EU approves 10th package of sanctions against Russia

The European Union has approved a tenth package of sanctions against Russia, following Washington’s announcement of imposing sweeping restrictions on the country.

"Together, the EU member states have imposed the most forceful and far-reaching sanctions ever to help Ukraine win the war," the Swedish EU presidency announced on Twitter on Friday night.

"The EU stands united with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. We will keep supporting Ukraine, for as long as it takes."

The EU package includes tighter export checks regarding dual-use goods as well as sanctions against entities supporting the Russian war in Ukraine, spreading propaganda, or delivering drones used by Russia, according to Reuters.

Warsaw said the suggested sanctions on EU imports of Russian rubber included such a big quota of imports exempted and such long transition periods that they would have no effect in practice.

A member of the European Parliament (MEP) described the EU’s Russia sanctions as serving US interests and a sheer "madness" on behalf of the Europeans.

"It's been a very disappointing year for the European Union. We have more and more been playing a very subservient role to the interest of the US and we are doing things that are not in the interest of the European Union, not in the interest of the people of Europe,” Mick Wallace, an outspoken Irish MEP, said on Thursday.

“And we're making decisions that are good for America, good for NATO, but not good for the people of Europe,” he added.

“The sanctions have had a dramatic impact on the cost of living for the ordinary people of Europe. We've seen huge inflation. We've seen huge price rises. And the sanctions, in the last 12 months, I would say they've had more of an impact on the people of Europe than they had on Russia," he concluded.

The EU announcement came hours after the White House imposed new sanctions against Russia, which target sectors including banks and the defense industry, affect more than 200 individuals and entities, including both Russians and third-country actors across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East who support Russia.

Among those subject to new sanctions will be "a dozen Russian financial institutions, in alignment with allies and partners, as well as Russian officials and proxy authorities illegitimately operating in Ukraine," the White House said.

US announces fresh sanctions on Russia as Ukraine war enters second year

The US has announced sweeping sanctions aimed at increasing economic pressure on Russia and reducing Moscow

Meanwhile, the European Council, which brings together European national leaders, announced in a statement that the European Union will not rest until Ukraine wins the war.

The council has emphasized that it will continue to support Kiev, along with its international partners, until it ensures that Ukraine will win against Russia.

Russia launched what it calls "a special military operation" in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, over the perceived threat of the ex-Soviet republic joining NATO.

Since then, the United States and Ukraine's other Western allies have supplied it with tens of billions of dollars worth of weapons, including rocket systems, drones, armored vehicles, tanks, and communication systems.

Western countries have also imposed a slew of economic sanctions on Moscow. The Kremlin has repeatedly warned that the sanctions and the Western military assistance will only prolong the war.

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