Patriarch Cyril I not only became one of the most controversial figures in Russia’s war against Ukraine, because of his statements – he described Putin’s war as “holy” – the EU is now including him on its sanctions list. Overall, the sixth package of countermeasures means further massive austerity measures between the European Union and Russia.
Now Brussels has also put Moscow Patriarch Cyril I on the EU sanctions list. The head of the Russian Orthodox Church is no longer allowed to enter the European Union, and the patriarch’s personal belongings in the EU are frozen – if there are any.
Putin a “miracle of God”
The background to this is the fact that Cyril and with him Russian orthodoxy stand steadfastly behind Putin’s war of aggression against Ukraine. The patriarch praised Putin as a “miracle of God” and called the invasion “holy.” Russia, he says, has never attacked anyone.
In its sixth package of sanctions, adopted on Monday, the EU will not only target its sanctions on individuals, but an economic decision is likely to have far-reaching consequences. Heads of state and government have agreed on the oil embargo on Russia, which has been controversial for weeks.
‘Funding source for War Machine’ has dried up
Two-thirds of all oil imports would be cut “immediately”, EU Council President Charles Michel said after the decision. The only exception to this is the so-called pipeline oil – this compromise has in fact been settled in landlocked countries such as Hungary. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stressed that oil shipments from Russia could be cut by about 90 percent by the end of the year.
With the embargo decision, Russia loses a “huge source of funding for its war machine”, Michel emphasized. According to experts’ calculations, EU countries spend hundreds of millions of euros on Russian oil every day. They put “maximum pressure” on the country to “end the war”.
“Krone” commentary by Christian Hauenstein
There are certainly voices in Brussels who think it is unwise to put Patriarch Kirill on the sanctions list. For many Russian believers, this is yet another “proof” that the sanctions are not directed against Putin’s regime, but against Russia as a whole.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
