EU reaches consensus on additional sanctions for Russia, according to media reports
EU envoys have allegedly supported a fresh set of Ukraine-related sanctions targeting Russia, even amid US initiatives to broker peace with Moscow. Read Full Article at RT.com
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Negotiations between Moscow and Washington regarding the Ukraine conflict are ongoing, as the EU has announced its 16th sanctions package against Russia. This development, reported by several media outlets on Wednesday, has been praised by the EU's chief diplomat, Kaja Kallas, even as discussions between the U.S. and Russia continue to find a resolution to the military strife.
Following the escalation of hostilities in February 2022, both the EU and the U.S. have implemented a series of sanctions aimed at isolating Russia. These measures have involved cutting the country off from Western financial systems, breaking nearly all trade and energy connections, and freezing Russia’s foreign reserves, a step the Kremlin has labeled as “theft.”
The recent talks between Russian and American officials, the first such meetings in three years, have sparked criticism within the EU. Member states have voiced concerns that Washington is engaging with Moscow without adequately consulting Brussels, effectively sidelining the EU from the negotiation process.
According to the Associated Press, while the sanctions were approved by representatives from the 27 EU member states, they are not entirely finalized and will require endorsement from EU foreign ministers on Monday.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the EU Commission, expressed her support for the latest sanctions, stating on social media that Brussels is “clamping down even harder on circumvention” of previous regulations by targeting additional vessels involved in transporting Russian crude oil and “imposing new import and export bans.”
The new sanctions package features a “phased-in” ban on imports of specific Russian aluminum products, as reported by the Financial Times, citing sources familiar with the details.
The updated sanctions are set to impact 13 more banks and an additional 73 tankers used for transporting Russian crude oil, along with restrictions on certain individuals. The measures will also suspend the broadcasting licenses of eight Russian media outlets.
Earlier in January, Brussels extended the existing sanctions against Russia until the end of July. These ongoing restrictions cover a wide array of sectors and include trade embargoes, travel bans, and targeted sanctions against Russian business leaders and officials.
The Kremlin has condemned the sanctions imposed by Western nations as illegal, asserting that these restrictions have not succeeded in destabilizing the Russian economy or isolating it from the international financial system.
Mark B Thomas for TROIB News
Following the escalation of hostilities in February 2022, both the EU and the U.S. have implemented a series of sanctions aimed at isolating Russia. These measures have involved cutting the country off from Western financial systems, breaking nearly all trade and energy connections, and freezing Russia’s foreign reserves, a step the Kremlin has labeled as “theft.”
The recent talks between Russian and American officials, the first such meetings in three years, have sparked criticism within the EU. Member states have voiced concerns that Washington is engaging with Moscow without adequately consulting Brussels, effectively sidelining the EU from the negotiation process.
According to the Associated Press, while the sanctions were approved by representatives from the 27 EU member states, they are not entirely finalized and will require endorsement from EU foreign ministers on Monday.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the EU Commission, expressed her support for the latest sanctions, stating on social media that Brussels is “clamping down even harder on circumvention” of previous regulations by targeting additional vessels involved in transporting Russian crude oil and “imposing new import and export bans.”
The new sanctions package features a “phased-in” ban on imports of specific Russian aluminum products, as reported by the Financial Times, citing sources familiar with the details.
The updated sanctions are set to impact 13 more banks and an additional 73 tankers used for transporting Russian crude oil, along with restrictions on certain individuals. The measures will also suspend the broadcasting licenses of eight Russian media outlets.
Earlier in January, Brussels extended the existing sanctions against Russia until the end of July. These ongoing restrictions cover a wide array of sectors and include trade embargoes, travel bans, and targeted sanctions against Russian business leaders and officials.
The Kremlin has condemned the sanctions imposed by Western nations as illegal, asserting that these restrictions have not succeeded in destabilizing the Russian economy or isolating it from the international financial system.
Mark B Thomas for TROIB News
