Brussels, Jul 18 (AP) - On Friday, the European Union and the United Kingdom intensified their stance against Russia's ongoing conflict in Ukraine by implementing new sanctions targeting Moscow’s energy sector, a clandestine fleet of aging oil tankers, and its military intelligence services. “The message is clear: Europe will not back down in its support for Ukraine. The EU will keep raising the pressure until Russia ends its war,” declared EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas after the bloc approved these measures, which include a new oil price cap. Kallas emphasized that it is “one of its strongest sanctions packages against Russia to date” related to the conflict, now entering its fourth year. European countries are also beginning to purchase U.S. weapons for Ukraine to bolster its defense capabilities. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the new measures, describing them as a “timely and necessary” step amid intensified Russian attacks. “All infrastructure of Russia's war must be blocked,” he added, noting that Ukraine will align its sanctions with the EU and introduce its own additional measures soon. Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the EU's moves, labeling the unilateral restrictions as “unlawful”, and noted that Russia has “acquired certain immunity from sanctions” and has adapted to live under such measures. They will analyze the new package to minimize any negative impacts. The UK has Russia's spies in its sights as well, imposing sanctions on units of Russia's military intelligence service, GRU. Included were 18 officers accused by the UK of planning a 2022 bombing of a theatre in southern Ukraine and targeting the family of a former Russian spy who later fell victim to a nerve agent poisoning. Hundreds of civilians who were sheltering in the theatre in Mariupol died in March 2022, shortly after the invasion commenced. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy stated, “GRU spies are running a campaign to destabilise Europe, undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty, and threaten the safety of British citizens.” Additionally, NATO condemned Russian cyberattacks, affirming that they will respond at a time and manner of their choosing, in accordance with international law and in collaboration with partners such as the EU. The European Commission had proposed to lower the oil price cap from $60 to $45 to undermine Russia's significant energy revenues. However, the 27 member countries settled on a price of just under $48 per barrel. The EU hoped to gain support from the G7 nations to widen the cap's effect, but could not secure cooperation from the Trump administration. Oil income remains the cornerstone of Russia's economy, enabling President Vladimir Putin to finance the military without exacerbating inflation or causing a currency collapse. An import ban was also enforced to plug loopholes allowing Russia to export crude oil indirectly through non-EU countries. Further action targeted the Nord Stream pipelines linking Russia and Germany, aiming to prevent future economic benefit for Putin and discourage potential investors. Sanctions also extended to Rosneft's refinery in India and aimed at Russia's banking sector to limit financial transactions and capital generation, with two Chinese banks added to the sanctions list. Since Russia's incursion into Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the EU has imposed multiple sanction rounds, impacting over 2,400 officials and entities with asset freezes and travel bans. However, reaching consensus on each new round is getting increasingly challenging as these measures increasingly impact the economies of EU member states. Slovakia delayed the latest package due to concerns over halting Russian gas supplies, essential to its needs. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz revealed he had been in frequent contact with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico to persuade him, lamenting the slow decision-making process. The previous sanction round, enacted in May, targeted nearly 200 ships within Russia’s shadow fleet of ships circumventing sanctions. On Friday, an additional 105 vessels were barred from docking at European ports or engaging in ship-to-ship transfers, bringing the total number now sanctioned to over 400. (AP)
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