© Reuters
– EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell
Hundreds of Russian lawmakers, dozens of individuals and organizations undermining Ukraine’s integrity and Moscow’s access to European capital and financial markets are on target in a package of sanctions approved by the European Union after Russia has recognized the two self-proclaimed “people’s republics” of the separatists in Eastern Ukraine.
The decision was announced by European Foreign Minister Josep Borrell after a meeting in Paris to discuss measures following Putin’s actions. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also commented on the issue, saying the package was “finalizing” but a consensus had been reached.
EU investors will not be able to trade in Russian government securities, and imports and exports from both “people’s republics” to Donbass are banned.
More Russian politicians, MPs and officials are on the European Union’s sanctions list. “Our goal is the ability of the Russian state and government to have access to our capital, to our financial markets and services,” Borel said. According to him, banks that financed separatist activity in eastern Ukraine will also be sanctioned.
The “people’s republics” in Donetsk and Luhansk themselves, recognized by Putin, can be removed from the EU-Ukraine free trade zone to ensure that “those responsible clearly feel the economic consequences of illegal and aggressive actions.”
This is a serious expansion of the sanctions list, at least on a personal level, as it has so far included 193 names – MPs, judges, prosecutors – and 48 organizations, arguing that they are undermining the territorial integrity of Crimea and Sevastopol.
What is on the approved list
Details are yet to be announced, but according to information released to the media by Borel, summarized in his Twitter account, the package includes:
- sanctions against “27 individuals and organizations playing a role in undermining Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence” – people in sectors such as defense, banking, finance, politics and the media;
- sanctions for 351 members of the State Duma who voted “for” the ratification of the republics;
- measures against the possibility of Russia having access to capital and financial markets;
- measures against economic relations between the two regions and the EU, making trade in both directions impossible.
“No more: shopping in Milan; parties in Saint Tropez; diamonds in Antwerp. This is the first step,” he said. wrote Borrel on Twitter. (About an hour after Dnevnik was published, the tweet was deleted.)
The list of organizations also includes banks for which there is information about links with the military apparatus. Moscow aims to prevent additional funds from being raised that could be used to fund a military campaign in eastern Ukraine.
“We will make it as difficult as possible for the Kremlin to pursue its aggressive policies,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Without Putin and energy supplies on the list
At the same time, the foreign ministers did not respond to Poland’s calls for Russian President Vladimir Putin to be on the sanctions list.
There are no sanctions on gas imports from the package. This was announced by Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, whose country is heavily dependent on Russian supplies. Diplomats and EU officials told Reuters that countries such as Austria, Hungary and Italy would prefer more limited sanctions.
The EU is Russia’s largest trading partner, accounting for 37.3% of gas and 26% of its oil trade by 2020.
Borrell did not deny that the EU “could go further”, but compromises had to be worked out. In addition, the package is not final, and the unit reserves the right to increase the pressure. “We didn’t want to show all our cards from the beginning,” Borel said.
Another thing that is not on the list so far, according to the agency, is the restriction or ban on access to the global system of interbank payments SWIFT.
The starting point of these sanctions is unknown. However, diplomats say they are expected in the coming hours or days, when names and details will be made public, including in the Official Journal of the European Union.
“We are afraid that this story is not over. The risk of conflict is real and we must prevent it at all costs.”
Joseph Borrell
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
“The unanimously approved package of sanctions by the member states will hurt Russia and it will hurt her a lot,” Borel told a news conference alongside French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian in Paris.
According to Estonia, a plan has been agreed to impose more sanctions in the event of ongoing Russian aggression in coordination with the United States.
–
