EU extends sanctions over Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea by one year

The European Union has extended sanctions against Russia over the attempted annexation of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol by one year, until June 23, 2023.

“The Council has today decided to renew the sanctions introduced by the EU in response to the illegal annexation of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol by the Russian Federation, until 23 June 2023,” reads the statement released on the website of the Council of the EU.

As noted, the restrictive measures currently in place were first introduced in June 2014, and include prohibitions targeting the imports of products originating from the illegally annexed Crimea or Sevastopol into the EU, and infrastructural or financial investments and tourism services from the illegally annexed Crimea or Sevastopol. Furthermore, the exports of certain goods and technologies to Crimean companies or for use in illegally annexed Crimea in the transport, telecommunications and energy sectors or for the prospection, exploration and production of oil, gas and mineral resources are also subject to EU restrictions.

It is underscored that the EU does not recognise and continues to condemn the illegal annexation of the Crimean peninsula as a serious violation of international law. The EU remains steadfast in its commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders and dedicated to fully implementing its non-recognition policy.

“Russia has further violated Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity with its unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine which the EU continues to condemn in the strongest possible terms. It urges Russia to immediately stop its indiscriminate attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, and to immediately and unconditionally withdraw all its troops and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders,” reads the statement.

As stated, the European Union is unwavering in its commitment to help Ukraine exercise its inherent right of self-defence against the Russian aggression and build a peaceful, democratic and prosperous future. It also remains committed to continue bolstering Ukraine’s ability to defend its territorial integrity and sovereignty.

On February 24, Russia launched an unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine and continued the war unleashed against Ukraine in 2014. The invaders massively shell and bomb Ukrainian towns and villages, carry out reprisals and atrocities against civilians in the temporarily occupied territories, loot and steal Ukrainian property, including grain and rolled metal.

The EU has already imposed six packages of economic sanctions against Russia, the main goal of which is to limit the Kremlin's ability to finance the "war machine".

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