Due to growing internal differences, the European Union was about to miss the deadlines it had set for itself. But in the end, almost in discount time, there was white smoke. The Twenty-seven have reached this Friday an agreement on the tenth package of sanctions against Russia, coinciding with the first anniversary of the outbreak of the Ukrainian war. Some sanctions that the president of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyenhas estimated at 11,000 million euros.
“Together, the EU Member States have imposed the strongest and most far-reaching sanctions ever seen to help Ukraine win the war. The EU is united in its support for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. We will continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes,” the Swedish EU presidency said. who has led the negotiations.
The new sanctions package includes restrictions on the export of multiple electronic components used in Russian weapon systemssuch as drones, missiles or helicopters. They are also blocked Spare parts for machinery, trucks or planes, as well as construction products that can also be used for Russia’s military effort, such as antennas or cranes. Or dual-use civil and military products, such as rare materials or thermal cameras.
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The importation of synthetic rubber and carbon black is also prohibited., products that generate significant income for Russia that allow it to continue financing its war of aggression against Ukraine. Of course, with a transition period to give companies the opportunity to adapt.
Furthermore, for the first time the EU punishes Iranian entities that are supplying drones to Russia, including those linked to the Revolutionary Guard. Finally, it expands the personal sanctions blacklist to include another hundred individuals and entities accused of undermining Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Among them, military, politicians and heads of the Kremlin’s “propaganda and disinformation” machine.
“The tenth package of sanctions has been approved for further limit the Kremlin’s ability to finance the war, which lasts a year. Among other areas, we also sanctioned more Putin propagandists. Disinformation and propaganda warfare are being used as weapons,” the vice-president of the Commission wrote on Twitter, Vera Jourova.
The approval of the sanctions has been delayed until discount time due to discrepancies between Member States. Polonia and the baltics demanded to the end to toughen the Brussels proposal to also include diamond and nuclear industry. For their part, Germany or Spain requested new explicit exemptions for the transit of agricultural products and fertilizers from Russia in order to avoid a world famine.
The United States, the United Kingdom and Canada have also announced new sanctions against Moscow on Friday to mark the anniversary of the war in Ukraine. For its part, the G-7 has released a statement announcing that it will maintain a “united front” with new economic measures against the Kremlin in the coming days and weeks.
