The bloc is targeting Moscow’s banks, trade partners, and diplomats, Brussels’s foreign policy chief has announced
European Union nations have adopted their 19th package of anti-Russian sanctions, which targets banks, crypto exchanges, and Indian and Chinese businesses, as well as Moscow’s diplomats, the bloc’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, announced on Thursday.
The passage of the new restrictions had been broadly reported as imminent by the media, which said the approved text was not subject to any changes. Moscow has repeatedly called Western attempts to put pressure on it in a bid to support Ukraine’s war effort futile and self-harming.
The EU passed its 18th round of sanctions in July, while work on a 20th is already underway, according to officials. Brussels’ move follows fresh restrictions imposed by the US, which target Russian oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil.
Washington’s move came after a proposal to hold a second summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump stalled. According to media reports, the White House was unhappy that the Kremlin refused to suspend hostilities with Kiev as requested by Trump, maintaining that any pause would only be used by Ukraine to reinforce its military.
Trump has been pressuring European NATO members to hit China with sweeping trade tariffs due to its continued purchases of Russian energy. The current US administration is engaged in what the president calls a “trade war” against Beijing.
DETAILS TO FOLLOW
