The EU Council on Friday released the contents of new sanctions approved on Thursday night against Russia over the war in Ukraine, which include a partial embargo on Russian oil imports. The text states that Bulgaria receives a temporary rebate from the ban on imports of Russian crude oil by sea.
The EU has banned the purchase, import or transfer of Russian crude oil and certain petroleum products. The phasing out of these imports is expected to take six months for crude oil and up to eight months for other refined petroleum products. A temporary exception is provided for the import of crude oil through pipelines in those EU countries which, due to their geographical location, suffer from a special dependence on Russian supplies and do not yet have the opportunity to replace them.
The EU is expanding the list of Russian banks excluded from the international payment system Swift with Russia’s largest bank, Sberbank, as well as the Moscow Credit Bank and the Russian Agricultural Bank. The Belarusian Bank for Development and Reconstruction has also been added.
The EU is suspending the reception of three more Russian state media – Russia RTR / RTR Planet, Russia 24 / Russia 24 and Center International. It is explained that these organizations are used by the Russian government to manipulate information and to promote disinformation about the war in Ukraine, including propaganda, in order to destabilize Russia’s neighbors and the EU. The measure does not affect the possibility for these organizations and their employees to carry out activities in the EU, for example to conduct interviews.
The EU is expanding the list of Russian and Belarusian citizens and organizations affected by restrictions on exports of dual-use goods and technologies. The EU will expand the list of goods and technologies that can contribute to technological improvements in Russia’s defense and security. This will include 80 ingredients for the production of chemical weapons, the statement said
The EU will ban the provision of accounting, public relations, consulting and cloud data services to Russia.
Sanctions have been imposed on those responsible for the atrocities committed by Russian troops in Bucha and Mariupol, as well as on Russian supporters of the war, businessmen and family members, oligarchs and Kremlin officials, and defense and finance companies.
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