Council of the EU
Press release
23 February 2022
16:35
EU adopts package of sanctions in response to
Russian recognition of the non-government
controlled areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk
oblasts of Ukraine and sending of troops into
the region
The Council today adopted on a package of measures to respond to the decision by the Russian
Federation to proceed with the recognition of the non-government controlled areas of the Donetsk
and Luhansk oblasts of Ukraine as independent entities, and the subsequent decision to send
Russian troops into these areas.
Such decisions are illegal and unacceptable. They violate international law, Ukraine’s territorial
integrity and sovereignty, Russia’s own international commitments and further escalate the crisis.
Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
The package agreed today includes:
Targeted restrictive measures
Within the existing framework for sanctions, the EU will
extend restrictive measures to cover all
the 351 members of the Russian State Duma,
who voted on 15 February in favour of the appeal
to President Putin to recognise the independence of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk
”republics”.
Moreover targeted restrictive measures will be imposed on additional
27 high profile individuals
and entities,
who have played a role in undermining or threatening the territorial integrity,
sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. These include decision makers such as members of the
government, who were involved in the illegal decisions; banks and businesspersons/oligarchs
supporting financially or materially Russian operations in the Donetsk and Luhansk's territories, or
benefitting from them; senior military officers, who played a role in the invasion and destabilisation
actions; and individuals responsible for leading a disinformation war against Ukraine.
Restrictive measures include an
asset freeze
and
a prohibition from making funds available
to
the listed individuals and entities. In addition, a
travel ban
applicable to the listed persons prevents
these from entering or transiting through EU territory.