EU Approves 13th Round of Sanctions Against Russia, Including Ban on Travel and Business

The European Union (EU) approved its 13th round of sanctions against Russia on the 21st. Belgium, which holds the EU Presidency, made the announcement on social media. Photographed in September 2023 (2024 Reuters/Yves Herman)

[ブリュッセル ２１日 ロイター] – The European Union (EU) approved the 13th round of sanctions against Russia on the 21st. Approximately 200 organizations and individuals were sanctioned for their role in helping Russia procure weapons and kidnapping children in Ukraine.

Belgium, which holds the EU presidency, said on X (formerly Twitter) that the EU member states’ ambassadors had reached a basic agreement and called it “one of the widest sanctions approved by the EU.” It is expected to be formally approved on the 24th, the second anniversary of the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

According to EU diplomatic sources, 193 organizations and individuals will now be banned from traveling to or doing business in the EU. However, there are no new measures for specific economic sectors.

The targets of sanctions are broadly divided into groups and individuals associated with Russia’s military-industrial complex and groups and individuals involved in human trafficking and kidnapping of children in Ukraine. One company each from North Korea and Belarus were also added.

Focusing also on the procurement network that supports the Russian military, in particular the supply chain for drone manufacturing, the government added 27 companies to the list of companies that are prohibited from selling dual-use goods to European companies. Most of the 27 companies are Russian, but also include three mainland Chinese companies and one Hong Kong company.

In a post on X, European Commission President von der Leyen said Russia’s offensive capabilities needed to be weakened and “further cut off access to Russian drones.”

At the meeting on the 21st, it was also decided to extend sanctions targeting approximately 2,000 individuals and companies for six months.

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2024-02-21 13:34:00