Poland’s EU president confirmed that 27 EU member states lit sanctions green during negotiations in Brussels.
The sanctions package, restricted due to official approval on Tuesday, targets around 200 oil tankers said to be involved in bypassing oil export restrictions in Russia.
Companies based in Vietnam, Serbia, Turkey and other countries are also facing new restrictions on alleged involvement in supplying Russian troops with military equipment.
Additionally, dozens of Russian officials will join an existing list of nearly 2,400 individuals and groups subject to a freeze on EU assets and travel ban.
Additionally, EU leaders warned Moscow would face serious economic punishment unless they accept US-backed proposals to suspend a month-long war in Ukraine.
German Prime Minister Friedrich Merz on Tuesday warned Russia on Tuesday that further European sanctions would be imposed if there was no “real progress” in Ukraine’s peace this week.
The first direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine since 2022 are scheduled for Thursday in Istanbul, Turkey.
Russian President Vladimir Putin calls Istanbul’s in-person meeting with Ukraine “no prerequisites” and calls for a comprehensive, long-term peace agreement in place of an armistice that allows Ukraine to be rebuilt and rescued.
Since the onset of the conflict, the US and its European allies have poured a huge number of advanced weapons into Ukraine to help militarily dodge Russian troops despite repeated warnings by the Kremlin that such measures would only extend the war.
Moscow repeatedly condemned the collapse of talks.
rhm/