EU Targets Russia's Diamond Industry in New Sanctions

The latest measures aim to close loopholes and further restrict Russia's ability to wage war in Ukraine.

The European Union has imposed a new round of sanctions on Russia, targeting the diamond industry, over 140 officials and organizations, and closing loopholes that Moscow has used to bypass previous punitive measures.
The import, purchase or transfer of Russian non-industrial natural and synthetic diamonds and diamond jewelry will be banned starting Jan. 1.
The new sanctions also obligate EU companies to prohibit in their contracts the export of certain goods so buyers can’t sell them on to Russia, particularly “sensitive goods and technology” that could be used by the Russian armed forces in Ukraine.
Additional chemicals, lithium batteries, thermostats, certain electric motors that could be used in the manufacture of drones, and some machine tools and parts have been put on the EU’s list of restricted items banned for export to Russia.
The EU also added 29 more “entities” – often organizations, agencies, companies or banks – alleged to be supporting Russia’s military and industrial complex in the war against Ukraine.