EU chief urges bloc members to sanction Russia’s LNG exports

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (Pascal Bastien/AP)

The European Union should slap new sanctions on Russia’s exports of liquefied natural gas, its shadow fleet of aging oil tankers and major energy companies over its war on Ukraine, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday.

“It is time to turn off the tap” on LNG, Ms von der Leyen said in a video statement outlining her commission’s new sanctions proposals. They must be endorsed by the 27 EU countries before they can enter force.