In response to Russia’s persistent war of aggression against Ukraine and the seriousness of the current escalation against civilians and civilian infrastructure, the Council today adopted a ninth package of new measures aimed at increasing pressure on Russia and its government.
After food and hunger, Putin is now using winter as a weapon of war, deliberately depriving millions of Ukrainians of water, electricity and heat. The European Union is responding to this latest escalation and final war crime with its 9th tough sanctions package. We will continue to target the economy and those who are instrumental in this brutal war.
Josep Borrell, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
The sanctions package adopted includes a series of measures designed to hit hard the Russian economy and Russia’s ability to continue its aggression.
Export controls and restrictions
The Decision adopted today imposes new controls and new restrictions on the export of dual-use goods and technologies as well as goods and technologies that are likely to contribute to the technological strengthening of the Russian defense and security sectorsignificantly expanding the list of entities related to the Russian military and industrial complex by adding 168 entities additional targets covered by sectoral measures. This will ensure that essential chemicals, nerve agents, night vision and radio navigation equipment, and electronic and computer components that could be used by the Russian war machine cannot be traded freely. In order to avoid any circumvention, some entities controlled by Russia established in Crimea or in Sevastopol, illegally annexed, are also on the list.
In addition, the EU will extend theexport ban of goods and technologies related to aviation and the space industry so as to include aircraft engines and their spare parts. This ban will apply to manned and unmanned aircraft, which means that there will now be a ban on direct export of drone motors to Russia and any third country likely to supply drones to Russia.
None of the measures adopted in response to Russian actions destabilizing the situation in Ukraine are in any way aimed at trade in agricultural and food products, including wheat and fertilizers, between third countries and Russia. However, in view of the Union’s firm attitude to avoid and combat food insecurity throughout the world, and in order to avoid disturbances in the payment channels for agricultural products, it has been decided to introduce a new derogation allowing the unfreezing of the assets of certain persons who played an important role in the international trade of agricultural and food products, including wheat and fertilizersbefore their registration on the list, and making it possible to make funds and economic resources available to these persons.
Banking sector
The EU will impose an asset freeze on two more Russian banks and add the Russian Regional Development Bank to the list of Russian state-owned or controlled entities subject to a comprehensive transaction ban .
Broadcasting
In order to respond to the systematic international campaign of disinformation and manipulation of information carried out by the Russian Federation, which aims to destabilize its neighboring countries, the EU and its Member States, the Council has initiated the process of suspending the licenses broadcasting of four additional media: NTV/NTV Mir, Rossiya 1, REN TV and Pervyi Kanal. These media are under the permanent control, direct or indirect, of the leadership of the Russian Federation and have been used by the latter for its continuous and concerted actions of disinformation and war propaganda, which legitimize Russia’s aggression and undermine support for Ukraine. In accordance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights, these measures will not prevent these media and their staff from carrying out activities in the EU other than broadcasting, such as research and interviews.
Consulting services
Today’s decisions establish a ban on providing the Russian Federation with EU advertising, market research and opinion polling services, as well as product testing and inspection services technical.
Energy and mining sectors
The EU will extend the ban targeting new investments in the Russian energy sector by prohibiting moreover new investments in the Russian mining sectorwith the exception of mining and extraction activities concerning certain critical raw materials.
Others
From today, EU nationals will be prohibited from holding any position in the governing bodies of any Russian legal persons, entities or bodies owned or controlled by the Russian State located in Russia.
Individual listings
In addition to the economic sanctions, the Council decided to adopt a complete set of individual measures, both in number and in content, with a list containing a very large number of additional people and entities.
In the face of Russia’s war of aggression, the EU stands firmly with Ukraine and its people and fully supports Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity in within its internationally recognized borders.
The relevant legislative acts will soon be published in the Official newspaperfrom the EU.