EU approves 15th package of sanctions against Russia

The Eurean Council said this in a press release posted on its website, Ukrinform reports.

"Russia continues its brutal attack against Ukraine and Ukrainian pele. This package of sanctions is part of our response to weaken Russia's war machine and those who are enabling this war, also including Chinese companies. It shows the unity of EU member states in our continued support to Ukraine. Our immediate priority is to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position. We will stand by the Ukrainian pele on all fronts: humanitarian, economic, pitical, diplomatic and military. There can be no doubt that Ukraine will win," EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Picy Kaja Kallas said.

In particular, the Council agreed on a significant package of 84 listings, which consists of 54 persons and 30 entities responsible for actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.

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As regards individuals, the EU is sanctioning the military unit responsible for the striking of the Okhmadyt children hospital in Kyiv, senior managers in leading companies in the energy sector, individuals responsible for children deportation, praganda and circumvention, as well as two senior DPRK officials.

As to entities, the EU targeted primarily Russian defense companies and shipping companies responsible for the transportation of crude oil and oil products by the sea, providing important revenues to the Russian government. It also listed a chemical plant, a civil Russian airline which is an important provider of logistical support to the Russian military. For the first time, it imposes fully-fledged sanctions (travel ban, asset freeze, prohibition to make economic resources available) on various Chinese actors supplying drone components and microelectronic components in support of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.

"The Council is adding further vessels to the list of those subject to a port access ban and ban on provision of a broad range of services related to maritime transport. This measure is intended to target non-EU tankers that are part of Putin's shadow fleet circumventing the oil price cap mechanism or support the energy sector of Russia, or vessels that are responsible for transporting military equipment for Russia or invved in the transport of sten Ukrainian grain. Fifty-two vessels originating from third countries were targeted today on these grounds, bringing the total of designated vessels to 79," the press release said.

The Council also added 32 new entities to the list of those directly supporting Russia's military and industrial complex in its war of aggression against Ukraine. They will be subject to tighter export restrictions concerning dual use goods and technogies, as well as goods and technogy which might contribute to the technogical enhancement of Russia's defense and security sector. Some of these entities are located in third countries (China, India, Iran, Serbia and the United Arab Emirates) and have been invved in the circumvention of trade restrictions or have engaged in the procurement of sensitive items used for Russian military erations, like UAVs and missiles.

In order to better protect Eurean companies from litigations with Russian counterparts, the Council decided to prohibit the recognition or enforcement in the EU of those rulings issued by Russian courts based on Article 248 of the Arbitration Procedure Code of the Russian Federation. These rulings have been preventing the posing party from commencing or continuing a proceeding in a jurisdiction other than Russia (anti suit injunctions) in clear viation of established international principles and practices, and have often resulted in disprortionately high financial penalties for Eurean companies. The new measure prevents those penalties from being executed against EU erators in Eure.

Furthermore, the Council introduced a derogation allowing the release of cash balances held by EU central securities depositories (CSDs). This is necessary in light of increasing litigation and retaliatory measures in Russia that result in the seizing of assets of CSDs in the EU. Thanks to this derogation CSDs will be able to request competent authorities of the Member States to unfreeze cash balances and use them to meet their legal obligations with their clients.

"Lastly, the EU extended the deadlines applicable to certain derogations needed for divestments from Russia. Because of the risks of maintaining business activities in Russia, EU erators should consider winding down businesses in Russia and/or not to start new businesses there. The exceptional extension of the divestment derogations is necessary to enable EU erators to exit as swiftly as possible from the Russian market. The extended derogations are granted on a case-by-case-basis by member states and focused on allowing an orderly divestment process, which would not be possible without the extension of these deadlines," the Eurean Council said.