New European Union Sanctions Package To Russia Will Be Ratified June 24

JAKARTA - The EU's 14th new sanctions package against Russia will be officially approved at a meeting of the European Union Council for Foreign Affairs on June 24, EU sources said.

Earlier on the same day, the Belgian Presidential Council at the EU Council said that the EU-state ambassadors had approved the 14th sanctions package against Russia.

The council will pass the sanctions package and then, on the same day, will publish it in the official EU journal and start implementing it, the source said.

"This package provides new targeted measures and maximizes the impact of existing sanctions by closing the gap," said the Belgian Presidential Council of the EU through social media as reported by ANTARA from Sputnik, Thursday, June 20.

The new restrictions will target tankers transporting Russian oil and add more than 40 individuals and organizations to the EU blacklist, media reports.

Dutch Foreign Minister Hanke Bruins Slot said the sanctions were aimed at blocking Russia's shadowing armada' access to European ports and services.

The Financial Times newspaper reports that this new package will, among other things, prohibit Russian tankers from using the EU port to unload its cargo in order to move it from large tankers to small countries to third countries, but will not impose a ban on imports from the EU.

The West is increasing the pressure of sanctions on Russia after the start of military operations in Ukraine in 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin said the Western long-term strategy to stem Russia would actually harm the global economy.