Editor’s Note
The European Union is preparing its 13th package of sanctions against Russia, coinciding with the second anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This report, based on information from the German Press Agency, indicates a significant expansion in the scope of the planned measures.
According to information obtained by the German Press Agency (dpa), the European Union is preparing to impose a new package of sanctions on Russia on the occasion of the second anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine later this month. This will be the EU’s 13th round of sanctions against Russia, with the scope of sanctions set to be significantly expanded.
Under the new sanctions plan, in addition to the freezing of assets of more individuals or organizations within the EU, more companies contributing to Russia’s military and technological development, as well as to its defense and security sector, will become targets of sanctions. It is estimated that over 200 individuals and companies will be listed under the sanctions.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the EU has already imposed 12 rounds of sanctions. EU import bans on Russian crude oil, coal, steel, gold, and luxury goods, as well as sanctions targeting Russian banks and financial institutions, have been in place for some time. The EU’s 12th sanctions package included a ban on the import, purchase, and transfer of diamonds and jewelry originating from Russia, transiting through Russia, or processed in third countries from Russian diamonds.
In June of last year, the EU placed 87 companies and organizations from six countries, including Iran, China, the UAE, Syria, Armenia, and Uzbekistan, on its sanctions list. The reason given was that these companies were suspected of circumventing EU punitive measures and supporting Russia’s military-industrial complex. The sanctioned entities face stricter restrictions on the supply of dual-use goods and high-tech products.
Senior officials from the European Commission presented specific proposals for the 13th sanctions package to representatives of EU member states last weekend. The next step will be drafting a sanctions resolution, which must be formally approved by all 27 EU countries. While deciding on the new round of sanctions, the EU is also expected to make a decision regarding the “absorption” of profits from frozen assets of the Russian central bank.