The International Working Group on Russian Sanctions, co-chaired by the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak, and the Director of the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, Michael McFaul, presented Action Plan 4.0 — an annual analytical document that contains a comprehensive set of sanctions proposals aimed at increasing economic pressure on the aggressor state and supporting Ukraine.
"Today, more than ever, it is crucial to strengthen the sanctions regime in order to deprive Russia of the financial and technological resources needed to wage war and to force it to ensure a real ceasefire and constructive peace negotiations. Action Plan 4.0 outlines all the necessary steps to achieve this," Andriy Yermak noted.
Experts from the International Sanctions Group emphasize that Europe must take the lead in strengthening sanctions.
"The decline in energy prices has put Russia in a vulnerable position. The EU should take advantage of this to completely abandon Russian oil and gas. This is an important contribution not only to supporting Ukraine in the war but also to the security of Europe itself," highlighted the Advisor – Presidential Commissioner for Sanctions Policy, Vladyslav Vlasiuk.
Among the main proposals outlined in Action Plan 4.0 are limiting the Russian Federation's energy revenues by lowering the price caps on Russian oil, banning LNG imports from Yamal, and expanding sanctions against the shadow tanker fleet.
Furthermore, experts propose that the EU supplement the sanctions regime by imposing tariffs on energy imports from the Russian Federation.
Another priority task is weakening Russia's defense industry by imposing a complete ban on the export of critical technologies to the Russian Federation and sanctioning all companies in the military-industrial complex of the aggressor state and their intermediaries in third countries. Along with the re-establishment of the Coordinating Committee for Multilateral Export Control based at the OECD and the imposition of quotas for the export of dual-use goods to countries that help Russia circumvent sanctions, this will ensure effective enforcement of sanctions.
The Action Plan 4.0 once again underscores the strategic rationale and moral justification for confiscating the frozen assets of the Russian Central Bank to finance Ukraine’s needs.
