Sanctions are the EU's most powerful responses to Russia's brutal attack on Ukraine
The European Commission welcomed the adoption of the sixth package of restrictive measures against Russia, the commission announced on June 3. Sanctions are among the EU's most visible, direct and powerful responses to Russia's brutal and unprovoked attack on Ukraine, including systemic violence and atrocities against the civilian population.
This package also imposes further sanctions against Belarus considering its involvement in this aggression. Together with the previous five packages, the sanctions adopted are unprecedented and designed to further increase economic pressure on Russia and undermine its ability to wage its war on Ukraine. Like with previous sanctions packages, they have been coordinated with international partners.
The package contains a complete import ban on all Russian seaborne crude oil and petroleum products. This covers 90% of our current oil imports from Russia. The ban is subject to certain transition periods to allow the sector and global markets to adapt, and a temporary exemption for pipeline crude oil to ensure that Russian oil is phased out in an orderly fashion. This will allow the EU and its partners to secure alternative supplies and minimizes the impact on global oil prices.
As regards export restrictions, the package includes restrictions on chemicals that could be used in manufacturing chemical weapons.
Beyond sanctions, the EU has made it clear that reducing our dependence on energy imports from Russia is an urgent imperative. The Commission adopted its REPowerEU Plan on 18 May 2022 to end dependence on Russian fossil fuels as soon as possible and to tackle the climate crisis.
Based on a proposal by the High Representative, the EU has also listed high-ranking military officers and other individuals who committed war crimes in Bucha and who are responsible for the inhuman siege of the city of Mariupol. It also includes entities involved in the military sector, and manufacturing equipment and software, used in Russia's aggression against Ukraine. The new listings include political, propaganda.