The key facts
- Kaja Kallas announced the expansion of sanctions against Russian oil in the EU's 22nd package
- Measures are planned against the 'shadow fleet', as well as Russian energy and financial organizations
- Maria Zakharova mocked the EU's plans on her Telegram channel
The European Union's plans for new restrictions
European foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced the European Commission's intention to expand restrictions against Russian oil as part of the 22nd sanctions package. She made the statement while speaking at a European Parliament session in Strasbourg. According to her, despite the energy crisis in European countries, the European Commission intends to expand measures against the so-called shadow fleet, which, in her words, is engaged in transporting Russian oil and petroleum products. Kallas also advocated additional restrictions against Russian energy and financial organizations.
Zakharova's reaction
Russian Foreign Ministry official spokesperson Maria Zakharova reacted ironically to Kallas's statement. On her Telegram channel she wrote: 'The main prize in the category 'The mice cried and pricked themselves, but kept gnawing the cactus'', accompanying the post with emojis of a mouse, a crying face and a cactus. In this way the diplomat commented on the European Union's plans to include new restrictions against Russian oil in the 22nd sanctions package.
