The European Union has adopted the 11th package of sanctions aimed at punishing Russia for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the European Commission announced.
The EU has particularly added the “anti-circumvention tool” to the package which will allow Brussels to slap sanctions on third countries. In addition, 87 more businesses that directly support Russia’s defence-industrial complex are now blacklisted.
The package includes a ban on Russian oil supplies via the northern branch of the Druzhba pipeline, restrictions on the entry of trailers and semi-trailers from Russia, a ban on the supply of electric cars, hybrid cars, and cars with an engine capacity of more than 1.9 litres.
The sanctions will also apply to the exports to Russia of electrical components and metals, semiconductor materials, optical components, navigation devices, and other items. Moreover, the EU has expanded the list of high-tech and military goods banned for transit through Russia.
“Our sanctions are already taking a heavy toll on the Russian economy and on the Kremlin’s ability to finance its aggression. Today’s package increases our pressure on Russia and Putin’s war machine. By tackling sanctions circumvention, we will maximise pressure on Russia by depriving it further of the resources it so desperately needs to allow it to pursue its illegal war against Ukraine,” top EU diplomat Josep Borrell said.
The EU has also extended bans on Russian media broadcasts against Tasrgrad, RT Balkan, Oriental Review, New Eastern Outlook, and Katehon.
The 11th package of sanctions against Russia was agreed by EU envoys on 21 June.
Bloomberg reported earlier that the latest document draft showed that Brussels had abandoned its plans to restrict trade with five Chinese companies believed to supply banned technologies to Russia. This happened after beijing pledged to resolve the issue.
