Using Russian uranium should be sanctioned across EU - German econ min
Der Spiegel
Russian uranium should be made subject to sanctions since using it undermines efforts to weaken Russia鈥檚 capability for waging war on its neighbour Ukraine, the German economy and climate minister Robert Habeck has said on the sidelines of a visit to Ukraine鈥檚 capital Kyiv, news magazine Der Spiegel . Habeck said representatives of Ukraine鈥檚 government repeatedly had asked why Russian uranium could still be sourced without sanctions. 鈥淚 believe there鈥檚 no good answer to that,鈥� the Green Party politician said, adding that he would work towards penalising the use of Russian supplies. Sanctions should be introduced 鈥渆ven if this means that countries which still use Russian uranium have to adapt,鈥� Habeck said, arguing that this step would be 鈥渢olerable鈥� for affected governments. He also said the EU should intensify its efforts to ensure that existing sanctions for other energy carriers should be enforced more rigorously. 鈥淲e have clear data indicating that these are circumvented by using third states,鈥� the minister said, adding that this 鈥渋s not at all acceptable.鈥� Everyone involved should be aware that this undermines wider efforts to end the war on Ukraine, Habeck said.
Germany will end nuclear power production by 15 April, when the last three reactors are shut down. Russia supplied about half of all traded uranium in the world in 2022.
