The ninth package of sanctions against Russia is approved by the European Union

The Council of the European Union (EU) approved this Thursday the ninth package of sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, which includes restrictive measures for another 200 individuals and entities and restricting the access of Russian forces to “drones”.

“The ambassadors have reached agreement in principle on a package of sanctions against Russia as part of the EU’s continued support for Ukraine,” the Czech presidency of the Council said on Twitter.

As for the ninth package of sanctions against Russia and the third one agreed by the Czech Republic, which holds the EU presidency, “it must be confirmed tomorrow through a written procedure,” Prague adds.

The approval was given at a meeting of member countries’ ambassadors on the sidelines of the European Council in Brussels.

With the adoption of this ninth sanctions package, it will include another 200 individuals and legal entities, including the Armed Forces, as well as defense companies associated with the Kremlin (Russian presidency), deputies of the Russian parliament and the Federation Council, ministers, governors. and party politicians.

This includes a ban on the export of “drones” (unmanned aerial vehicles) to Russia or to third countries that may have commercial relations with Moscow, including Iran, which is accused of supplying this type of aircraft to Russia. forces in Ukraine.

In addition, the EU wants to introduce new export controls and restrictions, especially on dual-use goods such as chemicals, electronics and computer components.

A total of 1,241 individuals and 118 entities are subject to the EU sanctions list, which includes an asset freeze and a travel ban.

Prime Minister António Costa said at a press conference that macro-financial assistance to Ukraine for next year in the amount of 18 billion euros has been approved.

The military offensive launched on February 24 by Russia in Ukraine has already caused the flight of more than 13 million people – more than six million internally displaced people and more than 7.8 million – to European countries – according to the latest UN figures. which classifies this refugee crisis as the worst in Europe since World War II (1939-1945).

The Russian invasion, justified by Russian President Vladimir Putin on the need to “denazify” and demilitarize Ukraine for Russia’s security, was condemned by the international community as a whole, which responded by sending weapons to Ukraine and imposing political and economic sanctions on Russia.

The UN has presented 6,702 dead and 10,479 wounded civilians as confirmed since the beginning of the war, stressing that these figures are much lower than the real ones.