Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the European Union's agreement to impose a new 21st round of sanctions against Russia's war in Ukraine.
Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the agreement to impose a new round of sanctions against Russia, targeting the energy, financial, and crypto sectors. The European Union reached a consensus after weeks of debate, overcoming a deadlock by granting Greece an exemption to continue transporting Russian liquefied natural gas. The new package is the largest in four years, targeting 218 individuals and entities. It includes 32 Russian banks, crypto firms, and oil trading platforms on the transaction ban list. Additionally, the measures target over 40 vessels from Russia's shadow fleet and more than 50 military-industrial entities, including key producers of long-range drones. The agreement maintains the current price cap on Russian crude oil exports for the next 12 months. By avoiding automatic adjustments to the international price cap, the administration of the EU aims to ensure that the Russian war machine does not benefit from market shocks. The package also includes entry bans and asset freezes on various companies and individuals linked to the ongoing conflict.