No talks yet with Trump administration on Russian sanctions relief, EU envoy says
EU Sanctions Envoy David O'Sullivan described sanctions as "a very important point of leverage in any negotiation with Russia."
EU sanctions
Lithuanian FM on Europe's role in ending Russia's war
The Kyiv Independent’s Francis Farrell sat down with Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys during his visit to Kyiv on April 1 to discuss the future of Europe during U.S. President Donald Trump's administration, whether European sanctions remain an effective instrument to stop Russia’s war against Ukraine, and Lithuania's contribution to the "coalition of the willing."
Ukraine war latest: Russia intensifies assault in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, military says
Key developments on March 28: * Russia intensifies assault in Zaporizhzhia, increasing pressure on Ukraine's southern positions, military says * Russia makes excuses to break ceasefire on energy infrastructure strikes * EU preparing 17th package of Russia sanctions, EUobserver reports * UK, French military officials to meet in Ukraine to discuss troop deployment Russia
EU preparing 17th package of Russia sanctions, EUobserver reports
Work on a new round of EU sanctions against Russia has started and is “at a very early stage,” one of the sources told EUobserver. The European Commission is expected to present its proposals in early summer, another diplomat told the media outlet.
EU unveils new sanctions against Belarus in response to presidential elections
Twenty-five individuals and seven entities were sanctioned by the EU on March 27 for undermining democracy and the rule of law in Belarus.
US 'evaluating' Russian conditions for Black Sea ceasefire including lifting sanctions, Rubio says
According to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, some of the sanctions Russia wants lifted "are not ours — they belong to the European Union."
Ukraine war latest: Russia has struck Ukraine's energy sites 8 times since March 18, Kyiv says
Key developments on March 26: * Russia has struck Ukraine's energy sites 8 times since March 18, Zelensky's advisor says * Ukraine's list of energy facilities banned from attacks differs from Russian version, Energy Ministry says * Ukraine-US relations 'back on track,' Zelensky's chief of staff says * Russia's withdrawal from Ukraine condition
Russia's withdrawal from Ukraine condition for easing EU sanctions, commission says
Russia's "unconditional withdrawal" from Ukraine is one of the main preconditions for changing or lifting EU sanctions, European Commission spokesperson Anitta Hipper told Ukrainian media outlet Suspilne on March 26.
US reportedly assures EU about role in Ukraine peace talks as Russia seeks sanctions relief
The move may reassure European leaders, who have expressed concerns that the U.S. would attempt to broker a deal without their involvement.
Rubio asked Hungary not to block EU sanctions, Politico reports
Budapest had initially planned to veto the sanctions renewal, citing U.S. President Donald Trump's return to the White House and the possibility of a shift in U.S. policy toward Russia.
EU resists pressure from Hungary, Orban, extends Russia sanctions
The European Union has reached a deal with Hungary to renew sanctions on more than 2,400 primarily Russian entities and individuals hours before they were set to expire on March 15, an EU official with knowledge of the negotiations told the Kyiv independent. The EU had been braced for
Raiffeisen Bank International's subsidiary remains invested in sanctioned Russian entities, report says
As of January, Raiffeisen Capital held around 31.7 billion rubles ($365 million) in sanctioned entities, such as the Sberbank bank or the state-owned energy giant Gazprom, the report said, citing financial documents.
EU prepares for possible Hungarian veto on Russia sanctions extension, media reports
The European Union is bracing for a potential Hungarian veto on extending sanctions against Russia, which are set to expire on March 15, Euractiv reported on March 10, citing sources familiar with the matter.
Trump lifting US sanctions on Russia would be ‘huge win’ for Putin, ‘chaos’ for global economy
U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration is reportedly ready to lift sanctions on Russia imposed after the start of the full-scale invasion, in a reversal of U.S. policy toward Moscow during its war against Ukraine. The White House is preparing a plan to potentially give Russia sanctions relief
Hungary seeks removal of eight names from EU Russia sanctions list, Reuters reports
Hungary is demanding the removal of eight individuals from the EU's Russia sanctions list and guarantees on Ukraine's gas transit talks before agreeing to renew restrictions, Reuters reported on Feb. 25, citing sources familiar with the matter.
