The EU adopted new sanctions against Russia: banned the import of gas and blocked the "shadow fleet"

Share: The European Union has introduced the 19th package of sanctions against Russia, aimed at limiting the export of liquefied natural gas and controlling the activities of the "shadow fleet", which is used to transport oil. The measures will also affect Russian banks, cryptocurrency exchanges and companies in China and India that helped Moscow circumvent previous sanctions.

Head of EU diplomacy Kaya Callas noted that the sanctions limit the movement of Russian diplomats and make it more difficult to finance the war against Ukraine. "We have just passed our 19th package of sanctions. It targets, among other things, Russian banks, cryptocurrency exchanges, organizations in India and China. The EU is restricting the movement of Russian diplomats to counter attempts at destabilization. It is becoming increasingly difficult for Putin to finance this war," Kallas said.

As reported in the Danish presidency of the EU, the adoption of the package was "a good day for Europe and Ukraine. " The new measures include additional steps to prevent the circumvention of sanctions and control the supply of dual-purpose goods. According to Bloomberg, the decision was made after long negotiations between the member states. For several weeks, the document was blocked by Austria, Hungary and Slovakia, putting forward their own demands.

As a result, the parties reached a compromise, and the package received the support of all 27 EU countries. The list of restrictions includes a ban on the export of military goods worth more than 40 billion euros (1. 68 trillion UAH), including minerals, ceramics and rubber. In addition, the European Union added more than 100 tankers involved in the illegal trade in Russian oil to the sanctions list. In total, about 550 vessels will be under sanctions.

The EU also imposed trade restrictions against Chinese and Indian companies that helped Russia circumvent previous sanctions. The new restrictions come shortly after US President Donald Trump's administration imposed its own sanctions against Russia's two largest oil companies. These steps are aimed at reducing Moscow's profits from energy exports and limiting its influence on the world market.

We will remind you that the previous, 18th package of EU sanctions was mainly aimed at restricting the export of high-tech equipment and components used in Russia's military industry. The new package expands these measures, strengthening the West's coordination in countering Russian aggression. As Focus reported, the United States of America announced a decision on new sanctions against Russia for the war against Ukraine. Focus also wrote about how Russia maneuvers between sanctions and war.