EU adopts 13th package of sanctions against Russia
EU adopts 13th package of sanctions against Russia (Photo: Getty Images)
On February 23, the European Union adopted the 13th package of sanctions against Russia over the invasion of Ukraine, according to the EU Council.
"Two years after the full-scale invasion and war of aggression against Ukraine, EU adopts 13th package of individual and economic sanctions. The Council adopted today - in view of the second year mark of the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine - a thirteenth package of restrictive measures against Putin’s regime, those who are responsible for perpetuating his illegal, unprovoked, and unjustified war of aggression and those who are significantly supporting it," the statement reads.
High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said that as we approach the sad two-year mark since Vladimir Putin launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the European Union continues to put pressure on Russia.
"Today, we are further tightening the restrictive measures against Russia’s military and defense sector, targeting further entities in third countries who supply equipment as well as those responsible for the illegal deportation and military re-education of Ukrainian children. We remain united in our determination to dent Russia’s war machine and help Ukraine win its legitimate fight for self-defense and restore its independence, territorial integrity, and sovereignty," he says.
Details
The Council of the European Union has decided to impose restrictive measures on 106 additional individuals and 88 legal entities responsible for actions that undermine or threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence of Ukraine.
The new lists, agreed today, primarily target the military and defense sectors and their associated individuals, including those involved in the supply of arms to North Korea, as well as members of the judiciary, local politicians, and people responsible for the illegal deportation and military re-education of Ukrainians, including children.
"Altogether, EU restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine now apply to over 2000 individuals and entities altogether," the statement says.
The assets of these persons are subject to freezing, and EU citizens and companies are prohibited from providing them with funds. Individuals are additionally subject to a travel ban that prevents them from entering or transiting the EU.
Import and export controls and restrictions
The EU Council added 27 new organizations to the list of those directly supporting the Russian military-industrial complex in its aggressive war against Ukraine. They will be subject to stricter export restrictions on dual-use goods and technologies, as well as goods and technologies that could contribute to the technological improvement of the Russian defense and security sector.
Some of these enterprises are located in India, Sri Lanka, China, Serbia, Kazakhstan, Thailand, and Türkiye and are involved in circumventing trade restrictions, while others are Russian enterprises engaged in the development, production, and supply of electronic components for the Russian military-industrial complex.
In addition, today's decision expands the list of prohibited goods that can contribute to the technological improvement of the Russian defense and security sector by adding components for the development and production of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Finally, the EU has imposed additional export restrictions on goods that, in particular, contribute to Russia's industrial capacity, such as electrical transformers.
Iron and steel
Today's decision adds the UK to the list of partner countries that apply a set of restrictive measures on imports of iron and steel from Russia, as well as a set of import control measures that are essentially equivalent to the EU's measures.
New EU sanctions against Russia
On February 21, it became known that the ambassadors of the European Union adopted the 13th package of sanctions against Russia. On February 22, EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarina Mathernova said that the European Union would adopt the 13th package of sanctions against Russia for its war in Ukraine on February 23.
Back in January, the EU began discussing the introduction of the 13th package of sanctions against Russia. The restrictions were supposed to be approved by the second anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which happened.
