EU Agrees on New Sanctions Package Targeting Russia: Key Points

On Wednesday, European Union countries agreed to a new package of sanctions against Russia for its actions in Ukraine.EU foreign ministers since a long time were trying to bridge the divide between countries like Poland, which is among the most hawkish, and others like Italy, which is more cautious. The new sanctions package is the result of months of difficult negotiations and was agreed on during a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels. The package is expected to include measures to further tighten the screws on Russia's economy and banking sector. It will also reportedly include sanctions against individuals and entities who have been involved in activities aimed at undermining Ukraine's sovereignty, including cyberattacks and interference in its elections. The EU has also been discussing a possible ban on sales of dual-use technology, which could be used for military purposes, to Russia.

The measures are part of an ongoing effort to pressure Russia to end its military support for separatists in eastern Ukraine. The West accuses Russia of sending troops and weapons to the region, a claim Moscow has denied. The EU is also pushing for the release of Ukrainian sailors who were captured by Russian forces last year in the Kerch Strait. The EU has imposed a total of 14 rounds of sanctions on Russia since 2014, when Moscow annexed the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine. The sanctions have targeted certain sectors of the Russian economy — including energy, finance and defense — as well as individuals suspected of involvement in the conflict in Ukraine. The EU has repeatedly called on Russia to end its military support for the separatists in eastern Ukraine and military aggression against Ukraine. 

The measures are aimed at further curtailing the Kremlin's access to vital goods, as well as to punish those responsible for activities undermining Ukraine's sovereignty. The sanctions package, which is expected to include measures targeting individuals and entities, will be officially adopted later this week. It is the first time that sanctions have been proposed to target trade via other countries, apart from those against Iranians alleged to be supplying drones to Russia. The EU has been imposing economic sanctions on Russia since 2014, when it annexed the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine. The measures have targeted certain sectors of the Russian economy, as well as individuals suspected of involvement in the conflict in Ukraine. .

The EU has also been discussing a possible ban on sales of dual-use technology to Russia. The EU's ultimate goal is to achieve a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine. It is hoping that the new package of sanctions will send a strong signal to Russia that its actions in Ukraine will not be tolerated.