Dhe EU member states want to discuss another package of sanctions against Russia this Friday. A meeting at ambassador level is planned for the evening. A decision is expected by early next week. According to the proposal by the EU Commission and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, almost 200 other people and organizations are to be subject to individual sanctions, including three other banks.
New export restrictions are intended to restrict Russian access to drones and their components; this applies in particular to their engines. In addition, the broadcasting of four other Russian channels is to be banned. Additional measures against the mining and energy sectors are also planned.
“We continue to stand by Ukraine and make Russia pay for its cruelty,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, outlining the proposals in a video message on Wednesday evening. The previous eight packages have already had a clear effect. Like Borrell, she pointed out that Russia had escalated its war against the country with attacks on civilian infrastructure.
Sanctions are intended to hit Russian attackers
Putin wanted to “freeze” the Ukrainians, Borrell said in his video message. These are clearly war crimes. The ninth package will therefore particularly affect those who are responsible for the continuation of the brutal war.
So far, the EU states have banned 1,241 individuals from entry and property and also banned business transactions with 118 companies and organizations. According to Borrell, the new listings, which have been prepared over the past few weeks, are aimed at members of the Russian military, the defense industry, the government, the Duma and the Federation Council, as well as judges whose judgments supported the regime. Borrell said he would meet those responsible for rocket attacks on civilian targets, the theft of grain and the kidnapping of Ukrainian children to Russia.
Meanwhile, Germany and five other countries want to make it absolutely clear that individual sanctions do not affect trade in food and fertilizers. So far, there have only been non-binding guidelines for this – in practice, however, they lead to difficulties with exports, as the states argue.
