At a recent briefing, German official Steffen Hebestrait confirmed the information about the preparation of the seventh package of sanctions for Russia. The EU members are discussing the parameters of a new package of anti-Russian sanctions.
“I will not assess this proposal. It has been put forward by some countries in the EU, it is being discussed. Now it has to be discussed – both in the federal government and in Europe, I cannot report any intermediate conclusions”, – said Hebeestreit.
After the start of the special military operation in Ukraine, some politicians in other countries proposed limiting the issuance of Schengen visas to Russians. The sanctions were supported by the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Poland and the Netherlands. And the queue for Schengen visas from France, Greece and Spain reaches several months.
A Schengen visa is a permit to enter a member state of the Schengen Agreement that entitles the holder to a short stay in the state or a temporary visit of no more than 90 days.
However, when asked whether German Chancellor Olaf Scholz personally supports proposals to end the issuing of Schengen visas, Heberstreit did not give a direct answer.
The EU is imposing numerous sanctions on Russia, and another package may soon be proposed.
The White House is also introducing new rules. The Senate recently called on the Secretary of State to put Russia on the list of sponsors of terrorism. This was announced at a briefing by White House press secretary Karin Jean-Pierre. Washington is considering other sanctions, she said.
A month ago, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that if Secretary of State Anthony Blinken did not recognize Russia as a sponsor of terrorism, the parliament itself would do so.
On July 28, the Senate adopted a resolution to add Russia to the list of terrorist states. The document will mention the military actions in Ukraine, as well as «brute force», which Russia used «against civilians during the Second Chechen War» and Moscow’s support of «separatists in atrocities against Ukrainian civilians in the Donbass».
Meanwhile, France responded to the White House, with Emmanuel Macron not agreeing to declare Russia a sponsor of terrorism.
“On the issue of qualifying Russia as a sponsor of terrorism, I want to be understood correctly – France does not share such a qualification. We always try to be guided by legal concepts”, – said Macron, speaking at a press conference at the G7 summit in Germany.
Russia is going its own way, while the EU continues to implement its ideas and impose new sanctions.
