The EU's new sanctions target Russian diamond and oil sales as well as the import of sensitive military technology, as President Zelenskyy proposes giving Moscow's frozen assets to Ukraine.
The European Union on Monday adopted its twelfth package of sanctions targeting Russia for its war in Ukraine.
The latest raft of sanctions, drawn up last Friday at an EU summit, will target revenues, materials and technologies key to Russia's war effort in its ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
The new sanctions will target the sale of natural and synthetic diamonds — estimated to be worth €3.6-4.6 billion ($4-5 billion) to Russia annually — military technology, and oil.
Some 29 companies "directly supporting Russia's military-industrial complex" were added to the EU sanctions list, including foreign-based entities accused either of selling sensitive military technology to Moscow, or of helping it to circumvent Western sanctions.
The measures also seek to bolster the EU's ability to crack down on sanctions evasion in the tech sector as well as targeting the illicit sale of Russian oil by improving information sharing among member states.
Moscow has successfully evaded prior oil sanctions, for instance, by operating a "dark fleet" of tankers able to transport and transfer fuel on the high seas.
Further, the bloc will freeze the assets of some 100 individuals with close ties to the Kremlin and bar them from traveling to or transiting through the EU.
"With this twelfth package," said Josep Borrell, the EU's foreign affairs chief, "we are putting forward a robust set of new listings and economic measures that will further weaken Russia's war machine."
Borrell said: "Our message is clear. We remain steadfast in our commitment to Ukraine and will continue to support its fight for freedom and sovereignty."
Source: Dw
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