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European Union ramps up sanctions against Russia

Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

23.06.2023

On Wednesday 21 June, the European Union adopted a new package of sanctions to make restrictive measures against Russia stricter and stronger, adding 87 defence industry companies to the sanctions list. The package came info effect today.

"Estonia and the European Union continue to work to make sanctions as severe and efficient as possible, and affect the sectors that Russia relies on the most in financing its aggression against Ukraine," Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said. He added that in the development of the newest package, the focus was on preventing the circumvention of existing sanctions.

Tsahkna underlined that the cost of the war must be raised for Russia for as long as necessary and discussions on new sanctions have already begun among like-minded countries. "Estonia and the EU will not stop before Ukraine has won this war and Russia and its leadership have accounted for their actions."

The 11th sanctions package limits Russia's options in avoiding sanctions that are already in force. Following Estonia's proposal, sanctions on car exports to Russia were ramped up, and the export of air and gas guns and other similar weapons to Russia was banned. Entry to EU ports was banned for ships who have violated oil embargo and price cap regulation, including ships that have switched off the Automatic Identification System (AIS). At Estonia's proposal, entry bans to ports apply in the Gulf of Finland to anchorages outside the jurisdiction of ports.

For the first time, as a deterrence measure, the package includes the option of expanding the export ban of goods to third countries through which sanctioned goods arrive in Russia. This measure can be implemented following the failure of diplomatic efforts with the country enabling the violation of sanctions. It mainly allows to ban the export of sensitive dual use goods and certain goods linked to the defence industry.

At the proposal of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, an important evasion prevention measure includes an expansion of the ban on transit through Russia to third countries to include goods that can be used to boost the defence capabilities of Russia and to goods used in aviation. At the proposal of Estonia and other Baltic States and Poland, the sanction on road transport is expanded, banning the transport of goods with trailers registered in Russia into the EU, and banning the export of goods used by Russia in war, including electronics, semiconductors, and cameras.

The package added tougher restrictions on 87 defence industry companies that include third country companies linked to the sale of Iranian drones and circumventing sanctions. With the most recent restrictive measures, nearly 1800 individuals and entities have been sanctioned for undermining Ukraine's territorial integrity.

Since Russia launched its full-scale war against Ukraine, the European Union has continued to impose stricter sanctions against Russia. Eleven sanctions packages have been imposed so far, aimed at raising the cost of the aggression for Russia and, with other foreign policy measures, pressure Russia into ending its aggression in Ukraine.

All sanctions will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union .