New EU sanctions to hit Russian oil, target more banks

The European Union will impose new sanctions against Russia for waging war on Ukraine. These sanctions will target Russia's oil industry and disinformation agents, according to the EU's top diplomat.

Josep Borrell (head of the EU's foreign policy unit, executive European Commission) said in a tweet that "We are currently working on the sixth set of sanctions which aims at de-SWIFT additional banks, list disinformation agents and tackle oil imports."

Diplomats confirmed that the latest round of sanctions will also affect Sberbank (SBER.MM ), Russia's largest lender.

Borrell stated that the proposed measures of the Commission against Russia, which attacked Ukraine via land, sea, and air on February 24, 2017, would be presented to 27 EU member countries for approval.

Officials stated that Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, would outline the new sanctions proposed on Wednesday. They will include a ban on Russian oil imports by the end this year.

On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned the West that he could end exports and deal in response to sanctions imposed by the EU.

Moscow would lose a significant revenue stream if it were to embargo Russian oil, but the agreement reached has divided the bloc's member countries, which rely on Russia for 26% its oil imports.

Germany and Hungary were two of the countries that expressed reservations about an oil embargo. One of their concerns was that rising energy prices could hurt EU economies already struggling with inflation.

Diplomats said that resistance to an oil import ban fell over the past week, after an agreement was reached that would exempt Slovakia and Hungary. This is citing two countries heavily dependent on Russian crude.

According to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, EU countries have paid more 47 billion euros ($47.43 trillion) to Russia for oil and gas since its invasion of Ukraine.

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