A 17th sanctions package from the EU is on its way due to the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. The green light is likely to be given as early as Wednesday from the EU countries' ambassadors regarding the package, which primarily contains measures against even more vessels believed to belong to the Russian shadow fleet.
And already now, package number 18 is being discussed – especially if Russia does not agree to the 30-day ceasefire that both the USA and most of Europe have backed.
We must be tough on Russia. If we back down now, it will only benefit Russia. We definitely support a new package, says Elisabeth Svantesson (The Moderate Party) on her way into Tuesday's meeting with her EU colleagues.
She has brought Torbjörn Becker from the Stockholm School of Economics, who has been invited by the presiding country Poland to talk about his report on how the Russian economy is really doing.
It's not like Putin will stop waging war tomorrow because the economy is weaker than he says. But it's important to demonstrate that it's weak and that it's affected by sanctions. What we do matters, says the Finance Minister.
