The European Commission has prepared the 17th pack of sanctions against Russia. On the list there are also entities in China
The head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, photo: Fabrici Coffrini / AFP / Profimedia
The European Commission proposes the addition of other people and over 100 vessels related to Russia's “ghost fleet” in the list of entities subject to sanctions, a proposal made in the 17th sanction package aimed at Moscow, diplomatic sources, quoted by Reuters said.
The exemption from the sanctions of the Sahalin-2 gas and oil project will be extended until June 2026, due to the importance of this project for Japan.
The cited diplomats said that the proposals came earlier than expected. Member States were not consulted informally before the content of the proposals, as previously proceeded for the other packages of anti-Russian sanctions. It is estimated that the EU countries will quickly approve the measures, the first discussions will take place on Wednesday.
In mid -April, sources stated that the elaboration of the new package by what goes slowly and that new restrictions could not be adopted until June.
The package contains stricter control measures for the export of goods that could be redirected to the Russian army and for the export of advanced technologies, together with the expansion of the list of ships from the “ghost fleet”, which Moscow is used for oil export and the purchase of ammunition.
One of the Reuters sources added that over 50 people and entities will be sanctioned, of which 5 are from China. Other measures are targeting 31 companies that help the Russian army or are involved in avoiding sanctions, of which 13 are outside Russia.
One of the sources quoted claims that the purpose of the new package is to show that the community block “can still agree on measures against Russia”, after Hungary has repeatedly threatened with the right of veto.
Last week the Foreign Minister of France said the EU will try to coordinate with the United States in terms of issuing new sanctions by Washington.
US officials have completed the new economic sanctions against Russia to intensify the pressure against Moscow, during President Donald Trump's efforts to end the Ukraine. For now, it is not known whether Trump intends to approve the new sanctions, which also includes measures against the Russian Gazprom giant.
