For the anniversary of the war
EU decides sanctions against Russian banks and captains
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Russia has been fighting Ukraine for almost three years. The EU countries react with various sanctions. Now new punitive measures are targeting further business areas in Russia.
The EU countries have agreed on a new package with Russia sanctions due to the ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine. It should come into force on the third anniversary of the invasion next Monday, as the Polish EU Presidency announced after a decision in the committee of the constant representatives of the Member States in Brussels.
According to diplomats, 13 more banks from the Swift financial communication system will be excluded via the new sanction package. In addition, eight Russian media companies lose their broadcasting in the EU, and there will be an extensive ban on import for Russian aluminum as well as aluminum alloys and an export ban for devices that can be used to control combat drones. This also includes video game console controllers.
An even sharper approach to the so -called Russian shadow fleet is also planned. According to this, sanction rules will be changed in such a way that captains and owners of ships can also be taken with punitive measures in the future.
The so -called Russian shadow fleet consists of ships with unclear ownership, some of which are not even insured. These are used, for example, to bypass the western price cover for Russian oil exports in third countries or to transport stolen grain from Ukraine. There is also fear that they will be used for sabotage campaigns against data cables in the east and North Sea in the future.
Ducking off as a goal
Captains sanctioned by the EU should no longer enter the EU. In addition, they would have to be frozen in the EU. According to the Polish EU Council Presidency, the goal is primarily deterrent. So far, captains have not had to count on punishments because it is not prohibited from being removed in international waters.
In the fight against the activities of the Russian shadow fleet, the EU had already prohibited almost 80 ships in ports over the past year and banned companies to offer them services. With the new sanction round, more than 70 should now be added. In addition, a ban on transactions with ports and airports in Russia is also planned, which play a role in the elimination of the upper oil price.
