'This will be truly painful for the Russians': Poland reacts to new EU oil sanctions
Photo: Polish Minister for European Union Adam Szłapka (Getty Images)
Poland believes that the European Union's new package of sanctions against Russia will have a tangible impact on the Russian economy, Polish Minister for European Union Adam Szłapka says ahead of the EU General Affairs Council meeting in Brussels.
According to Szłapka, this EU sanctions package against Russia will undoubtedly be effective.
"And this is extremely difficult for the Russian side. If we link it with the Nord Stream pipeline, I believe this will be truly painful for the Russians," the Polish Minister explained.
Szłapka also emphasized that the most important element of this package is the oil price cap, noting that without it, the package would be significantly weaker.
"Because Russia's potential, its economic potential, comes from a rather primitive economy based almost entirely on the export of mostly unprocessed raw materials. They earn mainly from such oil and gas," the Polish Minister said.
At the same time, he stressed that every step that reduces Russia's ability to sell its energy resources is very important from the perspective of European security.
"That's why, for example, the roadmap for phasing out Russian energy resources is extremely important. And the fact that the Commission has put this issue on the agenda is the result of our hard work and persistence in demonstrating that Russia is a threat - and will remain one as long as we keep buying its energy," the Minister concluded.
Sanctions against Russia
So far, sanctions against Russia have become one of the key tools of international pressure aimed at limiting the economic capabilities of the terrorist state.
They cover various sectors, including:
- finance,
- energy,
- trade.
As previously reported, earlier today, July 18, EU member state ambassadors agreed on the 18th package of sanctions against Russia.
The European Commission first presented the 18th sanctions package back on June 10, but Hungary and Slovakia refused to support it due to their unwillingness to give up access to cheap Russian oil and gas.
