The sanctions against eight Russian nationals involved in the arrest of 24 Ukrainian sailors in the Sea of Azov last November (see EUROPE 12146) are expected to be adopted on 14 March by written procedure, a European source told EUROPE.
According to this source, these restrictive measures will be added to the list of persons and entities sanctioned for actions that compromise or threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. These restrictive measures, which are renewed every 6 months, run until 15 March and currently involve 155 individuals and 44 entities (see EUROPE 12095).
At the end of the Foreign Affairs Council on 18 February, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, confirmed that the EU would adopt sanctions in connection with the arrest of sailors. She then explained that there was “a political consensus that some additional measures should be taken” and that “the legal acts [would be] finalised in the next few days”. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)