EU's new sanctions against Russia may target 4 banks, 130 individuals
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Moscow faces a new package of EU sanctions that will mainly target Russian banks.
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President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen speaks during a joint press conference with the Ukrainian President in Kiev on February 2, 2023. (AFP)
The European Union's new sanctions against Russia may target four more banks as well as 130 individuals and entities, according to Politico, citing officials and diplomats.
Four Russian banks, including Russia's largest private bank, Alfa bank, are to be targeted with new financial sanctions.
Russian military leaders, officials appointed by Moscow in the new Russian regions, journalists working for Russian state media such as RT, as well as companies and individuals in other countries with ties to the Russian special operation, namely Mali and Iran, will be on the list.
The new package could potentially include a ban on the import of rubber and bitumen from Russia, as well as the export of a number of goods to Russia, including trucks and heavy vehicles used in construction, according to Politico.
In addition, Brussels plans to sanction a Dubai-based shipping company, suspected of helping Russia circumvent sanctions on oil exports.
The European Union may also prohibit Russians from serving on the boards of directors of EU companies involved in critical infrastructure, such as those that provide electricity and gas. That said, EU ambassadors are expected to discuss the new package of sanctions on Wednesday.
On a similar note, Russian Ambassador to the UK Andrei Kelin told Sputnik earlier today that London is planning to seize frozen Russian assets and is currently drafting legislation to do so.
"It is well known that there is a recognition in almost all Western countries, including London, that such actions are absolutely illegal, and that there are no relevant laws. But the perverted logic is that such laws must be invented, and, as far as I understand, this is what the European Union and Washington are engaged in," Kelin said, adding that "preparation of some kind of legislation that would move in this direction is indeed underway."
Last month, the European Union intensified its work on the 10th sanctions package against Russia, with Poland proposing the imposition of new measures and strengthening existing ones, according to the Polish Ambassador to the EU, Andrzej Sados.
"The work has really been accelerated. Poland as a member of a group of like-minded countries is making proposals on new sanctions. Tightening up existing restrictions is also a constant process," Santos said, as quoted by the Polish news agency PAP.
The new package of sanctions aims to expand the list of sanctioned individuals and organizations and add diamonds to the list of sanctioned Russian exports.
