Kaja Kallas' Statement on the New Sanctions Package Against Russia

Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policies, made a statement to the German newspaper Die Welt regarding the next sanctions package of the European Union (EU) against Russia. Kallas said the EU wants to significantly expand sanctions against Russia in the coming months.

'IT WILL BE THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE SANCTIONS LIST'

Kallas pointed out that the EU was preparing to deal the heaviest blow to Russia so far and said, "In the autumn, I will present the most comprehensive list of sanctions prepared since the beginning of the war. If accepted, the number of sanctioned Russian individuals, companies and organizations will instantly increase by one third."

In his statement regarding the new package, which will follow the 21 sanctions package that currently covers nearly three thousand individuals and organizations, Kallas said, "The pressure should continue to be increased until Russia ends the war." Kallas also expressed hope that the United States and Europe would "come closer together" on sanctions against Russia.

'MORE THAN ONE TRILLION EUROS'

Arguing that the sanctions adopted since the start of the war in February 2022 have been successful, Kallas said, "Russia has paid a heavy price so far due to EU sanctions. The cost of the sanctions to the Russian war machine has been more than one trillion euros."

Kallas also accused Russia of committing "systematic terrorism" against Ukraine and said, "Moscow's army cannot win on the battlefield. That is why it is increasingly directing its missiles at Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure. This is systematic terrorism. Russia wants to make Ukrainian cities uninhabitable."