Anti-Russian sanctions have hit ceiling, implementation now key – Lithuania's Sinkevicius

VILNIUS – The European Union’s (EU) sanctions against Russia have hit the ceiling with nothing new in the works, Lithuania's European Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius has said adding that the most important thing now is to implement these sanctions.

“I have argued for a long time that sanctions have hit their ceiling and there cannot be any novelties, any innovations in those sanctions,” the EU commissioner responsible for the environment, oceans and fisheries told the Ziniu Radijas news radio on Thursday.

He described the shift away from the Russian gas in Europe as one of the most important steps.

“I think the biggest step has been taken, as far as energy is concerned, and it’s a major achievement that Russia’s share in the European Union’s gas mix has fallen to less than 9 percent, from 40 percent. I think these are the biggest steps, which will continue mounting pressure on Russia and reducing its possibilities to continue financing its war,” Sinkevicius added.

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in late February, the EU has already adopted nine packages of sanctions targeting Russia’s oil exports, top-ranking officials, certain Russian banks and companies.