A strong Russian bishop is likely one of the newest figures to be focused within the European Fee's sixth sanctions package deal that was introduced Wednesday.

A European Exterior Motion Service doc obtained by Politico confirmed that sanctions have been proposed towards Patriarch Kirill, the top of the Russian Orthodox Church. The doc described him as "probably the most outstanding supporters of the Russian navy aggression towards Ukraine" and somebody who has helped enhance Russian President Vladimir Putin's rhetoric about the battle, based on Politico.

The reported sanctions proposed towards the bishop got here because the European Fee, the European Union's government department, introduced one in every of its most critical strikes but towards Russia for its assault on Ukraine: a ban on Russian oil. Throughout a speech Wednesday, European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen harassed that Russian President Vladimir Putin "should pay a excessive worth for his brutal aggression." The inclusion of Kirill, a longtime ally of Putin, on the sanctions checklist seems to suit into that purpose.

EU nations nonetheless should agree on the proposed sanctions package deal earlier than it could actually go into impact.

Russian Bishop Sanctioned
A strong Russian bishop is likely one of the latest figures to be focused within the European Fee's sixth sanctions package deal that was introduced Wednesday. Above, the Russian Orthodox Church's Patriarch Kirill lights candles through the Easter Mass at Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral on April 24.Contributor/Getty Pictures

Within the doc, the fee famous Kirill's blessing for Russian troopers in Ukraine, in addition to a few of his pro-war messages in sermons and feedback.

Ukrayinska Pravda, a Ukrainian on-line newspaper, reported Tuesday that Kirill stated, "Russia has by no means attacked anybody."

The doc stated that "Patriarch Kirill is subsequently chargeable for supporting or implementing, actions or insurance policies which undermine or threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, in addition to stability and safety in Ukraine," based on Politico.

The bishop has additionally been criticized by Pope Francis. In a Wednesday interview in Corriere della Sera, an Italian newspaper, the pontiff stated that Kirill "can't rework himself into Putin's altar boy."

Francis additionally stated through the interview that he informed the bishop that they don't seem to be "clerics of state" and should not use "the language of politics."

"We're shepherds of the identical holy individuals of God. For this we should search methods of peace, to place an finish to the firing of weapons," the pope stated, based on Corriere della Sera.

The European Fee's sanctions package deal targets high-ranking navy officers in addition to others allegedly chargeable for battle crimes within the Ukrainian metropolis of Bucha and the "inhuman siege of the town of Mariupol," von der Leyen stated throughout her speech Wednesday. Russian banks and broadcasters are additionally focused.

As for the proposed ban on Russian oil, von der Leyen famous that it's going to not be straightforward to lower Europe's dependence on the commodity however stated "we merely should work on it."

Newsweek reached out to Russia's Overseas Ministry and the European Fee for remark.