The deal covers 743 individuals and 826 organizations accused of backing Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. It came together after weeks of talks and an unusually painstaking legal review, which the ambassadors wrapped up on Wednesday.
The sanctions include travel bans, asset freezes and a ban on financing. The package is set to be formally confirmed once foreign ministers meet in Luxembourg, after which the names of those targeted will be published. That will bring the total sanctions list to almost 4,650 entries.
EU states wanted to move fast to show unity in the face of a rapid series of hybrid attacks, some of which are blamed on Russia. Work on the new lists began as a response to the drone incident at Leipzig Airport. Another reason for the unity signal was last month’s contested decision to drop the oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from the sanctions list.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said countries could propose names, but the final decision rests with the member states. She said she did not see that happening for the two men any time soon. Brussels is still working through the fallout from the Usmanov affair and is examining whether future sanctions decisions could be taken by qualified majority instead of unanimity.
Source: www.unian.ua
