EU renews sanctions against Russia for a further six months
European Union foreign ministers renewed on January 27 the EU restrictive measures in view of the Russian Federation’s continuing actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine for a further six months, to July 31 2025, a statement by the Council of the EU said.
These economic measures, first introduced in 2014, were significantly expanded since February 2022 in response to Russia’s unprovoked, unjustified and illegal military aggression against Ukraine, the statement said.
They currently consist of a broad spectrum of sectoral measures, including restrictions on trade, finance, energy, technology and dual-use goods, industry, transport and luxury goods.
They also cover a ban on the import or transfer of seaborne crude oil and certain petroleum products from Russia to the EU, a de-SWIFTing of several Russian banks and the suspension of the broadcasting activities and licenses in the European Union of several Kremlin-backed disinformation outlets.
Additionally, specific measures enable the EU to counter sanctions circumvention.
“As long as the illegal actions by the Russian Federation continue to violate fundamental rules of international law, including, in particular, the prohibition on the use of force, it is appropriate to maintain in force all the measures imposed by the EU and to take additional measures, if necessary,” the statement said.
(Photo: Sebastien Bertrand)
