Ukraine’s allies are considering a total ban on exports to Russia. That reports Bloomberg. There has been talk for some time about new sanctions against Russia, which manages to circumvent the existing sanctions in various ways. It is not yet clear which goods fall under this ban, but a total ban will hit hard, thinks Heleen about de Linden, sanctions lawyer at Rechta Advocatuur. “Then it will crack every place in Russian society.”
According to the plan would the EU, the United States, Canada and Japan want a total export ban. That would mainly be aimed at technical products, says Van der Linden. ‘Agriculture and food are already reasonably covered with the current sanctions. This is aimed at everything that has to do with technology.’ This mainly concerns goods for the car industry, chips for aviation and also white goods.
Also read | German minister: tougher action against circumventing Russia sanctions
According to Van der Linden, Putin will certainly notice a total export ban. “I’ve always been optimistic about the impact of sanctions, any package will work, but the Russians won’t say so easily. But they will feel very strongly about a complete export ban.’
Billions
Billions of euros worth of goods are still going to Russia. It would be good if that stopped. We don’t want Putin to continue this terrible war any longer. The harder we can pack him in his wallet, the better’, says Van der Linden.
‘I don’t know whether it will be a complete export ban, but sanctions will be tightened and the possibilities to circumvent the sanctions will also be tackled,’ emphasizes Van der Linden.
Also read | Putin will use everything he has left
Bypass
For example, a lot of oil is now exported to China and India. ‘There is extensive talk in the Russian media about circumventing sanctions. But now it is also being said for the first time that this will become more difficult,’ says Van der Linden. It is expected that the new sanctions package will share certain aspects with the existing oil embargo. “The ban will also affect all kinds of transport services. A ship carrying oil that has sold for more than the applicable price cap has become an infected ship. Business can be done with that.’
Also read | Russian gambling companies circumvent sanctions via Curaçao
