It doesn't make sense.: The European Union has adopted the 18th package of sanctions against Russia

On Friday, July 18, it became known that the European Union approved the 18th package of anti-Russian sanctions. This was announced by the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaya Kallas, adding that the restrictions will be among the toughest. Among other things, the Nord Stream gas pipelines and the vessels of the so-called "shadow fleet" fall under restrictions. Read more about the new package of anti—Russian sanctions in the Izvestia article.

The 18th package of sanctions against Russia: what is known

The permanent representatives of the EU countries have agreed on the next, 18th package of anti-Russian sanctions. This was stated by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaya Kallas, on July 18. According to her, the approved restrictions will become "one of the toughest" packages of sanctions against Russia to date.

The new EU restrictions include:

— Nord Stream gas pipelines;

— 105 tankers of the so-called "shadow fleet", which Brussels connects with the Russian Federation;

— the "price ceiling" for Russian oil will be lowered. Callas herself did not specify the updated parameters, but Reuters, citing sources, writes that the price will drop from $ 60 per barrel to $47.6. There is also a ban on the import of petroleum products based on Russian oil into the EU.;

— more than 20 Russian banks. According to the Estonian Foreign Ministry, EU sanctions provide for any transactions with sanctioned Russian banks that were previously disconnected from the SWIFT system.;

— The EU imposes a ban on all transactions with the Russian Direct Investment Fund and its subsidiaries. Sanctions are also being imposed against seven companies from China and four from Turkey. The oil refinery of one of the Russian companies in India was also subject to restrictions.;

— dual-use equipment. The new export restrictions will affect, among other things, machine tools that "can be used in the military industry."

"We will increase pressure on the Russian military industry and Chinese banks, which allow us to circumvent sanctions, as well as block the export of technologies used for drones," Kallas wrote.

According to Callas, the 18th package of EU sanctions against Russia also includes some Chinese banks.

"We are increasing the pressure on <...> Chinese banks that allow Russia to evade sanctions," Kallas wrote on her page on the social network X.

According to Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna, the EU has already started work on the 19th package of sanctions against Russia. He also added that the European Union "will not limit itself to half measures."

The next step is to launch the procedure for the final approval of sanctions by EU countries at the ministerial level. After that, they will be published in the official journal of the EU, and they will enter into force.

Slovakia's role in approving the 18th package of sanctions against Russia

For a long time, Slovakia and Hungary blocked the approval of a new package of sanctions against Russia due to fears of negative consequences of the ban on imports of Russian energy resources into the EU. At the end of June, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico spoke about Bratislava's desire for the European Commission (EC) to abandon this idea, but noted that the EC still has the opportunity to adopt this strategy by a qualified majority.

Despite all the concerns, on July 17, Fico announced that Slovakia would not block the adoption of the 18th package of sanctions against Russia.

"Now an agreement has been reached thanks to concessions. Thus, Slovakia has received assurances that it will not have to fear serious economic and financial consequences if, in accordance with the new package of sanctions, a plan to completely stop importing Russian gas is implemented," the DPA news agency writes.

Reaction to the 18th package of sanctions

China, which has also been affected by the new package of sanctions, has already called on the EU to stop violating the legitimate interests of the country's companies. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said this during a briefing: "We urge the EU to stop harming the legitimate interests of Chinese companies without any factual basis. China will take the necessary measures to resolutely protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises."

Russia has repeatedly said that the country will cope with the sanctions pressure from the West and they lack the courage to admit the failure of the previously imposed restrictions against the Russian Federation.

As Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko told Izvestia earlier, Russia will continue to respond to EU sanctions — "retaliatory measures, both protective and countermeasures, will be taken."