Poland hopes to convince Europe that several sanctions against Moscow are needed.
Warsaw launched a campaign called Stop Russia now! Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced on Saturday that the European nations should be reminded of the situation in Ukraine and to make sure they put in place tougher sanctions against Moscow. The campaign will feature mobile billboards featuring photos from Ukrainian cities that will be sent to various European locations.
Morawiecki said he would be traveling to EU capitals to remind Europeans what is happening in Ukraine. The prime minister said that the campaign that includes social media posts has to contribute decisively to ensuring that Europe is not a Europe of indifference, helplessness, and that it is not a Europe of defeat. Morawiecki said that nations in western and southern Europe are willing to return to normality too soon, and that the campaign is aimed at awakening the conscience of Europe.
Photos taken by the Polish authorities on the mobile billboards juxtapose the devastation of Ukrainian cities against the peaceful life in Europe. Every billboard has a slogan '' Stop Russia now! Blood oil fuels Russia's genocide of Ukraine, according to a billboard. Morawiecki told the media that Germany, France, Austria and Italy must do as much as possible to stop the war in Ukraine. He also spoke about his upcoming visit to European capitals and the aims of the campaign.
The prime minister has admitted that the sanctions imposed by the EU, the US and their allies haven't had any effect on Russia. The ruble exchange rate is what is happening in the Russian economy. He said that restrictions might have some effect, but only in the long run, but he said nothing special is happening there.
Morawiecki called for tougher sanctions than those that were imposed. The move comes as Washington and Brussels are discussing sanctions designed to hit Russia's energy sector. Western nations have mostly targeted Russian finances and banking, while the EU has also banned Russia s coal imports.
The US introduced a ban on Russia's energy, which is echoed by Canada, Australia, and Japan, but the EU member states have been divided on the matter. Many European nations rely on Russia's energy imports do not support an immediate ban on Russian oil and gas.
In March, German Economy Minister Robert Habeck warned that if you cut off imports immediately, you could cause mass unemployment, poverty and people who can't heat their homes. Austria has admitted on Saturday it can't afford to ban imports of Russian gas.
Even the US is cautious about the possibility of an EU-wide oil and gas embargo against Russia, arguing that it could greatly increase global oil prices and harm economies in Europe and beyond.
Russia attacked its neighboring state in late February, after Ukraine failed to implement the terms of the Minsk agreements, first signed in 2014, and Moscow s eventual recognition of the Donbass republics of Donetsk and Lugansk. The German and French-brokered protocols were designed to give the breakaway regions special status within the Ukrainian state.
The Kremlin has since demanded that Ukraine officially declare itself a neutral country that will never join the US-led NATO military bloc. Kiev insists that the Russian offensive was completely unprovoked and has denied that it was planning to retake the two republics by force.