Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy meet in Kyiv, 5 February 2025. Photo: EPA-EFE/VOLODYMYR TARASOV
The EU has imposed a 16th round of sanctions on Russia timed to coincide with the third anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine, it announced on Monday.
The latest sanctions affect 48 individuals and 35 organisations the EU deems to be responsible for “undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine”, according to the statement.
Fresh restrictions were also imposed on 74 oil tankers belonging to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet”, which has been used by Moscow to bypass international sanctions on Russian energy exports, while a further 13 banks were disconnected from the international SWIFT payment system, including one Russian bank registered in China, and two banks in Belarus.
The EU also suspended the broadcasting licences of eight Russian media outlets “under the permanent control of the Russian leadership”.
Australia also imposed its largest raft of sanctions against Russia yet since the start of the war, the Prime Minister’s Office announced on Monday. A further 70 individuals were added to an updated list of people banned from entering Australia, while fresh sanctions were also imposed on 79 companies. Russian companies in the defence, transport and financial sectors also came under fresh sanctions.
New Zealand also imposed a new package of sanctions to coincide with the anniversary of the Russian invasion, its Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade announced on Monday. Russians involved in the deportation of Ukrainian children, and high-ranking North Korean military personnel providing assistance to Russia are among those facing fresh restrictions.
The UK also announced on Sunday that it was to unveil its largest ever package of sanctions against Russia, according to The Independent, with Foreign Minister David Lammy saying that the government would make a statement on Monday to mark the third anniversary of the invasion.