You're reading: EU Fifth Sanctions Package Includes Ban on Russian Coal Imports, Transactions with 4 Banks

Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, announced on April 5 proposals for a fifth package of sanctions against Russia by the EU.

“We will impose an import ban on coal from Russia worth 4 billion euros per year. This will cut another important revenue source for Russia. Second, A full transaction ban on four key Russian banks, among them is VTB, the second largest Russian bank,” von der Leyen said in a statement published on Twitter.

She also announced a ban on Russian vessels and Russia-operated vessels from accessing EU ports and a ban on Russian and Belarusian road transport operators from entering the EU.

“Further targeted export bans worth 10 billion euros in areas in which Russia is vulnerable: this includes, for example, quantum computers and advanced semiconductors, but also sensitive machinery and transportation equipment,” the President of the European Commission said in the video statement.

She also announced “specific new import bans” worth 5.5 billion euros.

“We take a number of very targeted measures, such as a general EU ban on participation of Russian companies in public procurement in member states or an exclusion of all financial support… to Russian public bodies,” she added.

“Further listings of individuals” are proposed.

“We are working on additional sanctions, including on oil imports, and we are reflecting on some of the ideas presented by the member states, such as taxes or specific payment channels, such as an escrow account,” von der Leyen said.