On Wednesday 11 December, the Member States’ ambassadors to the EU agreed on the 15th package of sanctions in response to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
The Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU specified that individuals and entities in Russia and third countries that indirectly contribute to Russia’s military and technological build-up by circumventing export restrictions will be sanctioned. The new package of measures also tackles the ‘phantom fleet’, restricting the activity of additional vessels from third states “ operating to contribute to or support actions or policies supporting Russia’s actions against Ukraine”. According to a European source, this involves around 50 vessels.
The package is due to be officially adopted at the Foreign Affairs Council on 16 December.
“The EU and its G7 partners are committed to keeping pressure on the Kremlin”, stressed the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, on X, welcoming the adoption of the package. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)