EU plans sanctions against Patriarch Kirill: Reports W. J.

The European Commission has proposed sanctions against the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, over his support for Russia’s war on Ukraine, according to media reports Wednesday.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented a draft of the sixth round of sanctions against Russia to European Union lawmakers earlier in the day.

The EU executive body suggested, among other things, to ban Russian oil imports and exclude Sberbank from the SWIFT international payment system as well as to hit new individuals with an asset freeze and travel ban.

Von der Leyen did not mention names, but according to the news outlet Politico, Patriarch Kirill will be on the blacklist.