The Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union announced that the bloc approved a new package of sanctions against Russia, on Friday, on the first anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine.
The tenth package imposed by the European Union since the start of the Russian invasion on February 24, 2022, includes “restrictive measures directed against individuals and entities that support war, spread propaganda or deliver drones used by Russia in war.”
The European sanctions package comes after the United States announced, on Friday, cooperation with its allies in the Group of Seven, to impose broad sanctions on Russia, a year after the start of the invasion of Ukraine.
New US sanctions against Russia, and prosecution of companies and individuals from other countries
On Friday, the US Treasury Department announced the imposition of new sanctions against Russia, specifically targeting banks, companies and individuals in the sectors of minerals, mines, military equipment and semiconductors, with the prosecution of more than 30 individuals and companies from Switzerland, Germany and other countries for helping Moscow in financing its war on Ukraine, which entered its second year.
The US Treasury Department said in a statement that it was “one of the most important sanctions steps” since the start of the war in Ukraine.
Washington targeted companies and individuals in the sectors of minerals, mines, military equipment and semiconductors in Russia, in addition to 30 individuals and companies in European countries, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Malta and Bulgaria, accused of helping to circumvent sanctions by providing Moscow with military equipment.
The sanctions also targeted the Italian-Swiss businessman, Walter Moretti, in particular, as he is accused of providing the Russian intelligence services and the army with Western technologies and equipment.
And while major Russian banks are subject to US and international sanctions, the US Treasury Department has targeted about ten additional financial institutions, including the “Credit of Moscow” bank, which is “one of the ten largest banks in terms of asset value.”
On the other hand, European Commissioner for Home Affairs Elva Johansson called for strengthening visa controls and border security to prevent Russian spies from entering the Schengen area.
And Johansson said during a conference on border control in Athens that Russian President Vladimir Putin “also wants to destroy the European Union … We pose a threat to him, we have democracy, freedom and prosperity.”
