Von der Leyen commented on the EU ambassadors' agreement on the 21st package of sanctions against Russia
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the agreement reached by EU ambassadors on the content of the 21st package of sanctions against Russia, the aggressor state. According to her, the new restrictions will increase pressure on Russia’s war economy.
According to “Ukrainska Pravda,” citing “European Pravda” and von der Leyen’s post on social media platform X, on July 23, the EU Committee of Permanent Representatives reached an agreement on the contents of the package. The ambassadors also decided to conduct a written procedure in the afternoon to approve it.
“I welcome the decision on the 21st package of sanctions against Russia. At a time when Ukraine is gaining military momentum, our sanctions continue to undermine the economic foundations of Russia’s military actions,” von der Leyen stated.
She noted that, for the first time, the package will target vessels assisting Russia’s “shadow fleet.” Additionally, according to the European Commission President, the EU will add another 32 Russian banks to the list of institutions subject to a transaction ban and will impose restrictions on cryptocurrency companies and oil trading platforms.
In addition, the European Union will freeze adjustments to the upper limit on oil prices for one year. According to von der Leyen, this is intended to prevent “the Russian war machine from benefiting from market turmoil.”
Previously, approval of the package had been delayed due to Greece’s demand to extend the authorization for the re-export of Russian liquefied natural gas to third countries. Bulgaria and Italy also raised objections to the inclusion of Kirill, Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, on the sanctions lists; however, after his name was removed, these objections were withdrawn.
