Fearing Trump’s victory, Europe seeks to strengthen sanctions against Russia
“European diplomats are preparing to back sanctions against Russia as they aicipate that Donald Trump’s return to the White House could undermine Western efforts to isolate Moscow,” sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.
According to RCO News Agency, talks between EU officials and represeatives are focused on several initiatives to ensure that European sanctions remain in place for the long term and strengthen them through stricter enforceme, even if Washington changes its approach.
The people familiar with the matter also said possible steps would include “blanket” clauses to ideify and stop shipmes of suspicious goods destined for Russia and broader restrictions on oil shipmes, Reuters reported.
The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, also said there were discussions about changing the condition that the freezing of Russian ceral bank assets must be renewed by European couries every six mohs.
A handful of member states are working on the idea of a “blanket” clause that would apply to battlefield goods or a broader range of banned exports, three diplomats familiar with the matter said. This clause allows customs officials to stop shipmes if the destination is illogical, such as passing through Russia to reach Ceral Asian couries.
Steps are being taken to aicipate a change in Washington’s stance if Trump is re-elected.
Tom Keating, of the Royal United Services think tank, said European policymakers were preparing “independe European sanctions given the possibility of Trump’s re-election” and should strengthen their implemeation.
Trump has repeatedly emphasized in his election campaigns that if he wins the November 5 election, he will stop or slow down the transfer of military aid to Ukraine.
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