The European Union agreed to a new round of sanctions against Russia on Friday, the first anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Synthesis is Adopted by ten European Union member states.
European Commission President Ursula van der Leyen assured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. During a visit to Kiev earlier this month The EU will “aim to implement a tenth set of sanctions” within the one-year mark of Russia’s invasion.
The new sanctions target companies that support the war and spread Russian propaganda
Sweden, which took over the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union earlier this year, said the new measures were aimed at “restricted actions against individuals and companies that support war, disseminate propaganda or supply drones used by Russia in war.”
“To win the war in Ukraine, the EU member states have come together and imposed very strong and far-reaching economic sanctions,” the Swedish Presidency said on Twitter.
“The EU stands united with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. We will support Ukraine as long as it takes,” it added.
Why were the bans announced late in the evening?
EU diplomats agreed on almost all aspects of the new proposed package, but Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki criticized it as “too soft, too weak” during a visit to the Ukrainian capital Kiev on Friday.
In Kyiv, Morawiecki said, “We propose that additional people be added.”
Lithuanian President Kitanas Nausėda echoed his concerns. “I always expect strong barriers,” he said. He told reporters he expected Rosatom, the Russian state nuclear agency, to be targeted.
Poland is trying to ban imports of synthetic rubber used to make tires from Russia, AFP reported, citing diplomatic sources. Italy was interested in a long-term transition to give its manufacturers more time to find new suppliers.
The resulting disagreement, according to AFP, has delayed the deal with what Brussels insiders describe as an even more substantial set of obstacles.
The US has announced new sanctions
The United States on Friday announced sanctions against hundreds of Russian companies, banks, manufacturers and individuals, specifically targeting companies that helped Russia evade sanctions on the one-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Russia’s metals and mining sector, as well as arms dealers, technology companies and arms manufacturers, are particularly targeted by donors in countries ranging from the United Arab Emirates to Switzerland.
Who got admitted in the latest wave?
A dozen financial institutions were all hit by the sanctions, including Russia’s largest non-state public bank, importers of microelectronics and manufacturers of carbon fiber, a key component in defense systems.
30 individuals face sentencing for alleged links to Russia’s sanctions evasion efforts. Among them were Swiss-Italian businessman Walter Moretti and his businessmen, Russian-Turkmen arms dealer Nurmurat Kurbanov, who allegedly represented Russian and Belarusian defense companies abroad, and Russian businessman Alexander Yevgenievich Udotov, the former’s brother-in-law. Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.
The US State Department continued to impose sanctions against more than 60 senior Russian government officials, cabinet ministers and regional leaders, as well as three government agencies responsible for running Russia’s nuclear weapons program.
More than 1,200 members of the Russian military were also subject to visa restrictions. Olga Skabeyeva, a leading state television campaigner, and Oleg Romanenko, who was put in charge of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant after Russia seized it, are also on the sanctions list.
What did the US Treasury Secretary say?
U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a statement, “Our sanctions have had short- and long-term impacts, most acutely seen in Russia’s struggle to replenish its arsenal and its isolated economy.”
“Our actions with our G7 partners show that we will stand with Ukraine no matter what,” Yellen added.
He noted that action was being taken with G7 partners with the aim of “how long it takes” with Ukraine.
His comments came as he attended the two-day G20 Finance Ministers’ meeting in Bengaluru, India.
“Their continued work for the Kremlin makes them complicit in Putin’s atrocities,” he told Russian officials at meetings on Friday.
Yellen added, “They bear responsibility for the lives and livelihoods that are being taken in Ukraine and the harm that is being caused globally.”
What other financial penalties has the US announced for invading Ukraine?
The U.S. Department of Commerce and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative are expected to press Russia on Friday to mark the anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Based in Paris The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) also suspended Russia’s membership Friday.
French Finance Minister Bruno Le Marie told a G20 press conference that “our sanctions are strong, they are effective, they hit and cut all of Russia’s revenues.”
“They are organizing Russian industry, undermining the war effort,” he said.
rm, ar/sms, jsi (AP, AFP, Reuters, dpa)
