The European Union has adopted a 15th package of sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, including tougher measures against Chinese entities and more vessels from Moscow’s so-called shadow fleet, the EU Commission said in a statement on Monday.
The new package adds 52 vessels from the shadow fleet that try to circumvent Western restrictions to move oil, arms and grains, bringingthe total listed to 79.
The EU began adding ships this year in response to an increase in the number of vessels transporting cargoes that are not regulated or insured by conventional Western providers. The listing included vessels that delivered North Korean ammunition to Russia.
Of the 52 vessels sanctioned, 33 were included for transporting crude oil or petroleum products originating in or exported from Russia, taking the total number of vessels sanctioned for transporting oil to 43.
The new restrictions add 84 new individuals and entities, including seven Chinese persons and entities.
“Namely one individual and two entities facilitating the circumvention of EU sanctions, and four entities supplying sensitive drone components and microelectronic components to the Russian military,” the statement said, referring to the Chinese listings.
The Chinese additions will be the first fully-fledged sanctions on the country whichinclude a travel ban and asset freeze.
“The step to fully-fledged sanctions sends an important signal to the Chinese. We take this very seriously,” an EU diplomat said.
EU sanctions chief David O’Sullivan and Ukrainian officials have pointed to China as the main route for sales of foreign technology to Russia.
CHINESE LISTINGS
Diplomats said the previous Chinese listings in Russian sanctions packages only involved export controls, rather than an overarching sanction.
In addition, the list includes senior managers in Russia’s energy sector, two senior North Korean officials as well as 20 Russian companies and entities in India, Iran, Serbia and the United Arab Emirates.
Also added to the list was EU citizenNiels Troost, the businessperson who it said controls energy trading Paramount Energy and Commodities DMCC.
Paramount DMCC, the EU alleges, “repeatedly traded
Russian crude oil above the oil price cap after its introduction.” Troost was also included for his alleged links to Livna Shipping Ltd, which the EU also said had traded crude oil above the price cap since its introduction.
Livna did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment. Its website includes a notice which says; “Mr. Niels Troost has no affiliation whatsoever with Livna and played no role in Livna’s operations”.
Troost could not be immediately reached for comment. Paramount DMCC was sanctioned by Britain in November last year.
EU countries added financial measures to ease the burden on EU central securities depositories, such as Belgium’s Euroclear, when they handle Russia’s immobilised central bank assets.
The Group of Seven (G7) nations agreed this yearto use the over $300 billion in frozen funds to back a $50 billion loan for Ukraine to help it fight Russian forces.
The Commission is preparing a 16th package of sanctions for January, which may include wider measures such as on Russian liquefied natural gas and export limits on EU companies’ subsidiaries in third countries, sources told Reuters.
Source: Reuters (Reporting by Julia Payne in Brussels, additional reporting by Robert Harvey and Enes Tunagur in London, Editing by Ros Russell and Ed Osmond)