Russia without SP-2 and SWIFT. EP Resolution on Ukraine
The European Parliament adopted a resolution against Russia
MEPs adopted a document containing harsh criticism of Moscow due to its recent actions. Some also call for the provision of weapons to Ukraine.
The European Parliament adopted a resolution that, in the event of an armed invasion of the Russian Federation into the territory of Ukraine, provides for its exclusion from the SWIFT payment system, as well as freezing all European assets of oligarchs close to the Russian authorities and their families and stopping the construction of the Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline. Correspondent.net tells the details.
What price will the RF have to pay
On April 29, members of the European Parliament adopted another resolution on Russia, containing harsh criticism of Moscow. The document was approved by 548 MEPs, 25 voted against, 113 abstained.
The day before, the MEPs discussed the accumulated problems on the Russian topic for almost three hours.
EU High Representative for Foreign Policy Josep Borrell set the tone for the discussion. Opening the debate, he stated that he was pessimistic. He believes that Moscow has chosen the path of even deeper confrontation with the West.
“Unfortunately, we cannot rule out that the negative trend will continue and the deterioration will reach an even more dangerous level,” the head of European diplomacy emphasized and added that “intimidation tactics” will not remain unanswered.
Borrell called the withdrawal of Russian troops good news, but noted that more than 100 thousand soldiers near the borders of Ukraine and in Crimea have greatly "worsened the security situation in the region."
"The aggressive behavior of the Kremlin, sometimes simply terrorist, both in foreign and domestic policy, poses a real threat to the security of the EU and the entire European continent," said Andrius Kubilius, ex-Prime Minister of Lithuania and member of the EP committee on foreign affairs.
According to the Latvian Sandra Kalniete from the largest EP faction of the European People's Party, the events around Ukraine and Navalny should convince the West that "the Kremlin's provocations will not stop."
“That is why we must clearly and unequivocally explain to Russia what a high price it will have to pay for violating the rules established by international law,” she said. Its recipe is to provide Ukraine with an action plan for NATO membership and supply it with defense weapons.
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Her fellow German party member Michael Galer is also of the opinion that Ukraine should be provided with defense weapons, although he regrets that things have "gone this far."
As stated in the text of the resolution published on the website of the European Parliament, Russia should be disconnected from the interbank system for transmitting information about SWIFT payments.
It also talks about stopping the construction of the Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline and refusing to import oil and gas from Russia. In addition, they proposed freezing the European assets of oligarchs close to the Russian authorities and canceling their visas.
The complete list of requirements proposed in the draft resolution consists of 17 points. The most radical of them are listed above.
It follows from the document that such measures can be taken in the event of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.
However, in general, they are connected with the situation around the Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and the diplomatic scandal between Russia and the Czech Republic, which was caused by the statements of Prague about the involvement of the Russian special services in the explosion at an ammunition depot in the village of Vrbetice in 2014.
"The EU must make it clear that the price for such a violation of international law and norms will be severe," the draft resolution says.
Without preconditions, EU countries are offered:
send additional Russian diplomats as a sign of solidarity with the Czech Republic
stop Nord Stream 2 and the construction of "controversial nuclear power plants" by the Russian company Rosatom
impose sanctions on everyone who participated in the persecution of Alexei Navalny
At the same time, the document notes "regret over the current state of relations between the EU and Russia, caused by Moscow's aggression and continuing destabilization in Ukraine, hostile behavior and direct attacks on EU member states."
We are talking about Moscow's accusations of interference in the elections of other countries, disinformation campaigns, cyber attacks and the use of chemical weapons.
The Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly called for disconnecting Russia from the SWIFT system. The last time this was done by Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba was last week.
The Kremlin said that they consider the threat of Russia's disconnection from SWIFT real, since "the actions of Russian opponents are unpredictable."
Nord Stream 2 has been completed by more than 90 percent. According to the latest data, voiced by the Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Alexander Novak, the project should be completed in 2021. The project is opposed by Ukraine, the United States and the countries of Eastern Europe.
On April 29, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that "there are many different kinds of political speculations" around the project.
"But I want to emphasize again, this is a purely economic project that has nothing to do with the current political situation," he said.
Putin says the speculation is connected "primarily with attempts at unfair competition" in the European market.
The resolution of the European Parliament, like all others, is advisory in nature. At the same time, some of its points - including proposals to freeze Nord Stream 2 or to impose sanctions against Russian oligarchs - in fact cannot be substantiated by EU legislation.
As Borrell noted, speaking to deputies in the EP, the European Union does not have in its arsenal of tools that would freeze Nord Stream 2 and disconnect Russia from the interbank system for transmitting information about SWIFT payments.
