EU approves thirteenth package of sanctions against Russia

As ‘Euronews’ has learned from diplomatic sources in Brussels, EU ambassadors have agreed to thirteenth sanctions packageTo Russia in the context of aggression against Ukraine. This package is one of the largest packages approved by the EU against the Kremlin. This will be subject to a written procedure and It will get formal approval by 24th February.

The sanctions primarily focus on tackling fraud and taking action against companies around the world accused of supplying to Russia Advanced Technology and Military Products Made in EU.

Turkish and North Korean companies have also been blacklisted.

The group had previously tried to punish a handful of institutions China Continental, but complaints from Beijing officials and objections from some member states blocked the measure. Increasingly close ties between Russia and China eventually prompted diplomats in Brussels to give the idea a second chance.

Trade between Russia and China reaches record high 240 billion dollars (213 billion euros) in 2023, according to Chinese government customs data. This figure easily exceeds the target of $200 billion set by both the countries.

New round of EU sanctions, 13th package from February 2022, also targets Russian-run institutions they re-educate the children that have been Kidnapped in Ukraine. The alleged abductions led to the International Criminal Court issuing an arrest warrant for President Vladimir Putin, which considers the charges to be war crimes.

Hungary against Kremlin sanctions

The time was set to coincide with the approval of the package Second anniversary of the war in Ukraine. The process was blocked by Hungary, which is committed to preventing any sanctions involving Rosatom. nuclear monopoly From Russia. Rosatom is the main contractor in the expansion of the Paks nuclear power plant, which supplies more than 50% of Hungary’s electricity.

despite being small FailureThe sanctions were passed three days before a self-imposed symbolic deadline marking two years since Russia invaded Ukraine, unlike last year when the bloc nearly missed the milestone.

Sanctions focus on measures against evasion of sanctions

The latest package focuses almost entirely on taking strong solution Against sanctions evasion, a widespread phenomenon has been compared to Whac-a-Mole: as soon as one loophole is closed, another appears.

China, United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Serbia and Armenia are Off EU radar for monthsAnd Special Envoy David O’Sullivan has traveled from country to country in an effort to persuade these governments to do more to stop Russia.

“I think we have to be realistic,” O’Sullivan told Euronews in December. “will always be true degree of avoidance, “You can make money.”

Last year, the EU introduced an anti-fraud tool that allows the bloc restrict certain trade flows With entire countries rather than specific companies. This instrument is considered a last resort and its activation depends on unanimous approval by Member States, which is becoming increasingly difficult to accomplish.