Antonio Costa stated in a post on X that achieving a “just and lasting peace” in Ukraine would be possible by strengthening the country and increasing pressure on Russia, announcing that the loan package in question had been released and new sanctions had been adopted.
Ursula von der Leyen also welcomed the agreement among member states, noting that Russia continues its aggression, while the European Union is increasing its support for Ukraine and intensifying pressure on Moscow’s war economy.
Kaja Kallas stated that the previous deadlock had been overcome, adding that the way had been cleared for EUR 90 billion in financing for Ukraine and a new sanctions package, that the Russian economy is under increasing pressure, and that support for Kyiv will continue.
Negotiations within the EU on these packages had been stalled for some time due to a veto by Hungary, but following a change in government in Budapest and the removal of objections, the process accelerated and concluded with an agreement.
The 20th sanctions package includes extensive measures
According to a statement by the Council of the European Union, the 20th sanctions package targets key sectors financing Russia’s war against Ukraine. As part of the package, 120 new individuals and entities were added to the sanctions list, making it the most comprehensive listing package in the past two years.
Within the scope of the sanctions, 46 vessels were banned from accessing ports, bringing the total number of sanctioned ships to 632. Additionally, mandatory due diligence checks were introduced for tanker sales, aiming to limit Russia’s “shadow fleet” activities.
The package prohibits maintenance and servicing of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers and icebreakers, while providing LNG terminal services to Russian entities will also become illegal as of January 2027.
In addition, oil transactions via Russia’s Murmansk and Tuapse ports, as well as through Indonesia’s Karimun Port, were included in the sanctions. In the financial sector, 20 Russian banks were banned from transactions, while four financial institutions located in third countries were also added to the sanctions list.
As part of measures targeting the defense industry, 58 companies and associated individuals involved in military production, particularly unmanned aerial vehicles, were added to the sanctions list. Individuals and entities linked to the forced transfer of Ukrainian children and the looting of cultural assets were also included under the sanctions.
The package also targets individuals engaged in propaganda activities, as well as Belarus for its support of Russia’s war, with new names linked to the Belarusian military-industrial complex added to the list.
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