Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – EU plans 16th sanctions package against Russia, targeting economy, propaganda, disinformation, and hybrid attacks on Ukraine.
The European Union is planning to impose the 16th package of sanctions against Russia. It is anticipated to be approved on the third anniversary of Russia’s attack on Ukraine, reported by Welt.
According to Welt’s sources in diplomatic circles of the European Union, state that the new 16th package will be planned as a “clear signal” to Moscow. It would contain actions against specific sectors of the Russian economy that have not yet been hit or have been surrounded insufficiently.
The European Union intends to impose sanctions against businesses and people among the Russian propagandists who are accountable for damaging Ukraine’s territorial integrity. The European Commission also intends to set restrictive measures against people who spied for Moscow and partook in disinformation drives, especially in Germany. The EU stated that it would be challenging to trace and verify people’s engagement in the so-called hybrid Russian episodes.Â
How did the EU’s 15th sanctions package impact Russia?
Earlier on December 15, the European Union raised the 15th package of restrictive measures against the Kremlin. The sanctions index contains 54 people and 30 firms from Russia, China, and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. In particular, the European Union levied sanctions against the Moscow shadow fleet, the Russian troops implicated in the raid on Okhmatdyt, the control of businesses in the energy sector, and those accountable for deporting kids, propaganda, and circumventing embargoes.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that the European Union had already begun working on the 16th package of restrictive measures against Russia. Media reports state that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is again vetoing fresh sanctions against Russia.
What are the goals of EU sanctions against the Kremlin?
Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale attack on Ukraine on 24 February 2022, the European Union has placed massive and unusual sanctions against the Kremlin. These sanctions come on top of the steps already set on Moscow since 2014 following the annexation of Crimea and the absence of enactment of the Minsk Accords.
The restitutive measures include targeted sanctions against individuals, economic embargoes, diplomatic efforts and visa standards. The purpose of the economic sanctions is to inflict severe effects on Russia for its activities and to effectively prevent Russia’s ability to persist in its attack.
