EU announces more sanctions on Russia

Kaja Kallas, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and chair of the Foreign Affairs Council, announced on Friday that the EU had approved yet another round of sanctions against Russia - the 18th package to date. 

"Each sanction weakens Russia's ability to wage war," said Kallas. "The message is clear: Europe will not back down in its support for Ukraine. The EU will keep raising the pressure until Russia ends its war," she said.

According to an official press release, the Council adopted the latest package of economic and individual restrictive measures, which they say will hit Russia's energy, banking and military sectors, as well as trade with the EU; all with the aim of "ensuring accountability for Russia's continued war of aggression against Ukraine".

Today's package includes economic and individual measures with a view to increasing pressure on Russia and to achieving a just and lasting peace for Ukraine, they said.

The Council has agreed on a significant set of 55 listings, consisting of 14 individuals and 41 entities responsible for actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, bringing the total number of individual listings to over 2,500.

The EU is lowering the price cap for crude oil, imposing further sanctions across the so-called shadow fleet value chain, introducing an import ban on refined petroleum products, among other measures.