EU ambassadors agree on 11th package of sanctions against Russia

EU permanent representatives approved the long-awaited 11th package of sanctions against Russia at a meeting on Wednesday.

The Swedish presidency of the EU Council announced this on Twitter.

"Today, EU ambassadors agreed on the 11th package of sanctions against Russia. The package includes measures aimed at countering the circumvention of sanctions and individual lists," the Swedish presidency said in a statement.

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen wrote on Twitter that she welcomed the political agreement on the 11th package of sanctions.

"It will deal a further blow to Putin's war machine by strengthening export restrictions targeting Kremlin-backed entities. Our anti-circumvention tool will not allow Russia to obtain sanctioned goods," she said.

The European Commission sent proposals for the 11th package of sanctions against Russia to EU member states in early May.

However, EU ambassadors could not agree on the proposal for weeks. The main reason for the delay was that Greece and Hungary protested against Ukraine's inclusion of some of their companies in the list of "war sponsors." Athens and Budapest wanted their companies to be removed from the list.

Author - Olena Madiak, 21/06/2023