Sunday23 March 2025
vsedelo.com

The EU has approved a new sanctions package against Russia, according to media reports.

Ambassadors of European Union countries have approved the 16th sanctions package against Russia.

This was reported by Radio Free Europe correspondent Ricard Jozwiak and Euronews.

The official adoption of sanctions is expected on February 24, when foreign ministers will meet in Brussels. Ukraine has already welcomed the ambassadors' decision; in particular, the head of the President's Office, Andrey Yermak, noted that "a number of our proposals have been taken into account."

As Euronews points out, the new package will include a ban on the import of Russian primary aluminum, imported in the form of ingots, sheets, and as semi-finished products.

Russian unprocessed aluminum accounts for about 6% of aluminum imports into the EU, despite a decrease in its share in recent years.

The new decision will also expand the blacklist against tankers belonging to Russia's "shadow fleet." According to diplomats, this involves 73 vessels.

Additionally, the new sanctions will exclude 13 Russian banks from the SWIFT electronic system and suspend the broadcasting licenses of eight Russian media outlets.