EU extends sanctions against Russia over Ukraine conflict

The European Union has confirmed the extension of individual sanctions against Russia, targeting nearly 2,400 individuals and entities involved in the ongoing aggression against Ukraine.

The decision, announced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, intensifies the EU's efforts to pressure Russia in response to its military actions, Caliber.Az reports.

In a statement posted on the social media platform X, von der Leyen emphasized, "The EU increases pressure on Russia. We extend our sanctions on nearly 2,400 individuals & entities over Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine, including: travel bans, asset freezes, and a ban on funding/resources. Our determination to support Ukraine is decisive."

The new sanctions will remain in place until September 15, 2025, following an agreement reached on March 14 by EU ambassadors. Sanctions are renewed every six months by a unanimous vote from the EU's 27 member states.

Despite Hungary's efforts to remove certain individuals from the sanctions list, including Russian tycoon Mikhail Fridman, the EU kept him on the list. Hungary, which maintains closer ties with Moscow, had initially pushed for the delisting of nine individuals, including Fridman, but the number was eventually reduced to three Russians—businessman Viatcheslav Moshe Kantor, sports minister Mikhail Degtyarev, and Gulbakhor Ismailova, the sister of prominent businessman Alisher Usmanov. A fourth individual, businessman Vladimir Rashevsky, was removed due to weak legal grounds rather than pressure from Budapest. Additionally, three individuals were removed due to their deaths.

The EU's sanctions list now includes individuals from Russia, Belarus, Iran, China, North Korea, Syria, and Ukraine, among other countries. These sanctions primarily affect businessmen, civil servants, law enforcement officials, public figures, and journalists. The restrictions include a ban on travel to the EU and the freezing of financial assets within EU jurisdictions.

This action is separate from the EU's broader economic sanctions against Russia, which are also renewed biannually in January and July.

With more than 2,400 individuals and entities now subject to EU sanctions, the bloc remains firm in its commitment to supporting Ukraine and exerting pressure on Russia to end its aggression.

By Vugar Khalilov