PRESS RELEASE : The McFaul-Yermak international expert group has developed an action plan to enhance sanctions against Russia

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 13 April 2022.

Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak held a regular meeting of a group of Ukrainian and international experts who analyze the real impact of sanctions against Russia and make proposals to strengthen them.

At the beginning of the meeting, he noted that the McFaul-Yermak international expert group has been working for three weeks. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Office of the Head of State highly appreciate the efforts of the experts, and this area is one of the key priorities for Ukraine today.

“Our common goal is to stop the war, and for that we must defeat Russia with all possible and impossible sanctions. I know that our experts now have two pages of priority sanctions against Russia, which are proposed for the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom and other partners,” Andriy Yermak said.

According to him, the list includes a full embargo on crude oil and natural gas exports, additional bans on financial institutions in both Russia and Belarus, further trade barriers and customs duties, and other powerful measures.

Approaches to strengthening personal restrictions and imposing secondary sanctions are also being developed.

Andriy Yermak noted that Ukrainian experts have already proposed their part of the action plan.

Former National Security Adviser to the President of the United States, Ambassador Michael McFaul, who is the coordinator of the international expert group, said that foreign experts will provide comments and suggestions shortly.

During the meeting the parties also heard a report by White House National Security Council member Peter Harrell, who focused on the political dimension of sanctions.