EU to extend sanctions against Russia for a full year for the first time

EU leaders at a summit in Brussels have agreed for the first time to extend the existing sanctions against Russia for a year, Reuters reports.

Previously, restrictions on individual sectors of the Russian economy were reviewed and approved every six months by a unanimous decision of the 27 members of the bloc. As Euronews notes, the 12-month extension is intended to provide greater predictability for Ukraine. At the same time, individual sanctions will continue to be reapproved every six months, which is usually accompanied by the removal of some individuals from the blacklist.

The EU began imposing sanctions against Russia in March 2014 for the annexation of Crimea. The European bloc moved to tougher measures after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian army. To date, the EU has imposed 20 packages of economic and individual sanctions against Russia, as well as several additional packages of restrictions. The European Commission previously announced a 21st package. It is expected to affect Russian banks and the defense-industrial complex. A ban on entry into the EU for Russian military personnel will also be introduced. In addition, the restrictions should affect the shadow fleet: 30 new vessels will be added to the 632 ships already on the European sanctions list, whose names have not yet been disclosed.

In mid-June, the EU also expanded the sanctions list against legal entities and individuals in Russia. It included Russian Prosecutor General Alexander Gutsan, former presidential commissioner for children's rights Pavel Astakhov, Vladimir Putin's "confessor" Bishop Tikhon of the Russian Orthodox Church (Georgy Shevkunov), and others. In total, 34 people and 47 organizations were subject to restrictions in the three published sanctions decisions. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas noted that the measures taken are an interim "mini-package."

At the same time, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev said that his country will veto the EU's 21st sanctions package against Russia. He motivated this decision by the negative impact of the restrictions on the country's economy and disagreement with sanctions against Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church. In particular, the head of the Bulgarian government mentioned possible disruptions in the supply of fertilizers and spare parts for the Sofia metro.

Source: The Moscow Times