EU has agreed on new sanctions against Russia, blacklisting Chinese companies

The EU has agreed on the 13th sanctions package against Russia for its war in Ukraine. The European Union has imposed sanctions on enterprises based in mainland China.

Brussels is convinced that a number of Chinese companies are assisting Russia in circumventing sanctions and acquiring banned goods for weapons manufacturing.

Primarily, Russia purchases electronics for its war drones. The new EU’s restrictions have also hit companies in Turkey, North Korea, and other countries. 

Belgian Presidency of the EU Council confirmed the agreement.

“EU Ambassadors just agreed in principle on a 13th package of sanctions in the framework of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. This package is one of the broadest approved by the EU. It will undergo a written procedure and be formally approved for the 24 February.”

Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU 2024

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the adoption of the 13th package of sanctions against Russia.

“I welcome the agreement on our 13th sanctions package against Russia. We must keep degrading Putin’s war machine. With 2000 listings in total, we keep the pressure high on the Kremlin. We are also further cutting Russia’s access to drones.”

Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission President

Sanctions against Russian institutions involved in re-education of abducted Ukrainian kids

The list of two thousand names includes around 200 Russian individuals and organizations. Some of them are institutions involved in the Kremlin’s forced re-education of children abducted in Ukraine.

No sanctions against Russian aluminum manufacturers and metals exports

The package, however, does not target Russian aluminum manufacturers. In two years of war and 13 packages of sanctions, the EU didn’t significantly harm Russia’s metals exports.

The terms of the sanctions will become available after they are published in the EU’s official journal.

Ukraine’s ambassador to the EU, Vsevolod Chentsov, says that the 13th package of sanctions against Russia focuses only on companies and individuals that contribute to the military-industrial complex. The diplomat calls this package symbolic.

The 13th package does not include sectoral sanctions

The ambassador said that EU member states and institutions worked within a tight timeframe to agree on the package before the second anniversary of the full-scale invasion.

According to the ambassador, the Ukrainian side conveyed its wishes regarding sanctions. However, the new package does not include sectoral sanctions.

At the same time, work on the 14th package of sanctions has already begun. Vsevolod Chentsov said this during a briefing.

According to him, Ukraine is constantly informing its partners about spare parts from third countries found on the battlefield. Chentsov said that Russia buys parts for weapons production not only from North Korea and Iran, but also from other countries.