On December 16, the European Union adopted a new package of sanctions against Russia. This is the 15th package of sanctions that the EU has adopted since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This package focuses on suppressing Russia’s shadow fleet and actions to circumvent sanctions. This new sanctions package includes lists of people and entities linked to the Russian military-industrial complex. The main goal is to legally protect EU Central Securities Depositories.
The significance of this particular package lies in the fact that the European Union, for the first time in its existence, has imposed comprehensive, full-fledged sanctions on several Chinese actors, including a travel ban, asset freezes, and a ban on access to economic resources.
The 15th package of sanctions added 52 more ships to the existing 27, which were trying to bypass Western sanctions to transport weapons, oil, and grain.
Moreover, 84 new individuals and entities were added to the already sanctioned individuals, “responsible for actions undermining the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence of Ukraine”. 7 of these sanctioned people are Chinese, „namely one individual and two entities facilitating the circumvention of EU sanctions, and four entities supplying sensitive drone components and microelectronic component to the Russian military“ industry to support Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, said the statement EU has released.
As the EU diplomat announced, this is a clear message to China that the EU takes the current situation very seriously.
This package also adds 32 new companies to the list of those supporting Russia’s military and industrial complex during the war in Ukraine. Seven of those companies are under Chinese/ Hong Kong jurisdiction.
