European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen after the summit in Versailles, France, on March 11. Reuters
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen after the summit in Versailles, France, on March 11. Reuters
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen after the summit in Versailles, France, on March 11. Reuters
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen after the summit in Versailles, France, on March 11. Reuters

EU imposes fourth set of sanctions against Russia


Soraya Ebrahimi
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Britain and the European Union announced further sanctions on Russia on Tuesday which ban the export of luxury goods and expand the list of oligarchs being punished over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

Iron and steel are among the goods covered by new trade restrictions, while Britain hiked tariffs on Russian artworks, beverages and fur skins and announced export bans covering luxury vehicles and high-end fashion.

Both powers announced they were stripping Russia and Belarus of a favoured nation status at the World Trade Organisation, a step which hinders their access to European markets.

Britain said it was sanctioning 370 more people including prominent faces such as Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, former head of state Dmitry Medvevev and other close allies of President Vladimir Putin.

"We are going further and faster than ever in hitting those closest to Putin" including by sanctioning "propagandists who peddle his lies and disinformation," said UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak said the restrictions would "further isolate the Russian economy from global trade, ensuring it does not benefit from the rules-based international system it does not respect".

"These tariffs build on the UK’s existing work to starve Russia’s access to international finance, sanction Putin’s cronies and exert maximum economic pressure on his regime," Mr Sunak said.

The EU's package also bans credit rating agencies from providing services to Russian clients, in a move which the European Commission said would further cut off Russia from financial markets.

It bans new investments in the Russian energy sector and sanctions what Brussels said were key companies in the aviation, military and dual use, shipbuilding and machine building sectors.

