EU extends sanctions against Russia for occupying part of Ukraine

According to the report, the EU Council imposed sanctions against Russia on February 23, 2022, and on October 6, 2022, in response to the illegal annexation of the Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia regions of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, the Council adopted an additional decision to expand the geographical scope of restrictions to cover all areas not controlled by the government on the territory of Ukraine.

Furthermore, on December 14 and 15, 2023, the European Council confirmed Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine, which is a clear violation of the UN Charter, and reiterated the EU's unwavering support for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, as well as its inherent right to self-defense against Russian aggression.

"As long as the Russian Federation’s illegal actions continue to violate the prohibition on the use of force, which is a serious breach of international law, it is appropriate to maintain in force all the measures currently imposed by the Union and to take additional measures, if necessary. Consequently, the restrictive measures contained in Decision (CFSP) 2022/266 should be renewed for a further 12 months, until 24 February 2025," the statement reads.

Sanctions against Russia

The EU began imposing sanctions against Russia in 2014 after the occupation of Crimea and parts of Donbas. Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the EU introduced 12 packages of sanctions.

In January, the European Union began discussing a new package, which it intends to approve by February 24, 2024.

According to Reuters, the sanctions package will not include new restrictions on the import of Russian goods.

At the same time, the 13th package of sanctions may include restrictive measures against nearly two hundred individuals and companies.