EU agreed on 12th package of sanctions against Russia

Top European Union diplomat Josep Borrell and the European Commission presented a proposal to member states for the twelfth package of sanctions against Russia.

In line with the decision by the October European Council to further weaken Russia’s ability to continue its aggression against Ukraine, the High Representative, together with the Commission, submitted last night to the Council a proposal for the 12th package of sanctions, the statement says.

The proposal provides for the introduction of sanctions against more than 120 individuals and legal entities for their role in undermining Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. These are representatives of the military, defense, and IT sectors of the Russian Federation, as well as “other important economic operators.”

A separate mention is made of the need to punish those involved in phony elections in the occupied territories of Ukraine, those responsible for the forced “re-education” of Ukrainian children, and those involved in the spread of disinformation and propaganda by the Russian Federation.

The European Commission also proposes introducing new import and export bans and measures aimed at strengthening the oil price ceiling and counteracting the evasion of EU sanctions.

Earlier, Bloomberg wrote that the proposals of the 12th EU sanctions package include restrictions on trade in goods worth about 5 billion euros, including a ban on exporting machine tools and engine parts used by Russia to produce weapons used in the war against Ukraine.

The publication says this measure is listed in the 12th EU sanctions package, including a ban on diamond exports and efforts to strengthen control over compliance with the Russian oil price ceiling.

According to the agency, the EU proposes adding chemicals, lithium batteries, thermostats, engines, and servo motors for drones to the list of restricted goods.

Discussions on new sanctions moved forward after the Group of Seven foreign ministers gave the green light to impose restrictions on diamonds of Russian origin at a meeting in Japan.