EU Approves New Sanctions Targeting Russia Ahead of Ukraine Invasion Anniversary

The 16th sanctions package includes measures against the Russian shadow fleet, expanded trade restrictions, and financial penalties.

The EU's latest sanctions package aims to increase pressure on Russia as the third anniversary of its invasion of Ukraine approaches.
Key measures include banning transactions with Russian ports and airports implicated in circumventing oil price caps.
The sanctions target the Russian shadow fleet, adding 73 ships to the EU blacklist and allowing penalties for shipowners, operators, and captains.
Trade restrictions include an import ban on Russian aluminum and an export ban on materials like drone-related components and chemicals with potential military uses.
Additional actions include suspending eight Russian media outlets' EU licenses and excluding 13 more Russian banks from the SWIFT system.