EU adopts second round of sanctions, including against Putin, Mishustin and Lavrov
Vladimir Putin and Sergey Lavrov. Photo: Kremlin Pool/Globallookpress.com
The European Union (EU) has adopted a second round of sanctions that includes Russian government officials, including President Vladimir Putin, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, as well as Russian military-industrial enterprises and visa restrictions. This is stated in a document published in the official journal of the EU, RIA Novosti reports. Also, the US Treasury Department announced new restrictions, they will affect the head of the Russian state, the foreign minister and a number of representatives of the Security Council.
Sanctions against Putin and Lavrov
The European Union decided to impose sanctions against Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov after the start of a military operation in the Donbass. It is noted that we are talking about the freezing of assets, while which ones are not specified.
In view of the gravity of the situation, the Council considers that members of the National Security Council who supported Russia's immediate recognition of the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics should be added to the list of individuals and entities subject to restrictive measures.
Statement of the Council of the European Union
Earlier, the representative of the European Union (EU) for foreign affairs and security policy, Josep Borrell, said that the foreign ministers of the countries of the organization decided to impose sanctions against Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. According to the head of European diplomacy, all options for new restrictions, including Russia's disconnection from SWIFT, “remain on the table.”
On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that he had decided to conduct a special operation in the Donbass. Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky announced the introduction of martial law in Ukraine and the severance of diplomatic relations with the Russian side.
The United States also made the decision on sanctions against Putin and Lavrov. This was announced by the official representative of the White House, Jen Psaki, she did not rule out that a ban on entry into the United States could be introduced for the head of the Russian state.
Over the past ten years, Putin has visited the United States only once, on September 28, 2015. He delivered a speech at the 70th UN General Assembly and met with US President Barack Obama.
The restrictions were later confirmed by the Ministry of Finance. Restrictions involve blocking assets in the jurisdiction of the United States and a ban on transactions with them for American individuals and legal entities.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also said that Ottawa is going to impose sanctions against Putin and Lavrov. These measures will be taken in connection with the start of a special operation in the Donbass.
The United Kingdom introduced similar restrictions, the office of Prime Minister Boris Johnson reported. They concern the freezing of the assets of the head of the Russian state and the minister of foreign affairs.
Sanctions against Russian officials
The European Union has compiled a list of 98 names of all included in the sanctions list, thus increasing the number of its defendants to 670 people. It included Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of Russia Dmitry Medvedev, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev.
In addition, State Duma deputies Dmitry Pevtsov, Alexander Zhukov, Konstantin Zatulin, Anna Kuznetsova, Oleg Morozov were blacklisted. Under US sanctions were Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the Russian General Staff Valery Gerasimov.
US actions demonstrate that sanctions will continue to strike directly at those most responsible for Russia's actions, including Russia's most powerful and wealthy elites.
US Treasury
On February 23, it became known that the European Union officially adopted sanctions against Russia for recognizing the independence of the DNR and LNR. The sanctions list includes 351 State Duma deputies who voted in support of an appeal to Russian President Vladimir Putin with a request to recognize the republics, and a number of other individuals and organizations that “played a role in undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.”
Sanctions against Russian banks
The European Union has included four Russian banks on the sanctions list – Alfa-Bank, Otkritie, Rossiya Bank and Promsvyazbank.
Prior to this, on February 24, the US authorities announced the imposition of sanctions against a number of Russian banks and state-owned companies against the backdrop of a special Russian military operation to protect Donbass, including Otkritie, Novikombank and Sovcombank.
Sberbank, VTB, Alfa-Bank, Otkritie and other Russian banks announced the uninterrupted operation of the entire financial market amid information about new sanctions. The credit institutions emphasized that each of them continues to serve and support customers as usual and does everything necessary to pass the unstable period calmly.
The sanctions list included 60 organizations of the Russian military-industrial complex
60 organizations of the Russian military-industrial complex fell under EU sanctions. It also includes the Russian Ministry of Defense and its Communications Center, the Foreign Intelligence Service, the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Rosoboronexport, Oboronprom and Rostec Corporation.
Restrictions were taken against Irkut Corporation, United Aircraft Corporation, United Engine Corporation, United Instrument Corporation, Sevmash, UralVagonZavod. They also affected enterprises producing aircraft, in particular the MiG corporation, the Sukhoi airline, Tupolev OJSC, KnAAPO in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, which manufactures Su aircraft.
The sanctions affected the Almaz Antey Concern, the Tula Arms Plant and the Kalashnikov Concern, the United Shipbuilding Corporation, and the KamAZ plant.
Earlier it became known that the United States does not plan to introduce restrictions against the Russian oil sector. State Department energy security adviser Amos Hochstein said Washington abandoned the decision because it was concerned about a possible surge in energy prices due to the imposition of sanctions against the Russian oil industry.
Suspension of the visa facilitation agreement
From February 28, the European Union suspends the bilateral agreement with Russia on the simplified issuance of visas. The decision will affect holders of diplomatic passports, businessmen, members of delegations going to official meetings, consultations and negotiations.
Simplified visas will no longer be issued to members of the Constitutional and Supreme Courts, representatives of regional governments and parliaments. These categories will be required to pay standard visa fees for the processing of applications from citizens.
