The European Union has officially approved the 18th package of sanctions against Russia, aimed mainly at its oil and energy industry, as well as at the tools with which the Kremlin circumvents the restrictions. The measures aim to further limit Moscow's ability to finance its military operations in Ukraine, reports News.bg.
In a post on the social network X, the EU's High Representative for Foreign Policy Kaia Kalas said that this is "one of the strongest packages of sanctions against Russia to date". According to her, the new measures will seriously reduce the Kremlin's military budget.
The sanctions cover:
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105 ships of the so-called Russian "shadow fleet" used to transport oil beyond international control;
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middlemen and transport companies associated with these ships;
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Russian banks, whose access to financing is further restricted;
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technology exports used in the production of drones;
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Chinese banks, which help circumvent sanctions.
Special attention is also paid to energy infrastructure. The EU will ban operations on the "Nord Stream" pipelines," and the price cap on Russian crude oil introduced by the G-7 countries will be lowered to $47.6 per barrel, European diplomats told Reuters.
With the new measures, Brussels is increasing pressure on Russia's military and economic machine, emphasizing the need for international solidarity and effectiveness in sanctions policy.