  • Smoke rising in Kyiv, which mayor Vitali Klitschko says faces a 'difficult and dangerous moment' as Russian forces step up strikes. AFP
    Smoke rising in Kyiv, which mayor Vitali Klitschko says faces a 'difficult and dangerous moment' as Russian forces step up strikes. AFP
  • Pope Francis meets visitors holding the Ukrainian flag during his weekly general audience in the Vatican. AFP
    Pope Francis meets visitors holding the Ukrainian flag during his weekly general audience in the Vatican. AFP
  • An anti-war protester demonstrates against Russia's invasion of Ukraine in front of the Nato headquarters in Brussels. AFP
    An anti-war protester demonstrates against Russia's invasion of Ukraine in front of the Nato headquarters in Brussels. AFP
  • A poster in Saint Petersburg carries the letter Z, a symbol of support for the invasion, and reads: "We are proud of Russia! We are not ashamed!" AFP
    A poster in Saint Petersburg carries the letter Z, a symbol of support for the invasion, and reads: "We are proud of Russia! We are not ashamed!" AFP
  • Amid the Ukraine war, there's time for a seaside stroll in Odesa. Reuters
    Amid the Ukraine war, there's time for a seaside stroll in Odesa. Reuters
  • A child who fled from Ukraine to Belgium waits outside an immigration office in Brussels. EPA
    A child who fled from Ukraine to Belgium waits outside an immigration office in Brussels. EPA
  • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy receives a standing ovation as he appears via videoconference to make an address to Canada's Parliament. AP
    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy receives a standing ovation as he appears via videoconference to make an address to Canada's Parliament. AP
  • A woman walks with a bicycle next to a building damaged during the conflict in the separatist-controlled town of Volnovakha, Donetsk region. Reuters
    A woman walks with a bicycle next to a building damaged during the conflict in the separatist-controlled town of Volnovakha, Donetsk region. Reuters
  • A firefighter outside a destroyed apartment building in a residential area of Kyiv. AP
    A firefighter outside a destroyed apartment building in a residential area of Kyiv. AP
  • Ukrainian soldiers pay tribute to Col Valeriy Gudz, who was killed in battle against Russian troops, at a cemetery in the town of Boryspil. AP
    Ukrainian soldiers pay tribute to Col Valeriy Gudz, who was killed in battle against Russian troops, at a cemetery in the town of Boryspil. AP
  • Firefighters work to extinguish a fire in a housing block hit by shelling in the Sviatoshynsky district, in western Kyiv. AFP
    Firefighters work to extinguish a fire in a housing block hit by shelling in the Sviatoshynsky district, in western Kyiv. AFP
  • Two people were killed as a series of powerful explosions rocked residential districts in Kyiv just hours before talks between Ukraine and Russia were set to resume. AFP
    Two people were killed as a series of powerful explosions rocked residential districts in Kyiv just hours before talks between Ukraine and Russia were set to resume. AFP
  • The Met Opera and Chorus performs during 'A Concert For Ukraine' in New York City. AFP
    The Met Opera and Chorus performs during 'A Concert For Ukraine' in New York City. AFP
  • A worker welds metal at the Interpipe Steel plant in Dnipro, Ukraine. Hundreds of Interpipe’s 10,000 employees have joined the fight against Russia. AP
    A worker welds metal at the Interpipe Steel plant in Dnipro, Ukraine. Hundreds of Interpipe’s 10,000 employees have joined the fight against Russia. AP
  • A woman is rescued by firefighters from her apartment in a burning building that was hit by artillery shells in Kyiv. AP
    A woman is rescued by firefighters from her apartment in a burning building that was hit by artillery shells in Kyiv. AP
  • Rescuers work at a building damaged by an air strike, in central Kharkiv, Ukraine. Reuters
    Rescuers work at a building damaged by an air strike, in central Kharkiv, Ukraine. Reuters
  • A woman who fled Ukraine to Belgium waits outside an immigration office, in Brussels. EPA
    A woman who fled Ukraine to Belgium waits outside an immigration office, in Brussels. EPA
  • Cars stuck at the Irpin River bridge, as Russia unleashes a barrage of air strikes on cities across Ukraine. AFP
    Cars stuck at the Irpin River bridge, as Russia unleashes a barrage of air strikes on cities across Ukraine. AFP
  • A firefighter looks at a section of a Ukrainian Tochka-U missile on a street in the separatist Donetsk region. The Russian military said 20 civilians were killed by a ballistic missile launched by the Ukrainian forces. AP
    A firefighter looks at a section of a Ukrainian Tochka-U missile on a street in the separatist Donetsk region. The Russian military said 20 civilians were killed by a ballistic missile launched by the Ukrainian forces. AP
  • Musician Davide Martello plays a piano near the Ukrainian border in Medyka, Poland. More than 1.76 million people have crossed the Polish-Ukrainian border into Poland, the Polish Border Guard reported on March 14. EPA
    Musician Davide Martello plays a piano near the Ukrainian border in Medyka, Poland. More than 1.76 million people have crossed the Polish-Ukrainian border into Poland, the Polish Border Guard reported on March 14. EPA
  • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, snaps a selfie with a wounded man during a visit at a military hospital after fighting in the Kyiv region.AFP
    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, snaps a selfie with a wounded man during a visit at a military hospital after fighting in the Kyiv region.AFP
