EU approves 14th package of sanctions against Russia

“Today, the Council adopted the 14th package of restrictive economic and personal measures, dealing a further blow to the Putin regime and those perpetuating the illegal, unjustified and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine,” the European Council said in a statement.

The new package expands individual restrictions to include 116 individuals and entities “responsible for actions that undermine or threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine,” the statement added.

“To ensure that EU facilities are not used to transport Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) to third countries, thereby significantly reducing Russia’s revenues from LNG sales and transportation, the EU will prohibit Russian LNG transshipment services on the territory of EU countries for the purpose of carrying out transshipment operations to third countries,” the statement said.
Additionally, the EU also banned companies from using the System for Transfer of Financial Messages (SPFS), an alternative to the SWIFT global payments system.

The statement said: "In light of Russia's continued attempts to interfere in democratic processes in the EU and undermine its democratic foundations, including through influence campaigns and the promotion of disinformation, the European Council decided that political parties and organisations, non-governmental organisations, including think tanks, or media service providers in the EU, will no longer be allowed to receive funding from the Russian State and its proxies."

The EU also imposed sanctions on Russia's "dark fleet", "specific vessels contributing to Russia's war against Ukraine", targeting 27 vessels, as well as expanding restrictions on imports of helium from Russia and exports of manganese ore, plastics, and electronics.
In addition, the European Council will be required to take measures to ensure that subsidiaries in third countries do not violate European sanctions or “engage in any activity that leads to the outcome that the sanctions are intended to prevent”.
Concluding Statement: The Council has added 61 entities to the list of those directly supporting the Russian military-industrial complex in its war against Ukraine. These entities will be subject to tighter export restrictions on dual-use goods and technologies, as well as goods and technologies that could contribute to the technological advancement of Russia's defense and security sector.

Some of these entities are based in third countries – including China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)./.