Sixth sanctions package will not be powerful without embargo on Russian oil - Zelensky

He said this at a joint briefing with European Council President Charles Michel in Kyiv on Wednesday, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

Zelensky said that in his meeting with Michel, both parties discussed the tightening of sanctions against Russia. He thanked the EU for the introduction of five packages of anti-Russian sanctions, but stressed that this is not enough to stop Russian aggression.

"We really want the next, powerful, sixth package of sanctions to be approved as soon as possible. We call for a full energy embargo, including oil and gas imports. Oil should definitely be included in the sixth package. Without it, we think, the package will not be powerful, it will be empty," Zelensky said.

He also stressed the need to disconnect all Russian banks from the international SWIFT payment system, including Sberbank and Gazprombank.

Zelensky also called on the EU to block all accounts of Russian state-owned companies by spending these funds on the rebuilding of Ukraine. "The family of every Russian civil servant should feel the effects of sanctions and the consequences of their personal support for the war against Ukraine," Zelensky said.

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine started on February 24, 2022, the EU countries have shown their solidarity with the people of Ukraine. In particular, the EU has allocated EUR 1.5 billion for the supply of weapons and lethal military equipment to Ukraine, the first such case in its history.

The EU has already imposed five packages of economic and individual sanctions on Russia and its officials and is preparing the sixth package of sectoral sanctions, which could cover Russian energy imports.

Photo: President's Office