  • Ukrainian soldiers carry rocket-propelled grenades and sniper rifles as they walk towards the city of Irpin, north-west of Kyiv. AFP
    Ukrainian soldiers carry rocket-propelled grenades and sniper rifles as they walk towards the city of Irpin, north-west of Kyiv. AFP
  • Troops carry an elderly woman on a stretcher across a makeshift bridge as Ukrainians flee Irpin. AFP
    Troops carry an elderly woman on a stretcher across a makeshift bridge as Ukrainians flee Irpin. AFP
  • Irina Moprezova, 54, stands in front of a house that was damaged by an air strike in Irpin. AFP
    Irina Moprezova, 54, stands in front of a house that was damaged by an air strike in Irpin. AFP
  • The flags of Russia and Ukraine are projected on the walls of Jerusalem's Old City, which a representative from the Jerusalem Municipality said is a show of support for diplomatic dialogue between the countries. Reuters
    The flags of Russia and Ukraine are projected on the walls of Jerusalem's Old City, which a representative from the Jerusalem Municipality said is a show of support for diplomatic dialogue between the countries. Reuters
  • A person holds a Ukrainian flag during an anti-war demonstration at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany. Reuters
    A person holds a Ukrainian flag during an anti-war demonstration at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany. Reuters
  • A Ukrainian soldier takes cover as people flee Irpin. AFP
    A Ukrainian soldier takes cover as people flee Irpin. AFP
  • Ukrainians shelter in an underground train station during the day in Kyiv. EPA
    Ukrainians shelter in an underground train station during the day in Kyiv. EPA
  • A Ukrainian serviceman walks carefully with his weapon in the city of Irpin, near Kyiv. AFP
    A Ukrainian serviceman walks carefully with his weapon in the city of Irpin, near Kyiv. AFP
  • Ukrainian people flee the city of Irpin, north-west of Kyiv. AFP
    Ukrainian people flee the city of Irpin, north-west of Kyiv. AFP
  • Ukrainian servicemen carry an elderly woman on a stretcher from the city of Irpin. AFP
    Ukrainian servicemen carry an elderly woman on a stretcher from the city of Irpin. AFP
  • A girl plays games on her tablet inside a subway carriage being used as a bomb shelter in Kyiv. AFP
    A girl plays games on her tablet inside a subway carriage being used as a bomb shelter in Kyiv. AFP
  • A Ukrainian firefighter drags a hose inside a large food products storage facility which was destroyed by an air strike on the outskirts of Kyiv. AP
    A Ukrainian firefighter drags a hose inside a large food products storage facility which was destroyed by an air strike on the outskirts of Kyiv. AP
  • Ukrainian troops with a Javelin anti-tank missile on the front line in the northern Kyiv region. Reuters
    Ukrainian troops with a Javelin anti-tank missile on the front line in the northern Kyiv region. Reuters
  • A woman carries her dog during an evacuation in Irpin. Reuters
    A woman carries her dog during an evacuation in Irpin. Reuters
  • A Ukrainian woman takes shelter in a metro station during the day in Kyiv. EPA
    A Ukrainian woman takes shelter in a metro station during the day in Kyiv. EPA
  • A member of the Ukrainian armed forces on patrol in Irpin. Reuters
    A member of the Ukrainian armed forces on patrol in Irpin. Reuters
  • A Ukrainian fighter takes cover behind a car in the city of Irpin. AFP
    A Ukrainian fighter takes cover behind a car in the city of Irpin. AFP
  • Firefighters at work after air strikes hit residential buildings in Chernihiv, northern Ukraine. AFP
    Firefighters at work after air strikes hit residential buildings in Chernihiv, northern Ukraine. AFP
  • A man wounded in an air strike is helped by medical staff in Novoiavorivsk, western Ukraine. Getty
    A man wounded in an air strike is helped by medical staff in Novoiavorivsk, western Ukraine. Getty
  • The ruins of the Ukraine Hotel after recent shelling in Chernihiv. EPA
    The ruins of the Ukraine Hotel after recent shelling in Chernihiv. EPA

The EU's sanctions package is the fourth since Russia invaded Ukraine. Belarus has been brought under the sanctions umbrella because some Russian troops entered Ukraine from its territory.

France, which holds the EU presidency, said the bloc “in consultation with our international partners, has approved a fourth package of sanctions targeting individuals and entities involved in the aggression against Ukraine, as well as several sectors of the Russian economy”.

The announcements were in line with what leaders had announced at the Versailles summit last Friday, that a stringent package of sanctions would be introduced if Russia continued its invasion of Ukraine.

Since the war started last month, the EU has adopted tough measures against Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russia’s financial system and its oligarchs.

Last week, the bloc’s nations agreed to impose further sanctions on 160 people and added restrictions on the export of maritime navigation and radio communications technology.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the fourth package of sanctions would further isolate Russia “and drain the resources it uses to finance this barbaric war”.

Ms von der Leyen said the EU would work in collaboration with Group of Seven countries to increase the pressure against Moscow.

Efforts to agree on an oil boycott against Russia are complicated, because some EU countries, including Germany and Italy, are much more dependent on Russian energy.

Poland, for example, receives 67 per cent of its oil from Russia while Ireland receives only 5 per cent.

Updated: March 15, 2022, 3:56 PM