The European Union has approved a 15th package of sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, which includes tougher measures against Chinese entities and ships from Moscow's so-called "shadow" fleet, the European Commission said in a statement on Monday.
The new package of sanctions adds 52 ships from the fleet trying to evade Western restrictions to transport oil, weapons and grain. This brings the total number of ships listed to 79.
The EU began adding these ships to the list earlier this year in response to an increase in the number of ships carrying cargo not supplied by mainstream Western providers. The list also included ships that delivered North Korean munitions to Russia.
The new restrictions add 84 new individuals and entities, including seven Chinese individuals and entities, as well as Russian entities in Serbia.
"One individual and two entities that facilitate the evasion of EU sanctions, and four entities that supply sensitive drone components and microelectronic components to the Russian military," the statement said, referring to the Chinese entities.
This will be the first time Chinese entities have faced such travel ban and asset freeze sanctions.
"The move towards real sanctions sends an important signal to the Chinese. We take this very seriously," said an EU diplomat.
EU sanctions chief David O'Sullivan and Ukrainian officials have blamed China for selling foreign technology to Russia.
Diplomats said previous Chinese listings in the Russian sanctions package included only export controls, rather than a blanket sanction.
The list now includes senior executives in Russia's energy sector, two senior North Korean officials, as well as 20 Russian companies and entities in India, Iran, Serbia and the United Arab Emirates.
The commission is preparing a 16th package of sanctions for January, which could include broader measures such as on Russian liquefied natural gas and export restrictions on subsidiaries of EU companies in third countries, sources told Reuters. . /REL/ (A2 Televizion)
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