The European Union has approved its fifteenth sanctions package against Russia in connection with the Kremlin's military aggression in Ukraine. According to a report published on Tuesday, December 18, on the European Commission's website, the new sanctions include 52 cargo and oil tankers, along with 84 individuals or companies involved in circumventing EU sanctions against the Kremlin. Some of these sanctions target foreign companies and individuals, including an Iranian company along with several registered companies in India, the UAE, Hong Kong, China, Serbia, and also two North Korean officials. With the imposition of new sanctions, the total number of tankers in the 'shadow fleet' attempting to secretly smuggle Russian oil and petroleum products to global markets, along with ships involved in arms trafficking from North Korea to Russia, has reached 79. The new sanctions package also targets six Chinese individuals and companies, including four Chinese firms involved in smuggling drone components and microelectronics to the Russian military. This is the first time that Chinese entities and citizens have faced sanctions related to Russia that seize their assets in the EU. Previously, EU sanctions only included monitoring the sale of certain items to Chinese companies. The EU and Ukraine state that China is the most important foreign source of technology for the Russian military's weapon production. Among the sanctioned individuals is Niels Troost, a European Union citizen and owner of two energy trading companies, accused of trading and transiting sanctioned Russian oil. The new EU sanctions against Russia come as the European Commission prepares a new sanctions package against Russia next month, which will include the liquefied natural gas (LNG) sector and impose restrictions on European company subsidiaries in third countries cooperating with Russia. Recently, seven industrialized nations along with the EU agreed to utilize $300 billion of frozen Russian assets and lend $50 billion from this source to Ukraine to help it withstand the military aggression and bombing of its infrastructure by Russia.
New EU Measures Against Russia; 52 Ships and Dozens of Companies and Individuals Sanctioned
The EU has imposed new sanctions on Russia, targeting 52 ships and 84 individuals or companies, including an Iranian firm, in response to the Kremlin's actions in Ukraine. This marks a significant escalation in international efforts to curb Russian military capabilities and highlights the EU's focus on Chinese involvement in supporting Russia. These measures are critical as they aim to limit Russia's access to resources and technology.
👥 Key Players
⚡ Actions
📰 What Happened
EU sanctions 52 ships and an Iranian company for circumventing sanctions against Russia.
- European Union sanction Iranian company, 84 individuals or companies
- European Union sanction six Chinese individuals and companies
- European Commission announce new sanctions package
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The EU's sanctions package expands its reach to include Iranian entities, indicating heightened scrutiny.
📝 Key Evidence
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
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