Estonia proposes EU to introduce new sanctions against Russia
Estonia invited the EC to strengthen sanctions against Russia and restrictions on SWIFT In particular, Tallinn proposes to introduce additional restrictions on the use of SWIFT system by Russian banks. Estonia sent its proposals to the European Commission
Urmas Reinsalu
Estonia submitted “concrete proposals” to the European Commission; on the eighth package of sanctions against Russia, Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu said in an interview with Welt.
The proposals are about “energy, trade and further restrictions on [the use of the international interbank system] SWIFT, as well as putting even more people and institutions on the list of sanctions,” the minister said. In his opinion, the sanctions already imposed against Russia are effective, but they are not enough.
«We also need to supply more weapons to Ukraine— Reinsalu added. He called Estonia “the leader in per capita military aid to Ukraine.”
In response to the special operation in Ukraine, the European Union has already introduced seven packages of sanctions against Russia, the latest of them— 22 July. The restrictions affected banks, Russian oil imports, industry, sea and air transport.
Earlier in August, Reinsalu announced that Tallinn would offer Brussels to introduce the eighth package of measures. He proposed expanding sanctions in the areas of energy and trade and restrictions on companies and individuals. According to the head of the Foreign Ministry, Estonia is also trying to reach a political consensus on the issue of Schengen visas— since August 18, the country itself has banned the entry of Russians who had previously issued such a document.
Now, for the first time, Estonia has voiced a proposal for new restrictions on SWIFT. As part of the sanctions already imposed against Russia in response to the special operation in Ukraine, several Russian banks (including Sberbank, VTB, Otkritie, MKB, Rosselkhozbank) were disconnected from the international system. Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau previously proposed disconnecting all Russian and Belarusian banks from SWIFT.
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