EU imports of Russian fossil fuels exceeded aid to Ukraine in third year of the Russian invasion, report says
The EU paid 21.9 billion euros ($22.9 billion) for Russian fossil fuel imports in the third year of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, exceeding the 18.8 billion euros ($19.6 billion) in financial aid sent to Ukraine that year, according to a new report by the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air published on Feb. 24.
EU officially adopts 16th package of sanctions against Russia
The new measures, announced on the third anniversary of the all-out war, target Russia's "shadow fleet" of oil tankers, banks, aluminum imports, and other sectors.
Putin orders ministers to prepare for Western companies' return to Russia
"We can adjust accordingly the return to our market of those who want to return," Russian President Vladimir Putin said, suggesting potential restrictions or conditions for Western firms looking to resume operations in Russia.
Russian vessel sanctioned over North Korean arms shipments entering European waters, researchers say
This would mark the first time that the Russian munitions carrier Maia-1, sanctioned by the U.S. and the EU, entered European waters, the Financial Times noted.
Belarus exports rapeseed oil from occupied Ukrainian territories to EU, RFE/RL investigation finds
The Belarusian company Agroproduct has been using raw materials from Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine’s southern Kherson Oblast to produce rapeseed oil, which it then exported to the European Union.
Hungary again blocks EU sanctions against Moscow Patriarch Kirill
"Hungary also blocked sanctions against 27 individuals and organizations, including Patriarch Kirill, arguing that targeting religious leaders undermines peace efforts," a Hungarian government spokesperson said.
EU ambassadors agree on 16th package of Russia sanctions
EU ambassadors agreed on a new package of sanctions against Russia, targeting aluminum imports and the "shadow fleet" of oil tankers, Euronews reported on Feb. 19.
German authorities investigating assets of sanctioned Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, Spiegel reports
Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich is under investigation for undeclared assets in Germany, Spiegel reported on Feb. 8, citing the Frankfurt am Main Public Prosecutor's Office.
2 Russian oligarchs sell Alfa-Bank stakes hoping to escape EU sanctions, FT reports
According to documents obtained by the FT, Mikhail Fridman and Petr Aven sold their stakes for about Rbs 240 billion ($2.5 billion).
EU to propose phased ban on Russian aluminum in new sanctions package, Bloomberg reports
The sanctions will also cut off more Russian banks from the SWIFT banking system, and target an additional 70 vessels suspected to be part of Russia’s "shadow-fleet."
Trump 'helped' persuade Hungary to unblock EU Russia sanctions, Polish FM claims
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski believes Trump's recent threats of sanctions against Moscow played a role in Hungary's decision to withdraw its veto.
EU suspends visa privileges for Georgian officials over democratic backsliding
"Fundamental rights and democratic values are core principles of EU integration. Officials that represent a country which trample down these values should not benefit from easier access to the EU," said Tomasz Siemoniak, Poland's interior minister.
EU foreign ministers agree to extend Russia sanctions after Hungary’s delays
"This will continue to deprive Moscow of revenues to finance its war. Russia needs to pay for the damage they are causing," EU chief diplomat Kaja Kallas said.
EU to start drafting new sanctions against Russia next week, media reports
The European Commission plans to begin drafting new sanctions against Russia next week, with the goal of approving the package on Feb. 24 — the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Ukraine denies Slovakia's accusation of refusing gas transit talks
Ukraine initiated the meeting to address Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico's threats to halt electricity exports to Ukraine and cut support for Ukrainian refugees, Ukraine's envoy to the EU said.
Ukrainian FM urges EU to ban, replace Russian LNG imports
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the European Union must be banned and replaced with supplies from the United States and other partners.
Exposing the diamond industry — How Russia funds its war on Ukraine
While the diamond industry markets itself as a beacon of luxury, the complex web of global trade hides dark, brutal reality. Despite sanctions and growing scrutiny, Russian diamonds continue to enter the global market, funding Moscow’s war against Ukraine.
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