The EU Council on Tuesday finally approved the fourth package of sanctions against Russia.
This was reported by European Pravda.
"As President Putin's war against the Ukrainian people continues, our determination to support Ukraine and damage the funding of the Kremlin's war machine grows. This fourth package of sanctions is another major blow to the economic and logistical base on which Russia relies to carry out its invasion of Ukraine. The purpose of the sanctions is for President Putin to stop this inhuman and senseless war," said Josep Borrell, head of European diplomacy.
With its decision, the EU Council established:
- prohibit any transactions with certain Russian state-owned enterprises;
- to prohibit the provision of any credit rating services, as well as to close access to any pre-paid services related to credit rating activities to any Russian individuals or legal entities;
- expand the list of individuals associated with Russia's defense industrial base who are subject to stricter export restrictions on dual-use goods and goods and technology that could contribute to technological improvements in Russia's defense and security sector;
- prohibit new investment in Russia's energy sector and impose comprehensive export restrictions on equipment, technology and services for the energy sector;
- impose further trade restrictions on iron and steel and luxury goods.
In addition, the EU Council decided to impose sanctions against key oligarchs, lobbyists and propagandists promoting the Kremlin's narrative on the situation in Ukraine, as well as key companies in the aviation, military and dual-use, shipbuilding and machine building sectors.
Separately, the EU Council gave the European Commission the green light to join, on behalf of the EU, a multilateral statement on Russian Federation aggression against Ukraine, supported by Belarus, which is expected to be published in the context of the WTO.
The EU Council said that the relevant legislation will soon be published in the Official Journal of the EU.
Earlier, the media reported that the fourth package of sanctions would impose new restrictions on Russia's largest oil companies Rosneft, Transneft and Gazprom Neft. However, the EU will continue to buy oil from them for the time being.
In addition, according to media reports, the EU has agreed to add Chelsea soccer club owner Roman Abramovich to the list of Russian billionaires who are subject to sanctions after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
As part of the fourth package of sanctions, the EU will ban the export of luxury goods, particularly expensive cars, to Russia.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said earlier that there would also be a ban on imports of Russian steel and iron products.
