EU Ministers to approve 15th sanctions package against Russia today – Kallas
Photo: Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (wikimedia.org/Kaja_Kallas)
The foreign ministers of the European Union countries will adopt the 15th sanctions package against Russia today. They will also discuss the situation in Syria and Georgia, RBC-Ukraine reports, citing Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, during a conversation with journalists.
According to Kallas, the ministers will discuss Syria, Ukraine, and Georgia today.
"Regarding Ukraine, the foreign ministers today will adopt the 15th sanctions package. It includes sanctions against (Russian - ed.) shadow fleet, sanctions against North Korean officials, as well as Chinese companies who are enabling this war (Russia's invasion of Ukraine - ed.). It sends a clear message – whoever enables this war to continue has a price to pay," the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy said.
In particular, in responding to journalists' questions about the possibility of sending European peacekeepers to Ukraine, Kallase explained that peace must be achieved before such a decision could be made. However, at present, the Kremlin is not seeking peaceful solutions.
"First, it has to be peace in order to send peacekeepers. And Russia does not want peace, so that is very clear. If you look at Lavrov's interview for Tucker Carlson, for example, they (the Russians -ed.) haven't stepped away from their goals. So we cannot discuss that," the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy emphasized.
Sanctions against Russia
The EU and other countries imposed sanctions against Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine. After the start of the full-scale war, the restrictions were tightened. These sanctions cover a wide range of economic, financial, energy, and personal spheres. The EU has frozen the assets of hundreds of Russian individuals and legal entities, banned the export of high-tech equipment, including semiconductors, and restricted Russian oil and gas exports.
As Bloomberg recently reported, the EU plans to impose the first sanctions package against Russia for disinformation operations and other hybrid activities.
