The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, announced on Monday 12 December that foreign ministers had agreed on sanctions against 200 individuals and entities in connection with Russian aggression in Ukraine, but that discussions were continuing on the sectoral sanctions of the 9th package.
On Wednesday 7 December, the Commission proposed new measures against Russia (see EUROPE 13079/1).
“What we have approved are the individual sanctions, about 200 people and entities” Borrell said after the EU Council. He explained that the EU would “hit hard the Russian defence and military sectors, the political ‘masters’ of the Russian government, in the Duma, the Federation Council and in the judiciary”.
The High Representative said that the measures targeted those responsible for attacks on Ukrainian grain and the deportation of the Ukrainian population to Russia, particularly children. Measures will also be taken against media and organisations that “poison the public space by systematically manipulating information”, the EU diplomatic chief added.
If the targeted sanctions are agreed politically, they will have to wait for an agreement on sectoral sanctions to be formally adopted, according to several sources.
Sectoral sanctions are still under negotiation. The ambassadors of the EU Member States, meeting on Monday evening after the EU Council, were unable to reach agreement. Talks are expected to resume on Tuesday with countries that have problems with the current positions, according to an EU source.
Speaking to the media after the EU Council and before the ambassadors’ meeting, the High Representative explained that the difficulties lay in the type of exceptions to be implemented to ensure that there were no collateral effects and, at the same time, that the effectiveness of sanctions was not reduced.
According to an EU source, the differences are of a technical-legal nature rather than political, especially on the issue of agricultural products and fertilisers.
Continued support for Ukraine
Beyond the discussions on sanctions, the ministers reiterated their support for Ukraine. “The Ukrainian people deserve respect and what they need most is support (...) We must continue to support Ukraine”, Borrell pleaded, recalling the agreement on the increase of the ‘European Peace Facility’ (see other news) and announcing an increase in exports of electrical systems to Ukraine.
“Putin is trying to freeze the Ukrainian people into submission, depriving millions of people of water, electricity and food. These can be called crimes against humanity. These are war crimes”, Mr Borrell also condemned, denouncing the “weaponisation of winter”. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)