Strengthening energy sanctions can have a significant impact on the aggressor and bring the end of the war - Andriy Yermak
According to him, in the new analytical document, the group provides detailed proposals for improvement and strengthening of sanction pressure on the energy of the aggressor country. The head of the Presidential Office stressed that improving compliance with the imposed sanctions and the adoption of new proposals of the group will additionally reduce Russian revenues from energy from energy at least twice.
"It is necessary to be realist: the aggressor is actively working to bypass sanctions even through direct fraud, so it is impossible to give the Kremlin a return of some of the lost income," said Andrei Yermak. “According to our estimates, sanctions are now reducing Russia's income by about $ 5-7 billion a month. The sharp fall of the ruble confirms the presence of problems in the economy. But this is not enough, ”said the secretary of the international group on sanctions Vladislav Vlasyuk.
In his opinion, only improving the mechanisms for saving existing sanctions can additionally reduce Russia's income from oil and gas by another $ 2-4 billion a month. According to the published document, among other things, it is proposed to strengthen compliance with the restriction of oil prices, in particular, that confirmation of prices for Russian oil goods can only be issued by traders from the White List. It is also proposed to limit Russia's use of its shadow fleet.
To do this, they plan to demand from all tankers that are transit through environmentally sensitive European territorial waters, confirmation that they have proper oil spill insurance. According to Andriy Yermak, in the second document, the International Sanction Group explains the importance of confiscation of Russian international reserves frozen by leading countries.
"Arguments against confiscation do not stand any professional criticism, and the international expert group explains it in detail," said the Presidential Office Head. According to him, Russia has invaded Ukraine for no legal reason, and the aggressor is obliged to pay for all military crimes - massacres, torture, rape, complete destruction of tens of settlements, daily purposeful destruction of civilian infrastructure, abduction of tens of thousands of children.
The adviser to the head of the Presidential Office Darius Zarivna stressed that the reserves of the central bank should be the first and most appropriate target. They are highly liquid, is the indisputable property of the Russian Federation, whose government ordered the invasion of Ukraine. Therefore, the Russian government has to pay for Ukraine's reconstruction of the central bank.
According to the authors of the document, the proposed process of confiscation of Russian state funds is not only quite ethical but also legal obligatory in accordance with the principle of international law on the responsibility of the state. Ukraine has offered partners the concept of a special international compensation mechanism.