In response to Russia’s continued war of aggression against Ukraine and the severity 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 the his government.
After food and hunger, Putin is now weaponizing winter, deliberately depriving millions of Ukrainians of water, electricity and heat. The European Union is responding to this more recent escalation and war crimes with a ninth package of tough sanctions. We will continue to target the economy and those who play a key role in this brutal war.
Josep Borrell, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
The agreed package includes a number of measures intended to hit Russia’s economy hard and its ability to continue aggression.
Export controls and restrictions
Today’s decision imposes new controls and restrictions on exports of dual-use goods and technologies as well as of goods and technologies able to contribute to the technological strengthening of Russia’s defense and security sectorsignificantly expanding the list of entities connected with the Russian military and industrial complex with others 168 entities subject to sectoral measures. This will ensure that critical chemicals, nerve agents, night vision and radio navigation equipment, electronics and computer components that could be used by the Russian war machine cannot be freely traded. To avoid circumvention, the list also includes certain Russian-controlled entities established in the illegally annexed Crimea or Sevastopol.
In addition, the EU will extend the export ban of goods and technologies related to the space and aviation sectors to include aircraft engines and their parts. This ban will apply to manned and unmanned aircraft, which means from now on direct export of drone engines will be prohibited to Russia and any third country that may supply drones to Russia.
None of the measures taken in view of Russia’s actions destabilizing the situation in Ukraine in any way affects trade in agricultural and food products, including wheat and fertilizers, between third countries and Russia. However, in view of the firm position of the Union to avoid and combat food insecurity worldwide and in order to prevent disruption in payment channels for agricultural products, it has been decided to introduce a new derogation allowing to unfreeze the assets of certain persons who, prior to their listing, played a significant role in international trade in agricultural and food products, including wheat and fertilizersand to place funds and economic resources at their disposal.
Banking sector
The EU will impose asset freezes on two more Russian banks and add the Russian Regional Development Bank to the list of Russian state-owned or state-controlled entities that are subject to a comprehensive ban on operations.
Radio and television broadcasting
In order to address the Russian Federation’s systematic international campaign of disinformation and information manipulation aimed at destabilizing neighboring countries, the EU and its member states, the Council started the process of suspending the broadcasting licenses of four other media outlets : NTV/NTV Mir, Russia 1, REN TV and Pervyi Kanal. These organs are under the permanent, direct or indirect control 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 Russian aggression and undermine support for the ‘Ukraine. In line with the Charter of Fundamental Rights, these measures will not prevent these media outlets and their staff from carrying out other activities in the EU than broadcasting, such as research and interviews.
Consulting services
Today’s decisions introduce a ban on the provision of EU advertising, market research and opinion polling services to the Russian Federation, as well as product testing and technical control services.
Energy and mining sector
EU to extend ban on new investments in Russia’s energy sector also banning new investments in Russia’s mining sectorwith the exception of mining activities involving certain critical raw materials.
Other
As of today, EU citizens will be banned from holding positions on the governing bodies of all Russian legal persons, entities or bodies, whether state-owned or controlled, located in Russia.
Individual listing decisions
In addition to the economic sanctions, the Council has decided to adopt a complete package of individual measures, both in terms of quantity and content, with the listing of a very significant number of persons and entities.
In the face of Russia’s war of aggression, the EU stands firmly on the side of Ukraine and its people and continues to unreservedly support Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders international.
The relevant legal acts will be published shortly in the Official Journal of the European Union.