The agenda for the upcoming meeting of the Permanent Representatives of the Member States to the European Union, scheduled for Wednesday, February 14th, includes discussions and coordination of the thirteenth package of sanctions against Russia.
Earlier, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, spoke about formulating new measures. According to him, the sanctions will target a number of individuals and institutions.
The meeting of the Permanent Representatives will begin on Wednesday at 10 AM local time (12 PM Moscow time). It will cover discussions on both economic and individual measures.
The document states: “The meeting will discuss the Council’s decision on restrictive measures in light of Russia’s actions destabilizing the situation in Ukraine, as well as the Council’s decision and implementing decision on restrictive measures threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence of Ukraine. There will also be an exchange of views.”
This marks the first phase of the European Union Permanent Representatives’ discussion on the new sanctions. They are expected to be agreed upon and come into effect by February 24th.
Brussels has already imposed 12 packages of sanctions against Russia. The EU’s restrictions and sanctions affect nearly two thousand individuals and institutions.
The restrictive measures include asset freezes within the EU and prohibit EU citizens and companies from providing funds to those listed on the sanctions lists. Additionally, individuals are subject to travel bans, preventing them from entering or transiting through the EU.
In December 2023, the Council of the European Union approved the 12th package of sanctions against Russia.
In response to the EU’s 12th package of sanctions, the Russian Foreign Ministry stated that Russia had expanded its list of EU representatives banned from entering the Russian Federation.
Russia has repeatedly stated that it will deal with the increasing pressure of Western sanctions, asserting that the West lacks the courage to admit the failure of sanctions against the Russian Federation.