There's no stopping now: The EU has agreed on the 17th package of sanctions against Russia

On Wednesday, May 14, it became known that the European Union (EU) has agreed on the next, 17th, package of sanctions against Russia. It will enter into force after approval and publication on the website. For more information about what might be on the list, see the Izvestia article.

The 17th package of sanctions against Russia: What is known about who got in

It became known on May 14 that a new package of sanctions had been agreed. This has already been confirmed by a number of sources, including French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barraud: "The 17th package of sanctions was approved on Wednesday."

The approval of these restrictions by the EU Foreign Ministers is expected on May 20. After that, the package will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union and will enter into force.

At the moment, it is not known exactly which individuals and legal entities will be on the list, but information about this has previously appeared in the Western media. The Financial Times reported that restrictions and bans could affect 149 oil tankers, due to the belief of EU officials that these vessels are allegedly linked to the Russian "shadow fleet." It was also said that companies from third countries, such as the UAE, Turkey, Serbia, Vietnam and Uzbekistan, would presumably be subject to restrictions due to the suspicion of their assistance to the Russian Federation in evading sanctions.

Bloomberg reported that the EU wanted to add Litasco Middle East DMCC (Lukoil's trading division in Dubai) to the list due to the fact that it was allegedly created to circumvent sanctions restrictions and expand the company's activities in the Middle East and Asia. In addition, it was reported that the next package was simplified due to the fact that for the first time since 2022, no additional economic and trade restrictions will be included in it, since the European Commission wanted to minimize the objections of EU countries and adopt this package as soon as possible.

According to Politico, which appeared after the approval of the next package of sanctions, the restrictions will apply to 30 legal entities allegedly involved in circumventing anti-Russian sanctions through third countries. They will also be imposed against 75 individuals and companies for their alleged connection with the military-industrial complex of the Russian Federation.

It is reported that restrictions will be imposed against 189 tankers. This information was confirmed on May 14 by the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. This was done with the aim of hitting Russian energy exports. Thus, tankers included in the sanctions list will be prohibited from entering EU ports, and European businesses will not be allowed to carry out any transactions with these vessels.

The Euractiv portal, citing European diplomats, wrote that as part of the new package, the assets of "high-ranking Russian politicians and business representatives" would be frozen, and they would also be banned from entering the European Union. In addition, the EU will impose a ban on the export of "chemicals used in the manufacture of weapons."

As it became known, Hungary and Slovakia, which had repeatedly opposed the new sanctions package, also supported it. This was done because of "his relative weakness."

EU sanctions: why they will come into force on May 20

French President Emmanuel Macron said that a new package of sanctions could be introduced in the near future. Against the background of reports about the preparation of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine on May 15, it was reported that European countries are ready to wait for the meeting in Istanbul before insisting on new restrictions.

Dmitry Rodionov, a political scientist and director of the Center for Geopolitical Studies at the Institute for Innovative Development, told RIA Novosti that the uncertainty about adopting a new package of anti-Russian sanctions lies in the fact that the possibilities of using this tool have already been exhausted: "They themselves do not know what sanctions they can impose, because everything that is possible has already been practically introduced. And the Western press writes that European officials are confused because they themselves admit that they have exhausted the possibility of sanctions pressure on Russia."

The statements about the new package of sanctions, according to the expert, are another attempt to intimidate Russia, because of this, the deadline for their introduction is constantly changing.

Russia's reaction to Western sanctions

Russia has repeatedly said that Western sanctions are illegal. The Kremlin has also stated that Moscow knows how to minimize their consequences. Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "... scaring us with these sanctions is an empty matter."

The Russian Federation also noted that Europe is not in a position to dictate its terms to Russia. According to Dmitry Peskov, it is useless to put pressure on Russia.