EU agrees on new sanctions, targeting Russia’s drone production

CNN says the EU's newest Russia sanctions bundle, to be finalized on 24 February, marking two years since Russia's Ukraine invasion, will newly blacklist Russian drone producers and global procurement networks supplying components to Moscow's military.

Feb 22, 2024 - 08:07

EU agrees on new sanctions, targeting Russia’s drone production

The European Union has agreed on its 13th package of sanctions against Russia, targeting drone production used by Moscow in Ukraine, CNN reports. The package is to be published on 24 February, the day of the second anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

In response to Russia’s all-out war in Ukraine, the EU has imposed massive sanctions on Russia, including travel bans, asset freezes, import/export restrictions, and bans across transport, energy, banking, and media to severely punish Russia’s invasion and cut funding for its war effort while coordinating with international partners to maximize impact.

An EU diplomat informed CNN that this new package will list almost 200 individuals and companies, making it one of the largest sanctions packages finalized by the bloc. According to the diplomat, the sanctions will target procurement networks for drone components that end up in the Russian military complex and on the battlefield in Ukraine, with entities in third countries and Russia being sanctioned.

EU lawyers will now work on finalizing the package’s text, aiming to have it published by the anniversary of the Russian invasion on 24 February, according to the diplomat.

The bloc’s top diplomat, Josep Borrelll, hailed the package, stating that it will see the EU taking more action against entities involved in circumvention and the defense and military sectors.

Earlier, it was reported that Hungary objected to the presence of Chinese companies on the list of the upcoming 13th package of EU sanctions aimed at Russia.