MILANO – European countries are fielding a new flurry of sanctions against Russia. “Today we have included President Putin and Foreign Minister Lavrov” among the people sanctioned by the European Union “together with the other Duma members who supported the aggression. This is a very important step, the only world leaders sanctioned by the EU are: Assad, Lukashenko and now Putin “, announced the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, in the press conference at the end of the EU Foreign Affairs Council. “We are limiting the financial flow from the EU to Russia”: the sanctions “will affect 70% of the Russian banking system”, added Borrell, who however explained that the countries have not found an agreement on the stop to the Swift system for Russia. The exclusion of Russia from the Swift system “has been considered and for the moment there is no necessary unanimity, so it is not in the package but it is not excluded, it is a possibility to be kept for future considerations,” he said.
Franco: “Stop Swift having a gas payment problem”
The Italian economy minister also expressed his opinion on this point Daniele Franco: A possible exclusion of Russia from the Swift payment system – he said – would create a “problem” with respect to the payment of gas supplies destined for Italy and other EU countries.
The situation of the war between Ukraine and Russia: what happened today
by Flavio Bini
Borrell: “Heroic resistance of the forces of Kiev”
Borrel also expressed words of appreciation for the resistance of the Ukrainian forces. In the “third meeting” of EU foreign ministers in a week, “Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba was with us and offered us an account of what is happening on the ground and the behavior of the Russian forces. And the heroic resistance of the Russian forces. Ukrainian forces, which can certainly be called Ukraine’s freedom fighters, “said Borrell. “I can never insist enough on the gravity of the situation: one country has been invaded by another country that has the atomic bomb and threatens to use it against anyone who interferes,” he concludes.
The battle
Ukrainian resistance is growing, the Russians deploy more troops
by Gianluca Di Feo
