EU ramps up sanctions against Russia, Belarus

TALLINN - The European Union on Monday adopted a new package of sanctions, ramping up restrictive measures imposed against Russia and Belarus.

The 16th sanctions package sends a strong and unequivocal message -- Russia’s aggression in Ukraine will not go unanswered. The new package imposes an import ban on Russian and Belarusian aluminum, and lists 74 ships, mainly oil tankers of the shadow fleet, spokespeople for the Estonian Foreign Ministry said.

"Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has lasted for three years today, and it is three years too many," Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said.

"Our position is unchanged -- we will continue exerting pressure and raising the cost of the war for the aggressor, and we will stand by Ukraine resolutely. Preparations for the 17th sanctions package have already begun and it must focus on even stronger energy sanctions because Russia’s war machine largely depends on its revenue from energy exports. We will not stop until Ukraine has won this war and Russia and its leadership have answered for their actions," he said. "The 16th sanctions package demonstrates that the European Union is acting in a unified and resolved way by limiting the revenue Russia uses for warfare and supporting Ukraine."

The 16th sanctions package imposes an import ban on Russian and Belarusian aluminum, which is an important source of revenue for both economies. This step limits the export revenue of the aggressor state, restricting its options for funding warfare and forcing them to look for new, less profitable markets. The new sanctions package centres on strategic areas, including disrupting the shadow fleet, imposing additional economic and financial sanctions, expanding export bans on goods used in the military industry, and banning the storage of Russian crude oil and oil products in the European Union.

Altogether 74 ships were added to the list of sanctioned vessels, mainly oil tankers of the shadow fleet, taking the total number of sanctioned ships to 153. The ships are banned from entering European Union ports, and providing services to these ships is prohibited. This step considerably limits Russia’s ability to transport its oil products and its possibilities for circumventing sanctions, generally curbing Russia’s options for revenues that fund its military aggression.

Importantly, the sanctions package contains new measures contributing to the prevention of circumvention, including through third countries. Altogether 50 companies from Russia and Hong Kong, China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Türkiye, United Arab Emirates, India, and Singapore were added to the list that concerns military end users and the circumvention of sanctions. With this, we are limiting Russia’s access to critical components and technologies and hindering the development of Russia’s military industry.

Additionally, 83 names were listed for their direct links to supporting the aggression, including the military industry and the dissemination of propaganda. This sends a clear message -- those who help the war of aggression to continue will face consequences, which include freezing assets located in the European Union, and ban on travelling to the European Union. So far, sanctions have been imposed on nearly 2,500 individuals and entities for undermining Ukraine’s territorial integrity.

Russia’s attempts to justify its aggression and influence public opinion by spreading propaganda in the EU can no longer be tolerated, which is why the European Union media ban was expanded to cover eight propaganda outlets, including Lenta, Eurasia Daily and Krasnaya Zvezda/Tvzvezda. /

So far, sanctions have been imposed on nearly 2,500 individuals and entities for undermining Ukraine’s territorial integrity.

Since Russia launched its full-scale war against Ukraine, the European Union has continued to impose stricter sanctions against Russia. Sixteen sanctions packages have been imposed so far, aimed at raising the cost of the aggression for Russia and, with other foreign policy measures, pressure Russia into ending its aggression in Ukraine. As the result of our actions, Russia’s economy is increasingly isolated, and consequently, it is showing strong signs of weakening, and this is the pressure that will eventually lead to the end of the aggression.

"It is crucial that the sanctions do not remain only formal -- new measures will boost controls and limit options for circumvention," Tsahkna said.

All sanctions will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.