find alternate supplies. The reality is that they need more time to convince those countries to get on board with the sanctions.
About time too, Hungary and Slovakia will be exempt (don't think Orban's Hungary would agree even if they weren't so reliant) but this needs to be pushed faster and the remaining Banks need to be cut from SWIFT
Infinite Chaos:
About time too, Hungary and Slovakia will be exempt (don't think Orban's Hungary would agree even if they weren't so reliant) but this needs to be pushed faster and the remaining Banks need to be cut from SWIFT
Slovakia doesn't seem to really want to keep using Russian oil, it's just that their infrastructure is built around it, and they are landlocked which makes oil transport complicated.I find it amusing that the EU says they will give Hungary and Slovakia more time to find alternate supplies. The reality is that they need more time to convince those countries to get on board with the sanctions.
Hungary and Slovakia have stated they will not take part in those sanctions.
Here is what Hungary had to say...
Hungary will not support sanctions that would make Russian oil and gas shipments to Hungary impossible, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said in a statement on Tuesday.Speaking in Kazakhstan, Szijjarto said Russian oil shipments via the Druzhba pipeline accounted for about 65% of the oil Hungary needed and there were no alternative supply routes that could replace that. (link)
I guess it's going to come down to how much it'll take of the $33 Billion in bribery money the US is dangling to get Hungary and Slovakia to change their positions.
Norway, Arab World (European leaders have been travelling to the Gulf monarchies begging for months now), Venezuela.So, where will the EU get their oil from in this embargo plan, that doesn't come brokered from Russia through other countries, at a higher price? About 11% of the world's oil comes from Russia. About 60% of that goes to OECD Euro countries. Even in non-Russia oil producing countries wanted and tried to make up the diff, it couldn't possibly happen in 6 mos or probably 2 yrs. And they don't want to that's been indicated.
So, where will the EU get their oil from in this embargo plan, that doesn't come brokered from Russia through other countries, at a higher price? About 11% of the world's oil comes from Russia. About 60% of that goes to OECD Euro countries. Even in non-Russia oil producing countries wanted and tried to make up the diff, it couldn't possibly happen in 6 mos or probably 2 yrs. And they don't want to that's been indicated.
Hungary will veto, so it aint happening at the moment... the Hungarians have stated so regardless of being exempt. They could change their minds with enough bribes.. or so I am guessing.
About time too, Hungary and Slovakia will be exempt (don't think Orban's Hungary would agree even if they weren't so reliant) but this needs to be pushed faster and the remaining Banks need to be cut from SWIFT
Hungary will veto, so it aint happening at the moment
They could change their minds with enough bribes..
removing Russian banks is a double edged sword.
if Russia declares war on Ukraine and goes to a total-war footing on or soon after May 9th,
Rather "take them out" ... and you can define who and how.I expected nothing less from Hungary
Really hope not, that undermines all the efforts on Hungary's lack of democracy.
The war has already lasted 70 days, and the Russians have not exactly taken much notice of sanctions like this. By now, and frankly from the start... banning Russian banks from SWIFT without having the full backing of China and India was more political than a "financial hit".True but these things take time and all Russia has is energy exports. Who wants to buy Russian T-72 tanks after seeing what happens to them n the battlefield?
Hungary will veto, so it aint happening at the moment... the Hungarians have stated so regardless of being exempt. They could change their minds with enough bribes.. or so I am guessing.
Regardless getting "rid" of using Russian natural resources is not something that can happen overnight unless you want 20+% inflation and blackouts. Even the UK has given it self til the end of the year to do so, and yet you want the EU to do it faster despite it being relatively more reliant on Russian gas/oil?
As for the whole Swift thing.. as predicted, removing Russian banks is a double edged sword. Given time, SWIFT will become irrelevant and replaced, which is not good for the Anglo-American financial system.
Infinite Chaos.Looking quite likely at the moment isn't it? He either calls things quits and a success in capturing Donbas or all-out war and mobilisation of his troops to re-invade Ukraine on May 9th.
Norway, Arab World (European leaders have been travelling to the Gulf monarchies begging for months now), Venezuela.
I expected nothing less from Hungary
Really hope not, that undermines all the efforts on Hungary's lack of democracy.
True but these things take time and all Russia has is energy exports. Who wants to buy Russian T-72 tanks after seeing what happens to them n the battlefield?
Norway, Arab World (European leaders have been travelling to the Gulf monarchies begging for months now), Venezuela.
At this point it bears to point out that there is rational sanctions and hysterical sanctions. The former was the one cautioned to maximize damages on adversary while minimizing damages on oneself. The west has charged past rational sanctioning and is hopelessly lost in hysterical sanctioning. It inflicts greater self damage than damage on adversary.
The question is what's it worth saving democracy from autocracy and tyranny by invasion from a dictator who's on record denouncing democracy. Same thing here within America itself, where there is yet anything expended to do so.
The two elements go together. Ukrainians use Russian tanks but have also been trained in how best to knock them out. Russian tank units are being used in strange ways or the infantry is failing to serve in conjunction to protect Russian tanks from being exposed to single infantrymen with anti-tabs weapons.Meh. Any weapon is only as good as the troops using it.
at least half the stuff Ukraine uses is Russian in the first place.
Good sign although I think it ought to happen about 2x faster e.g. phase out imports by ~August. In effect the EU is saying that they're going to act, but they're willing to let a few thousand Ukrainians die in order to mitigate economic impacts on the EU economy.
The two elements go together. Ukrainians use Russian tanks but have also been trained in how best to knock them out. Russian tank units are being used in strange ways or the infantry is failing to serve in conjunction to protect Russian tanks from being exposed to single infantrymen with anti-tabs weapons.
And let';s not forget, Ukrainian operated tanks are just as likely to cook-off as Russian operated tanks if hit right.
The trillions spent in Afghanistan, Vietnam, Iraq.... quickly comes to mind. Sometimes its a bridge too far. In the case of Ukraine inexcusable, given that as far back as the 90s cooler heads had always pointed out that pushing too hard up Russia's backyard is fraught with risks. Russia has every reason to invade to forestall a hostile military alliance planting itself on its periphery. The US would do same.
More than three-quarters want to remain Ukrainian. Likely because they feel the Ukraine's future depends more on trade with the European Union than with Russia.
And they are quite right in that sentiment ... !
Like many others under Putin, they will have to fight to have their voices recognised.
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