Zakharova mocks EU plan for new Russian oil sanctions with 'cactus' jibe after Kallas outlines 22nd package

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has mocked the European Union’s plans for new sanctions on Russian oil, which EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas outlined to the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Tuesday 20 October.

Kallas said she had proposed that the EU’s 22nd sanctions package include “new listings focused on curbing Russia’s sources of revenue further: from the shadow fleet, from the energy sector and from the banking sector”, and that the EU intended “to target sectors and entities … also in 3rd countries”, according to TASS, which cited the Parliament’s broadcast. She did not say when the package would be adopted; sanctions require the unanimous approval of all 27 member states.

Responding on Telegram late on Tuesday (GMT), Zakharova wrote: “Top prize in the category ‘The mice cried and got pricked, but kept gnawing on the cactus’”, Moskovsky Komsomolets and TASS reported (our translation), adding mouse, crying-face and cactus emojis. The phrase refers to a Russian joke about persisting with something that causes harm. TASS linked her remark to Europe’s high energy costs.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said EU energy sanctions on Russia will stay in place despite the US decision to allow Russian diesel sales, Politico Europe reported. The EU’s 21st package was adopted in June, TASS reported. Kallas had not publicly responded to Zakharova’s post at the time of publication.

See also: Kallas tells EU Parliament Black Sea ship attacks are an ‘unacceptable escalation’.