On October 5, EU ambassadors approved the eighth package of sanctions against Russia. It was criticized in Lithuania, but it was noted that it was better than nothing.
As Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said, the time for strong sanctions packages is over. He spoke about this on Žiniai Radio.
Sanctions are in force
According to the minister, when viewing the new sanctions package, sometimes one gets the impression that there are no exceptions more than the sanctions themselves. But even with such a package, there is further isolation of Russia and a discussion about persons who will not be able to travel to the EU.
Slowly, but we are moving forward,” Gabrielius Landsbergis emphasized.
The goals that have already been introduced were intended to:
- isolate Russia,
- to achieve independence of the European Union from the aggressor country,
- reduce or eliminate Russia's ability to produce weapons.
According to the Lithuanian Foreign Minister, there are significant achievements in these three areas, because the EU is becoming more and more independent of Russia's resources, and the ability of Russia itself to arm itself with modern weapons is very, very complicated.
The eighth package of sanctions has been approved
Even weak sanctions introduce new restrictions against Russia. According to journalist Rikard Jozwiak, the EU ambassadors have already approved all the details of the eighth package, and on October 6 at 10.00 it will be published in the EU official journal.
Earlier, journalists from international publications suggested what new restrictions this package would bring. According to observers from Politico and the BBC, citing European diplomats, they will concern the introduction of an oil price ceiling.
Also, probably, with the help of this package of sanctions they plan to “hit the Russian steel industry.” Of course, we will also talk about individual restrictions imposed on certain people. In particular, they will be introduced against persons who organized illegal referendums in parts of the occupied territories of Ukraine.
As previously reported in the Office of the President, negotiations were also underway to expand the ban on Russian imports of a number of goods.
Pay attention! The decision taken under the eighth package of sanctions will enter into force on December 5.
Sanctions against Russia: breaking news
- U.S. President Joe Biden has signed a law prohibiting the exchange of special drawing rights (SDR) held in accounts in Russia and Belarus into dollars. The law also requires the US Treasury to “take measures to counter support for Russia and Belarus.” The ban will be in effect for five years after the adoption.
- Russian printing houses complain about an acute shortage of equipment and spare parts for it. Moreover, top managers of Russian printing houses warn of a possible complete cessation of work. Sanctions against the aggressor countries led to this.
- According to military expert Petr Chernik, in a few years Russia will not be able to produce weapons in the volumes that it needs. This is because Russian weapons are built on Western sanctions technologies.
