EU focuses on coal imports as it bids to strengthen sanctions

The European Union has proposed a ban on coal imports from Russia in what would be its first sanctions targeting the country’s lucrative energy industry.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said the EU needed to increase the pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin after what she described as “heinous crimes” carried out around Kyiv, with evidence that Russian troops may have deliberately killed Ukrainian civilians.

Ms von der Leyen said the ban on coal imports would be worth 4 billion euros (£3.3 billion) a year and that the EU has already started working on additional sanctions, including on oil imports.

She did not mention natural gas, with consensus among the 27 EU member countries on targeting the fuel used to generate electricity and heat homes more difficult to secure.

The EU gets about 40% of its natural gas from Russia and many EU countries, including Germany – the bloc’s largest economy – are opposed to cutting off gas imports.

So far, Europe had not been willing to target Russian energy over fears it would plunge the European economy into recession but the recent reports of civilian killings have increased pressure for tougher EU sanctions.

The US and the UK previously announced they were cutting off Russian oil, Poland said it plans to block imports of coal and oil, while Lithuania said it is no longer using Russian natural gas.

“To take a clear stand is not only crucial for us in Europe but also for the rest of the world,” Ms von der Leyen said. “A clear stand against Putin’s war of choice. A clear stand against the massacre of civilians.”

Other measures proposed by the EU’s executive arm include sanctions on more individuals and four key Russian banks, including the second-largest, VTB. “These four banks, which we now totally cut off from the markets, represent 23% of market share in the Russian banking sector,” Ms von der Leyen said.

If the proposal is adopted unanimously by all 27 EU countries, the new sanctions would also ban Russian vessels and Russian-operated vessels from EU ports, with exceptions for agricultural goods, foods, humanitarian aid and energy.

“A clear stand against the massacre of civilians