BRUSSELS — The European Union agreed Saturday to impose new sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine concentrating on extra officers and organizations accused of supporting the conflict, spreading propaganda or supplying drones, in addition to limiting commerce on merchandise that could possibly be utilized by the armed forces.
The EU’s Swedish presidency mentioned the sanctions “are directed at army and political decision-makers, firms supporting or working inside the Russian army business, and commanders within the Wagner Group. Transactions with a few of Russia’s largest banks are additionally prohibited.”
Asset freezes had been slapped on three extra Russian banks and 7 Iranian “entities” — firms, businesses, political events or different organizations — that manufacture army drones, which the EU suspects have been utilized by Russia in the course of the conflict.
The brand new measures, proposed by the EU’s govt department three weeks in the past, had been solely adopted after a lot inner wrangling over their precise make-up, and made public at some point after the primary anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — the supposed goal date.
The delay, which was minor however symbolically necessary, is but extra proof of how tough it has develop into for the 27-nation bloc to determine new targets for restrictive measures which are acceptable to all member nations.
The sanctions are supposed to undermine Russia’s financial system and drain funds for its conflict effort, however they’re additionally more and more inflicting ache on European economies already hit by excessive inflation and power costs and nonetheless affected by the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Earlier than this newest spherical of measures, the EU had already focused nearly 1,400 Russian officers, together with President Vladimir Putin, authorities ministers, lawmakers and oligarchs believed loyal to the Kremlin, but in addition officers believed accountable for conflict crimes or concentrating on civilian infrastructure.
The bloc had additionally frozen the belongings of greater than 170 organizations, starting from political events and paramilitary teams to banks, non-public firms and media shops accused of spreading pro-Kremlin propaganda.
Russia’s power sector was hit, too — notably oil and coal — and the bloc, via its personal measures and political selections mixed with retaliation from Moscow, was quickly weaned off its dependence on Russian pure fuel.