EU member states have agreed on new punitive measures against Russia over the war in Ukraine, exactly one year after Russia invaded Ukraine. After days of negotiations, the ambassadors of the 27 countries agreed to the tenth sanctions package.
Poland in particular was initially not satisfied with the punitive measures proposed by the European Commission. The country called them too weak. Poland wanted to take more names of confidants and family of Russian President Vladimir Putin with punitive measures, while Hungary wanted to remove names from the existing sanctions list, according to EU sources. An EU decision on sanctions requires unanimity.
There was also disagreement about exemptions for the import of Russian synthetic rubber, which is used for car tires, for example. According to Poland, the proposed exemptions were so large that they make the sanctions ineffective, insiders say.
Nevertheless, the 27 countries finally agreed on the tenth package. According to committee chair Ursula von der Leyen, the value is more than 11 billion euros.
The new sanctions include export bans from the EU for parts or goods that can contribute to Russian warfare, such as certain electronic components. There are also Iranian companies on the list that make and/or sell drones to Russia and that cause a lot of misery in Ukraine.
