EU eyes tariffs to 'choke off' Russian grain sales

Moscow responded immediately by saying Europeans would "suffer" from the move.

The EU is looking to "choke off" revenue Russia uses for its war on Ukraine by slapping "prohibitive tariffs" on grain and related imports into the bloc, under a plan being put to a leaders summit on Friday (Mar 22).

Moscow responded immediately by saying Europeans would "suffer" from the move.

The added sanctions, welcomed by Kyiv, will not apply to Russian grain transiting through the European Union to other markets, so as not to disrupt food supplies elsewhere, EU trade commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy complained to the EU leaders meeting in Brussels on Thursday, via video link, that it was not fair that Russian grain continued to have "unrestricted" access to their markets, while Ukrainian imports were being limited.

Brussels has been seeking to increase pressure on Moscow's finances after several rounds of sanctions that have already frozen Russian assets in the 27-nation bloc, targeted leaders including President Vladimir Putin and curbed trade.