The European Union is preparing the 9th package of sanctions against Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Thursday, Reuters reports.

“We are making every effort to hit Russia where it hurts and further impair its ability to wage war against Ukraine, and today I can announce that we are working at full speed on the 9th package of sanctions,” Von said. der Leyen at a press conference. takes place in Finland, where he is on an official visit.

“And I am sure that very soon we will approve the global ceiling on Russian oil [grupul] G7 and other important partners. We will not have peace until Ukraine wins over Putin and his illegal and barbaric war,” added the president of the European Commission.

Von der Leyen’s announcement came after the EU introduced another package of sanctions against Russia in early October, including curbs on oil prices, but with exceptions.

Some countries that support a tougher approach to Russia, including Poland, expressed disappointment at the time that the measures did not sufficiently punish the Russian economy.

“The package could have been much stronger,” said Poland’s ambassador to the EU, Andrzej Sados. “But given that we need unanimity… it is important that we have such a strong response to Russia’s latest aggressive measures,” the diplomat added.

Ukraine wants to introduce sanctions against the Russian arms industry

Von der Leyen’s announcement on Thursday came after Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s foreign minister, called for a new package of sanctions against Russia on Tuesday that would include tough restrictions on Russia’s missile industry.

“I appeal to all my colleagues in the European Union, in the European Commission, and among the EU member states to put aside any doubts or, as it is fashionable to say, fatigue, and start quickly completing the ninth package of sanctions,” he urged. of the Minister of Foreign Affairs from Kyiv during an online briefing.

He also noted that the new sanctions should be strengthened as long as Russia’s aggression continues. Sectors that are of particular importance for the Russian economy – energy, finance, trade, technology – must be sanctioned to achieve the necessary results.

Kuleba emphasized that the new sanctions should be directed against the Russian missile complex. According to the Ukrainian minister, Russia’s ability to produce new missiles should simply be destroyed so that it does not have additional resources to destroy Ukrainian cities, the Ukrainian energy system and kill Ukrainian citizens.

The day after his call, Russia launched another massive attack on infrastructure across Ukraine, leaving millions without electricity and drinking water.

Hours after this new wave of attacks, the United States announced that it would provide Ukraine with a new package of military aid “to help it defend itself against the relentless attacks” of Russian armed forces.

Follow the latest events of the 274th day of the war in Ukraine LIVETEXT on HOTNEWS.RO.