Ursula von der Leyen has accused the Kremlin of imposing a “digital iron curtain” on Russian citizens in order to conceal the economic hardships caused by European sanctions linked to the war in Ukraine.
Speaking at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, she said that sanctions are having a severe impact on the Russian economy. “Yes, sanctions have a devastating effect on the Russian economy,” she stated.
According to von der Leyen, European Union member states are preparing a new package of measures against Moscow the 20th since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. She noted that the consequences of the war are being directly felt by citizens through rising inflation and interest rates.
She further claimed that the Kremlin is restricting internet access and freedom of communication, effectively isolating the population. “To the point that Russians feel as if they are living behind a new iron curtain a digital iron curtain,” she said.
However, she added that history shows such barriers do not last forever. “If history has taught us anything, it is that all walls eventually fall,” she concluded.
