EU member states approve new package of sanctions against Russia

The ambassadors of the 27 member states of the European Union approved, Thursday June 20, a new package “substantial” sanctions against Russia, at war with Ukraine, announced the Belgian presidency of the Council of the European Union. “This package provides for new targeted measures and strengthens the impact of existing sanctions by tightening the cracks”declared the Belgian presidency on the social network “This package of strong measures will further prevent Russia from having access to technologies. It will also deprive Russia of additional revenues in the energy sector,” welcomed the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen on X.

Among these measures is a ban on the transshipment of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the European Union, according to the document listing these sanctions, of which AFP obtained a copy. These new sanctions also aim to limit Russia’s use of “ghost” cargo ships to circumvent EU sanctions on Russian oil exports. They also target the system allowing financial transactions, the SPFS, set up by Russia after its exclusion from the SWIFT international interbank financial system.