Ukraine, three more countries join extension of EU sanctions against Russia

Ukraine and three European countries have joined the extension of the EU sanctions against Russia over actions against Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence.

This is said in the Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain countries with the EU decision, which was published on the European Council’s website, according to Ukrinform.

“On 10 September 2021, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2021/1470 amending Decision 2014/145/CFSP. The Council Decision renewed the existing restrictive measures for a further 6 months, until 15 March 2022. The Candidate Countries Montenegro and Albania, and the EFTA country Norway, member of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine align themselves with this Council Decision,” the document reads.

It is noted that the countries will ensure that their national policies conform to this Council Decision.

“The European Union takes note of this commitment and welcomes it,” reads the document.

As Ukrinform reported, on September 10, the EU Council decided to extend sanctions against Russia over actions undermining the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine for a further six months, until March 15, 2022.

Restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine were first introduced on March 17, 2014.

The restrictive measures provide for travel restrictions, the freezing of assets, and a ban on making funds or other economic resources available to the listed persons and entities. Sanctions will continue to apply to 177 individuals and 48 institutions.

In addition, other EU measures implemented in response to the crisis in Ukraine include economic sanctions targeting specific sectors of the Russian economy, currently in place until January 31, 2022 and restrictive measures in response to the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol, limited to the territory of Crimea and Sevastopol and currently in place until June 23, 2022.

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