The European Union on Friday decided to extend for six months the sanctions against Russia for the war in Ukraine and is preparing new measures against Moscow, reports AFP.
Sanctions imposed after Moscow’s annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea in 2014 were significantly tightened after the invasion began in February 2022. Over the past eight years, they have been systematically extended by six months.
The EU has imposed nine rounds of sanctions against Russia since the start of the military offensive on February 24. The measures affected Russia’s main oil exports, cut off its banks’ access to the Swift global payments system and targeted President Vladimir Putin personally.
This time, some Eastern European countries tried to extend the sanctions for a year to block the measure for a longer period, but failed to achieve this. The decision on sanctions is taken unanimously by the EU-27.
The European Commission is currently working on proposals for the tenth round of sanctions. But it is becoming increasingly difficult to reach agreement among all member states, EU officials say.
Ukraine called for sanctions against Russia’s rocket industry and nuclear power industry. The EU is also considering extending sanctions against Moscow’s ally Belarus, which the Kremlin uses as a springboard for Russia’s military efforts against Ukraine.
Follow the latest events of the 338th day of the war in Ukraine LIVETEXT on HOTNEWS.RO.
Source: Hot News
James Springer is a renowned author and opinion writer, known for his bold and thought-provoking articles on a wide range of topics. He currently works as a writer at 247 news reel, where he uses his unique voice and sharp wit to offer fresh perspectives on current events. His articles are widely read and shared and has earned him a reputation as a talented and insightful writer.