The European Union, despite lengthy discussions and attempts by some countries to protect their own economic interests, managed to agree on the 21st package of sanctions against Russia. The document contains new restrictions against the Russian financial sector, the "shadow fleet," the military-industrial complex, and for the first time introduces a ban on entry into the EU for Russian military personnel who participated in the war against Ukraine. The Commissioner of the President of Ukraine for Sanctions Policy, Vladyslav Vlasiuk, spoke about the main results of the new sanctions package in a comment to UNN.
The EU has once again proven it can reach agreements
The preparation of the 21st sanctions package was accompanied by complex negotiations between EU member states. Some countries demanded concessions or exceptions due to their own economic interests. At the same time, according to Vladyslav Vlasiuk, the main outcome is that the European Union has once again demonstrated its ability to maintain unity.
The main conclusion of the adopted 21st sanctions package is that the European Union has once again proven its ability to reach compromises and continue pressure on Russia. Of course, there were disputes. Some partners again tried to politicize their own profits from the logistics of Russian energy carriers, particularly regarding the transportation of liquefied natural gas. In addition, Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church and Vagit Alekperov, founder of Lukoil, were removed from the final draft. But despite this, key and fundamental decisions were defended
New sanctions hit oil, banks, the military-industrial complex, and the "shadow fleet"
According to the President's Commissioner, the new package contains several important areas of economic pressure on Russia. One of them is the decision on the price cap for Russian oil.
The European Union has frozen the revision of the price cap on Russian oil at $44.1 per barrel. This is a very important decision, because against the backdrop of rising global prices, an automatic formula could allow the Kremlin to earn more. The EU prevented this
A separate block concerns the fight against the Russian "shadow fleet," which is used to circumvent sanctions.
Another 50 vessels are being added to the sanctions list. At the same time, for the first time, not only the fleet itself is subject to restrictions, but also the associated infrastructure – bunkering enterprises, individual ports, oil refineries, and other facilities that ensure the export of Russian oil. New provisions have also appeared regarding LNG and the resale of vessels, although they were agreed upon in a compromise format
A blow to the financial system and weapons production
According to Vlasiuk, the new financial restrictions are among the most extensive.
The prohibitions on conducting transactions are significantly expanded for another 90 banks, crypto platforms, and oil traders in third countries. It is very important that for the first time, the European Union gains the ability to fully block crypto services used to circumvent sanctions outside the EU
In addition, the sanctions are aimed at complicating the production of Russian military equipment.
The package contains serious restrictions on the military-industrial complex. The export of ground equipment for drones, electronic warfare systems, certain metals and alloys used in the production of drones and other military equipment is prohibited
For the first time, sanctions were imposed against Russian military personnel
Vlasiuk noted that the 21st package also includes new personal sanctions.
Nearly 250 individuals and legal entities have been subject to restrictions. At the same time, for the first time, the European Union is imposing a ban on entry for Russian military personnel who directly participated in the war against Ukraine. This is an important political and legal signal
Ukraine is already working on the next package of sanctions
According to Vladyslav Vlasiuk, a significant part of the provisions of the new package was formed precisely thanks to the work of the Ukrainian side.
I want to emphasize separately that a significant portion of the proposals included in this package is a direct result of the analytics and work of the Ukrainian team. We systematically conveyed to our partners our priorities, evidence of sanctions circumvention schemes through third countries, and information about new components that Russia uses in its weapons. We thank our partners for their systematic support. At the same time, we are already working on the 22nd sanctions package and individual decisions, in particular regarding those involved in the deportation of Ukrainian children, as well as the organizers of pseudo-elections in the temporarily occupied territories.