Zhovkva: Without oil embargo, sixth round of sanctions not needed

Ihor Zhovkva, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, believes that the oil embargo should be a mandatory item of the European Union’s sixth round of sanctions against Russia.

"It is too early to speak about items of the sixth package. Of course, the oil embargo is being discussed, we have reason to say that this sanction will be included in the sixth round in one form or another, otherwise, it [the sixth round of sanctions] is not needed at all," Zhovkva said during the nationwide telethon, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

He also suggested that, among other things, the next sanctions list may include measures to cut several more banks off from SWIFT and impose personal sanctions on certain categories of people from the Russian Federation.

"We are grateful to the European Union for the five packages of sanctions but, as of now, they are insufficient and somewhat slow," the Deputy Head of the President's Office added.

As reported, the Council of EU approved the fifth round of sanctions against Russia. In particular, it comprises a prohibition to purchase, import or transfer coal and other solid fossil fuels into the EU if they originate in Russia or are exported from Russia, as from August 2022.

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