Ukraine war: EU imposes record sanctions against Russian aid workers

Luxembourg. The European Union has imposed new sanctions on a record number of supporters of the Russian war machine. The EU foreign ministers decided to impose punitive measures on almost 1,600 people, companies and other organizations, as announced by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. According to their information, the total number of listings under the sanctions regime to protect Ukraine's territorial integrity has increased to almost 4,600.

The new sanctions affect actors involved in the production of ballistic missiles. It also concerns, for example, companies that supply important components for modern Russian drones and aircraft. These components include semiconductors, radar devices, antennas and transceivers, aviation systems as well as satellite and missile systems, explosives and ammunition as well as optics and navigation systems.

Federal Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul spoke of an “unprecedented sanctions strike” against Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war economy. “We are making it more difficult for Putin to continue his war of invasion, which violates international law - and his cynical attempt to wear down the Ukrainian civilian population with murderous bombing terror,” explained the CDU politician, who was unable to take part in the deliberations in Luxembourg due to a retreat by his party's leadership in Berlin.

Wadephul added: "We are increasing the pressure until Putin is ready to seriously negotiate peace in Ukraine. The message is clear: Russia cannot and will not win this war."

EU foreign policy chief Kallas said in Luxembourg that sanctions had already deprived Russia of a trillion euros and that this money was now not available to finance the war. The measures against the Russian shadow fleet to circumvent sanctions also made it much more difficult for the country to finance the war.

Kallas also wants the sanctions to be seen as a sign against the controversial diesel agreement between US President Donald Trump and Kremlin boss Putin. She and other European leaders sharply criticized this at the weekend as sending a completely wrong signal. Kallas complained that suspending sanctions against Russian diesel deliveries would provide Moscow with additional revenue to finance its war.

Trump's recent demand to replace Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was also sharply rejected at the foreign ministers' meeting. Kallas said elections always involve clashes between different groups within the country, while attacks come from outside. That's why it's important to keep people together during war. It is important to increase the pressure on Russia so that the war ends. Then Ukraine would certainly hold elections, she said.

In addition to the sanctions against a total of 1,569 actors from Russia's military-industrial complex, the foreign ministers also decided on Monday in Luxembourg to take punitive measures against several dozen people responsible for organizing elections in occupied areas of Ukraine. They had already been announced in September in a statement by Kallas on behalf of the 27 Member States. The text said that neither the elections held on Ukrainian territory nor their results would ever be recognized.

Another package of sanctions against Russia is currently in the works. It is intended in particular to target people who are involved in the suspected attempted attack with an explosive drone at Leipzig/Halle Airport. German State Minister Gunther Krichbaum (CDU), who traveled to Luxembourg to represent Wadephul, said that there were no finished lists yet, but that Germany was putting pressure on the issue. According to information from the German Press Agency, the German side has already suggested a double-digit number of actors against whom sanctions could be imposed.

According to German investigators' current findings, the attempted attack was directed against a Ukrainian Antonov AN-124 cargo plane. According to reports from “Zeit” as well as NDR, WDR and “Süddeutsche Zeitung” (SZ), the investigators now have several suspects in their sights.

Russia has been waging a destructive war of aggression on Ukraine for more than four and a half years now and has recently repeatedly attacked supporting EU countries with acts of sabotage. On Sunday, Trump declared a ceasefire on mutual attacks on energy objects in the Ukraine war. Moscow did not confirm this on Monday. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that contacts with the US side were ongoing. If there are results, the Kremlin will inform them, he said. Zelenskyj was surprised by Trump's announcement, but at the same time emphasized his willingness to do so.