EU agrees 11th round of sanctions against Russia including crackdown on ‘deceptive practices’

The EU has agreed an 11th round of sanctions against Russia including export bans on third countries helping the Kremlin circumvent existing crackdowns.

It will mean a crackdown on “deceptive practices” including the use of tankers from other countries to carry Russian crude oil into EU ports.

Importers of iron and steel goods will also face tighter restrictions on raw materials that have been processed in a third country to prove they have not originated in Russia.

The new “anti-circumvention” tool will allow the EU to “restrict the sale, supply, transfer or export of specified sanctioned goods and technology to certain third countries”.

It has also added 87 new entities to the list of those directly supporting Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine with export restrictions for advanced technology items to countries now including China, Uzbekistan, the United Arab Emirates, Syria and Armenia.

Josep Borrell, the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs and security, said:

Today’s package increases our pressure on Russia and Putin’s war machine. By tackling sanctions circumvention, we will maximise pressure on Russia by depriving it further of the resources it so desperately needs to allow it to pursue its illegal war against Ukraine.

Tags: sanctions, Russia