{"id":437627,"date":"2025-09-20T03:38:14","date_gmt":"2025-09-20T03:38:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/437627\/"},"modified":"2025-09-20T03:38:14","modified_gmt":"2025-09-20T03:38:14","slug":"eu-chief-seeks-sanctions-on-russian-lng-to-pressure-moscow-over-ukraine-war-russia-ukraine-war-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/437627\/","title":{"rendered":"EU chief seeks sanctions on Russian LNG to pressure Moscow over Ukraine war | Russia-Ukraine war News"},"content":{"rendered":"

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has presented a 19th package of sanctions<\/a> on Russia, urging members of the European Union to adopt new sanctions on Russia\u2019s exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in an attempt to push Moscow to end its \u201cbrutal\u201d war in Ukraine.<\/p>\n

\u201cRussia\u2019s war economy is sustained by revenues from fossil fuels,\u201d von der Leyen said on Friday. \u201cWe want to cut these revenues. So we are banning imports of Russian LNG into European markets.\u201d<\/p>\n

Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list<\/p>\n

The sanctions must be endorsed by all 27 EU member countries before they can enter into force.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is time to turn off the tap,\u201d von der Leyen said, calling on members to quickly endorse the move.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want Russia to leave the battlefield and come to the negotiation table, and this is the way to give peace a real chance,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

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Russia is showing the full extent of its contempt for diplomacy and international law.<\/p>\n

So we’re increasing the pressure.<\/p>\n

With our 19th package of sanctions covering energy, financial services and trade restrictions \u2193 https:\/\/t.co\/uW7HuZp3br<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) September 19, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

EU sanctions have already targeted more than 2,500 entities, including banks, ministries, energy companies and officials.<\/p>\n

Those being sanctioned include President Vladimir Putin, his close associates, dozens of Russian lawmakers and several oligarchs. The measures largely consist of travel bans and asset freezes.<\/p>\n

Von der Leyen said the bloc\u2019s existing sanctions are having an effect.<\/p>\n

\u201cRussia\u2019s overheated war economy is coming to its limit,\u201d she said, pointing to persistently high inflation in the country.<\/p>\n

The EU has so far adopted 18 sanction packages against Moscow, though reaching agreement on new targets often takes weeks.<\/p>\n

Russian LNG accounted for roughly 16 percent of the bloc\u2019s total imports last year, with Europe being Russia\u2019s largest buyer of LNG.<\/p>\n

Hungary and Slovakia have opposed any phase-out of Russian LNG, creating potential obstacles to further action, and they have been known to use their veto power to gain concessions.<\/p>\n

Moscow to \u2018pay the price\u2019<\/p>\n

In a separate statement, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc was moving up a previous pledge to end all imports of LNG before the end of 2027 by 12 months.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur aim is to speed up the phase-out of Russian liquefied natural gas by 1 Jan 2027,\u201d she posted on X.<\/p>\n

\u201cMoscow thinks it can keep its war going. We are making sure it pays the price for it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Tearing children from their families and deporting them to re-education camps is beyond description.
We will not let Russia weaponize childhood itself.<\/p>\n

We are also going to make is easier to sanction individuals involved in the abduction and indoctrination of Ukrainian children.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) September 19, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Kallas said the bloc was also looking to \u201cmake it easier\u201d to sanction individuals involved in abducting Ukrainian children.<\/p>\n

Since 2022, Russia has faced global criticism over the deportation of Ukrainian families, many of them with children.<\/p>\n

\u201cTearing children from their families and deporting them to re-education camps is beyond description,\u201d Kallas posted on social media. \u201cWe will not let Russia weaponise childhood itself.\u201d<\/p>\n

UK sanctions target Georgian businessmen<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the UK announced sanctions on Friday against two Georgian businessmen over their support for Russia\u2019s war in Ukraine, as well as two tankers carrying Russian oil.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe UK has announced new sanctions targeting Georgia-linked supporters of Putin\u2019s illegal war in Ukraine,\u201d the UK foreign ministry said in a statement.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs Russia\u2019s war footing weakens, the Kremlin is increasingly looking to proxies in third countries to support its war and propaganda operations, including in Georgia,\u201d the ministry\u2019s statement said.<\/p>\n

Among the individuals sanctioned are Georgian media mogul and politician Levan Vasadze, whom the UK accuses of putting out pro-Russian disinformation.<\/p>\n

Otar Partskhaladze, former prosecutor general of Georgia and someone London said had \u201cextensive links to Russia,\u201d was also sanctioned.<\/p>\n

In addition, two tankers were sanctioned for carrying Russian oil to the Georgian port in Batumi in violation of Western restrictions.<\/p>\n

\u201cPutin\u2019s war machine relies on an international web to spread lies and fund this network,\u201d Minister of State Stephen Doughty said, according to the statement.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re cutting off another lifeline by targeting and deterring those in Georgia who provide support for Putin\u2019s illegal war in Ukraine.\u201d<\/p>\n